ABSTRACT
Rapid developments in “artificial intelligence” make technology-driven innovation a pressing issue for law teaching, in order to properly prepare students for a workplace that is undergoing significant and accelerating change. The School of Law at the National University of Ireland Galway has therefore begun a transversal project to provide students with a good understanding of the role of technology and innovation in the practice of law and in their careers. It aims to prepare students for legal practice on three levels. First, it will ensure that they have the basic skills needed to operate in an increasingly technologically enabled workplace. Second, it will equip them with the knowledge and perspectives required to engage critically with ICT. Third, it will give them an understanding of the role of innovation in modern society, in legal practice, and in their careers. This chapter reports on experience with this initiative, lessons learned, and recommendations for similar efforts elsewhere. It demonstrates that it is possible for a module co-ordinator with little of the necessary expertise to assemble a cross-disciplinary team that can deliver engaging learning, but that in order to have deep impact, this should focus on the human element in innovation, not on the technology itself. This project was part-funded by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and the Higher Education Authority of Ireland through the Learning Enhancement Projects scheme.
