Matheson has today launched 'Smart Week', a forum to promote innovation and technology in the workplace.
The initiative will include a week-long series of events that will cover AI, blockchain and cybersecurity with CoderDojo and legal hackathons to take place later in the year.
Smart Week aims to promote innovative thinking and the creation of new efficiencies, as well as showcasing new technology products and services that are transforming the legal profession, in order to enhance the client experience.
The Irish law firm strongly believes that lawyers of the future will need to understand coding and the opportunities it can create. At the launch, Matheson announced its adoption of Workplace by Facebook, a new professional network designed to promote communication and better ways of working; Matheson is the first law firm in Europe to use it. On web browser and mobile, all staff will have access to the service, allowing them to communicate and work more effectively using Facebook’s familiar groups, chat and multimedia features, including live video, yet on a completely secure internal platform.
Throughout the week, staff will be encouraged to attend technology workshops and keynote addresses from senior figures including:
Brian Kuhn (Global Leader and Co-Creator of IBM Watson Legal)
Lory Kehoe (Director of Strategy & Operations (Blockchain, RegTech, FinTech, Innovation at Deloitte)
Enda O’Sullivan (Global Brand Director at William Grant & Sons)
Gene Murphy (Co-Founder of Startup Ireland and Entrepreneur in Residence at the Bank of Ireland)
Jonathan McCrea ( Founder of Whipsmart Media, Technology Journalist and Broadcaster)
The discussions will put the spotlight on topics as diverse as blockchain, AI, cybersecurity and drones.
Speaking at the launch, Leader of the Matheson Smart Programme, Rebecca Ryan said, "Technology is changing every industry, including law. Innovations in AI and blockchain, for example, will alter the way we process and draft legal contracts. Lawyers of the near future will need to demonstrate an understanding of this technology, as well having a better understanding of coding."
She added, "Smart Week is about collaborating to hardwire innovation into every Matheson team and every process, big and small. It’s more than just a week of events: it’s an attitude of creativity and lateral thinking that we’re encouraging all partners and staff to cultivate and explore every day of the year."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
