New Delhi: BML Munjal University (BMU) School of Law and Vahura, a leading legal search and consulting firm today announced the findings of a first of its kind survey titled “Decoding the Next-Gen Legal Professional”. The study sets out to capture the practitioners’ perspective of the practice of law and to identify the relevant skills required of lawyers in the rapidly transforming legal environment in India. Commissioned by the BMU School of Law, the survey informs students who are seeking a career in Law with reliable information on the future of legal practice and the kind of skills required that employers value in today’s rapidly transforming legal profession. The survey also highlights the skills gap in legal education and serves as an industry reckoner to inform curriculum choices for law schools.
The survey report brings to the fore that the legal profession is in the midst of significant transformation. The changing client demands, the rise of new generations with different career expectations, automation, and technological innovations such as AI will continue to accelerate a transformation in the legal profession. The survey findings showcase how lawyers see the practice of law changing in India over the next decade. A whopping 90 percent of all respondents say that the proliferation of digital and technology will be the most significant change that the sector will witness. Among other significant changes that the sector will witness, 64 percent of respondents cite increased competitiveness among law firms while 49 percent cite the growth in in-house legal resources by companies.
The findings state that the technology solutions in the legal space may replace some human roles at the entry-level by way of automating repetitive and standardized work but are expected to augment others such as reviewing documents more efficiently. Over 42 percent of all respondents said that they expect 20 percent of day to day tasks to be automated. In this scenario, lawyers would not only need to be up to date with the latest technological developments but need to develop and sharpen their skills in critical areas. The survey shortlists in order of importance the qualities that young lawyers should currently possess to be relevant and in demand. Research and analytics (94 percent) tops the charts, followed by attention to detail and a sharp eye for accuracy (93 percent), ability to work hard (71 percent), an openness to learn (72 percent) and oral and communication skills (88 percent).
While launching the survey, Sunil Kant Munjal, Chancellor, BML Munjal University said, “I congratulate both the teams on the initiative, the survey identifies the skill gap in legal education, a gap that the Law School at BML Munjal University would like to address by making experiential learning and personalised legal education the cornerstone of its pedagogy and curriculum. In the current scenario, law schools will play a critical role in nurturing and developing lawyers who are equipped with the skills and attitudes essential for modern legal practice. I am confident that these findings would interest both industry and students.”
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