A collaboration between the University of Dundee and full-service law firm Thorntons has secured £1.1m in funding for a first-of-its-kind legal technology project.
The Levelling Up award was made yesterday [Thursday] by Jacob Young, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Levelling Up), on a visit to the University. It will be used to facilitate a dedicated space in Dundee for the integrated delivery of education in law and technology.
The new venture will bring together students, staff and legal practitioners to collaborate on developing innovative products and services for legal, and other professional services, companies.
It will also deepen links between Thorntons, which is headquartered in Dundee, and the University. As part of the project, Thorntons aims to offer law graduates new career prospects, working alongside the development and adoption of evolving technology.
The investment will further allow law students to work with the latest technology and see how it is being used in practice, preparing them for the workplace.
Lesley Larg, managing partner, Thorntons, said: “We are incredibly proud of this landmark project and the exciting opportunity it is creating for our fast-growing firm and our partners at the University of Dundee.
“The profession is changing at pace as the use of technology become more widespread. This funding will place Dundee on the map for legal innovation and help Scotland to attract and retain the best legal and tech talent.”
Professor Sarah Hendry, Head of Dundee Law School, said, “We are delighted that there will be investment in Dundee. This investment will enable the University and the Law School to further develop our cutting-edge curriculum, whilst bringing the best graduates to Dundee and expanding highly skilled jobs in both law and technology into the city.
“This expanding area of practice needs practitioners, academics and law-tech specialists to work together, to ensure that the lawyers of the future have the skills they need to meet the pace of change in the workplace and in wider society.”
Thorntons is a leading, independently owned law firm, with 510 people and 72 partners servicing 14 offices across Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness.
Issued by BIG Partnership on behalf of Thorntons Solicitors. For further information please contact thorntons@bigpartnership.co.uk.
