Preparing lawyers for a tech-enhanced future
Pioneering Oxford knowledge at the intersection of law and computer science has grown into a global education programme reaching more than 1,300 legal professionals
In an era defined by rapid digital change, lawyers and legal advisers face a dual challenge: mastering the fundamentals of law while understanding how advances in technologies such as generative AI and algorithmic decision-making are altering the landscape of traditional legal practice. The Oxford LawTech Education Programme (OLTEP), run with the support of Oxford University Innovation’s (OUI) Consulting Services team, has been a pioneer in addressing that challenge.
Founded in 2020 and rooted in interdisciplinary research, OLTEP equips participants with the knowledge and confidence to engage with technology thoughtfully and strategically. Its origins lie in the UKRI-funded research project ‘Unlocking the Potential of Artificial Intelligence for English Law’. This project combined legal expertise with insights from computer science to identify the skills lawyers need to thrive when AI and related technologies are increasingly being used to review complex legal documents and inform decision-making (to give just two examples).
At the forefront of innovative teaching
Not only did the 'Unlocking’ project lead to the development of the OLTEP short learning programmes, but it also paved the way for a unique master’s option course in Law and Computer Science at Oxford and, most recently, a new MSc in Law, Governance and AI, run jointly by the Faculty of Law and the Department of Politics and International Relations.
At its heart, OLTEP is about extending the value and impact of Oxford research beyond the walls of the University. Oxford can be seen as a traditional place, but we have genuinely been ahead of the curve in this area - in both our professional development work and the modules we offer our students. We want to build a community of legal professionals and future leaders who can communicate bilingually across disciplines and successfully navigate technological change.
A new model for Oxford consultancy
OLTEP became the first and to-date biggest example of OUI’s Consultancy Services Enterprise (CSE) model, which enables University of Oxford experts to operate under their own brand without the distraction of spinning out into a separate business. Other ongoing CSEs include statistical expertise supporting real-world evidence generation in clinical research, and research-led assessment and teaching interventions for schools.
A CSE provides our academics with a straightforward vehicle for undertaking advisory, knowledge exchange and consultancy-style work under a brand, with any resulting funds retained under the CSE structure. This allows OLTEP to reinvest the income to sustain and extend that public-facing activity.
We launched this model with OLTEP, which itself has been a great example of the extended value that can come out of UKRI research funding - in this case the initial ‘AI for English Law’ research project and subsequent scale-up funding through the EPSRC’s Impact Acceleration Account. The team’s multidisciplinary knowledge and expertise is now out there in the wider world and making a real difference in government and the private sector. It has proved to be hugely popular with its audience of legal professionals.
Flexible learning for busy professionals
For the programme’s leadership team - Professor Williams, Professor Tom Melham (Oxford Department of Computer Science), and Dr Václav Janeček (now of the University of Bristol Law School) - OLTEP’s cross-disciplinary, research-grounded approach is key to developing legal professionals who can spot, analyse and make use of trends in digital technology. Unlike training programmes that focus narrowly on tools or software, OLTEP’s ten-week modules give participants law-focused insight into the computer science foundations of modern AI, a deep understanding of AI regulatory frameworks across the globe, and a productive grasp of digital ethics to tackle intricate moral puzzles around AI.
OLTEP has recently supplemented its ten-week module with a new, narrower module, OLTEP Essentials, which focuses on the specific challenges arising for law firms from the use of generative AI in their legal practice. OLTEP Essentials examines professional and other regulations covering this activity - in particular, the ‘data elephant’ in the room, tackling head-on the unease lawyers correctly feel about the intersection of new tools with client data. This last section is also the subject of a recent academic publication by OLTEP’s leadership team.
We’ve now educated over 1,300 law professionals through our virtual learning platform. It turns out the blend of on-demand interactive materials with regular live sessions is something our participants really like.
Our courses come with lectures, exercises, readings, discussions and Q&As. It’s real education with carefully designed pedagogical scaffolding - we expect people to know something permanently when they’ve finished, and I don’t think we would have achieved all that with in-person delivery.
Building confidence to navigate AI
Since its launch, OLTEP has delivered training to professionals from across the legal sector – including private practice, government, and regulatory organisations – and across jurisdictions internationally. Clients have included the UK Government Legal Department, major law firm Slaughter and May, and the health insurance company Bupa.
I was genuinely impressed by the AI Foundations module. The content was clear, relevant and well-structured. What stood out most was the direct engagement from the tutors themselves, which made the learning experience feel serious and personal. I especially appreciated how the course approached AI from multiple angles including technical, legal and ethical perspectives, while remaining accessible to non-specialists.
To effect positive change in the sector we want legal services professionals to be confident when thinking about the potential and limitations of modern AI - be it in relation to their clients or for the purposes of internal AI use cases. Our hope is that OLTEP will help law professionals cut through the noise around AI today and navigate the opportunities responsibly and with insight.