On 17 June 2024, the Luxembourg Centre for European Law (LCEL), in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance and the Harvard Club Association Luxembourg, had the distinct honour of hosting Professor David B. Wilkins , the Lester Kissel Professor of Law and Vice Dean for Global Initiatives on the Legal Profession at Harvard Law School, for a thought-provoking presentation on "Lawyering in a VUCA* World: What We Know and Don’t Know About the Future of Lawyering and How to Prepare for It."
With over 80 published articles and extensive research on globalisation, and the experiences of diverse lawyers, Prof. Wilkins brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the University of Luxembourg.
His current projects, such as Globalisation, Lawyers, and Emerging Economies, and The Harvard Law School Career Study, made and make him uniquely qualified to talk about the future of lawyering.
The event commenced with welcome words from Prof. Pierre-Henri Conac (Acting Director Luxembourg Centre for European Law), and Prof. Herwig Hofmann (Head of Law Department Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance), setting the stage for an enlightening session.
Key Insights from Prof. Wilkins
Prof. Wilkins highlighted the unprecedented times we are navigating through, characterised by three interrelated crises:
- the ongoing global pandemic and
- the looming threat of others, volatile global economic and political landscapes (highlighted by the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East), and
- an increasing global focus on complex issues such as sustainability, global security, and the regulation of new technologies.
These crises are accelerating transformative changes in globalisation, the rising significance of the Global South and East, and growing global tensions, as well as the proliferation of laws, regulations, and risks, digital transformation, and the blurring of physical and virtual worlds.
Despite technological advancements like ChatGPT, Prof. Wilkins emphasised that the legal profession remains fundamentally a human capital business. Legal "assets" such as lawyers need continuous education, recruitment, development, and management. Tradition and stability are crucial, as law and lawyering are linked to fundamental, enduring goods.
Future Challenges and Opportunities
Prof. Wilkins outlined future challenges and opportunities for lawyers, including addressing cybersecurity, data privacy, anti-bribery, and corruption issues, and navigating an explosion of new, often inconsistent, global laws. The legal profession must adapt to a new ecosystem where AI will play a significant role.
He noted three certainties: AI integration in law is inevitable, with leading firms already taking the lead; legal professionals will confront new challenges related to AI, including litigation over training data and liability for AI outputs; and the future will see humans and AI collaborating closely, reshaping the legal landscape.
Professor Wilkins’ visit from Harvard Law School marks a significant addition to LCEL’s prestigious series of engagements with senior experts, and academics in the legal field.
A big thank you to Professor Wilkins for sharing his invaluable insights and to everyone who attended this enlightening event.
*VUCA: volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity
Photo at the top of the page (from left to right): Leticia Lizardo (Harvard Club Luxembourg), Prof. David B. Wilkins (Lester Kissel Professor of Law, Vice Dean for Global Initiatives on the Legal Profession, and Faculty Director of the Center on the Legal Profession at Harvard Law School), Prof. Pierre-Henri Conac (Acting Head, LCEL), Dr Damian Kukovec (Judge of the General Court), Prof. Herwig Hofmann (Head of Law Department, FDEF), Dr Jacek Dybinksi (Postdoctoral Researcher, LCEL)
