Legal Innovation Lab Wales

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operation itself ) is more limited. Whilst the operation has helped to foster some crossover in activity and engagement (e.g. jointly delivering events, joint meetings, and more informal discussions as set out in Section 4), evidence of more substantive and formal collaborative research activity is limited. Th is may in part reflect CYTREC’s well established and existing presence prior to the operation, compared to LegalTech which was an emerging field of research at the University. Some ambiguity over the links between CYTREC and LILW (discussed earlier), may also have been unhelpful for encouraging inter-disciplinary work. Considering the scope for enhanced opportunities from the intersection between LegalTech and Cyber Threats, and how learning and knowledge can be shared more consistently to identify and leverage these opportunities, this may be an area of further development going forward for the Lab. 5.9 More broadly, the internal visibility and profile of the LILW was reported to have improved over time, supporting enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration across the University. In particular, feedback emphasised the strong links which have developed between CYTREC and Computer Science Department, owing to the convergence of technical expertise and subject areas across the two disciplines. For example, CYTREC academics are closely involved in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Enhancing Human Interactions and Collaborations with Data and Intelligence Driven Systems based in the Computational Foundry. Feedback also suggested a good level of collaboration between the LILW and the wider Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (e.g. criminology, linguistics), although feedback from a minority of consultees suggested that a greater level of collaborative activity between LegalTech and other disciplines at the University was possible. However, there is a need to recognise the capacity of the Lab in terms of staff/time, relative to the wider range of disciplines; there as a need for prioritisation and focus. Considering if and how cross- and multi-disciplinary work can be enhanced is an opportunity going forward.

Collaborative activity with external organisations

5.10 Across both LegalTech and Cyber Threats the evidence suggests that the LILW has led to enhanced and/or new collaborations with external organisations , including industry, public and third sector organisations. 5.11 Despite some challenges, the LegalTech team has developed relationships with law firms and key stakeholders including Cardiff and District Law Society, Welsh Government, Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and Legal News Wales. The Lab is involved with the Cardiff and District Law Society’s LawTech committee, providing academic input which was absent prior to the LILW. There have also been various engagements with the SRA, for example, through the Virtual LegalTech platform and the SRA led Regulators’ Pioneer Funded project (discussed above).

5.12 However, consultee feedback highlighted the challenges associated with engaging the law sector. The key challenge has been a reported reluctance within the sector to adopt new

Legal Innovation Lab Wales

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