Clifford Chance has launched a global training programme to help its lawyers stay up to date with technological developments. The new Tech Academy will allow staff at the international law firm to learn about coding, artificial intelligence, blockchain and data privacy, amongst other topics.
An online portal will give Clifford Chance staff access to online training programmes and other resources. They will also be able to attend full-day training courses run by Australian education and innovation consultancy, Collective Campus.
The Tech Academy is the latest element to be added to the Clifford Chance Academy which focuses on the development of staff and partners across the company. Finance partner, Paul Landless, said: “Our clients’ market environment is undergoing a paradigm shift with technology pervasive across all sectors and deeply affecting our clients’ businesses. As a firm we want to develop our people fully with a balanced set of both technical and business skills for today and the future, focused on what our clients need and with a strong grasp of business trends in our clients’ industries.”
Anand Saha, Capital Markets partner, added: “It is critical that our people are fluent in the key technological trends that our clients are facing and the Tech Academy will build our lawyers’ understanding on a range of topics from e-commerce and connected vehicles to artificial intelligence, blockchain, data privacy and cybersecurity. The goal is to stay on top of the issues and grapple with rapidly changing technologies.”
Clifford Chance isn’t the only leading law firm to make moves to ensure that its staff stay on abreast of new technologies. Linklaters responded to the request of one of its trainees in 2016 and launched a coding programme for its lawyers. Earlier this year, Allen & Overy started accepting applications for its new legal tech graduate scheme which targets STEM or economics students interested in the legal industry.
