Director and an Internal IT Director 214 ), Blake Morgan 215 , and undoubtedly many others ( for this and the next paragraph, please take note of footnote 216 ). 216 An increasing number of law firms in Wales also employ software developers. Blake Morgan employed two Dynamics 365 Developers in 2020. HCR Law employs both a Senior Application Support Specialist and a IT Applications Developer. Acuity Law hired a Senior and Junior Software Developer in 2020 and 2022 respectively. Hugh James hired a Specialist Digital Transformation Executive in 2019 and has recruited a variety of developers over the past few years. Clarke Willmott has in recent years recruited Legal Applications Developers and IT Developers. Geldards have had an IT Development Manager since 2014 but added an additional IT Developer in 2018, who became a Lead Developer in 2021. NewLaw Solicitors have a Senior Application Developer and Software Engineer, Howells Solicitors have a Senior IT Developer bolstered by a Case Management and Software Developer and even smaller firms such as Harding Evans Solicitors have a Software Development Engineer on staff. There is also evidence that law firms increasingly recruit trainees with an interest, or expertise, in legal technology. As a trainee at Acuity Law, Adam McGlynn (now a solicitor at the firm) produced a number of LegalTech products that have been later commercialised after further development – in 2022, the firm also became a member of the Legal Technology Association. 217 Capital Law recruited a trainee with a PhD in LegalTech in 2022. 218 Finally, smaller law firms, who may not have their own staff dedicated to technology development, have still shown an increased interest in technology. DJM Solicitors’ Practice Director, Barry Davies, has previously indicated that the firm is keenly observing developments of AI in the legal sector “and considering if there are any aspects of [their] work that could benefit from a level of automation”. 219 In a 2019 interview, RDP Law’s James Davies (Partner and Head of Real Estate) stated that “Embracing and improving legal tech is possibly our number one priority at the moment.” 220 d) Paradigm Our research has not been able to identify clear examples of paradigm innovation, although we note that some firms in Wales, in primis Acuity Law, Harding Evans and HCR Law, appear to innovate across 214 Information provided by Nicola McNeely, Head of Technology at HCR Law, during informal conversations with the research team. 215 Blake Morgan, “Blake Morgan appoints new Director of Innovation and Technology” (21 October 2021), available at https://www.blakemorgan.co.uk/press/blake-morgan-appoints-new-director-of-innovation-and-technology/. 216 Please note : where not otherwise indicated, information for this and the following paragraph has been identified via public LinkedIn profiles. Sources are on file with the authors and available upon request (legalinnovation@swansea.ac.uk). 217 West Wales News from NTSI, “Acuity Law becomes member of Legal Technology Association” (1 August 2022), available at https://westwalesnewsdesk.co.uk/2022/08/01/acuity-law-becomes-member-of-legal-technology-association/. 218 Capital Law, “Oliver Wannell”, available at https://www.capitallaw.co.uk/people/oliver-wannell/. 219 Douglas Friedli, “Legal Highs and Lows” (Insider Media Limited, November 2019), available at https://www.insidermedia.com/publications/wales-business-insider/wales-business-insider-november-2019/legal-highs-and- lows. 220 Ibid.
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