Norton Rose Fulbright has launched a client-facing ‘MicroCert in Disruptive Technologies’ aimed at introducing participants to key technologies shaping business as well as the legal, regulatory and risk issues related to their deployment.
Accessed through the NRF Institute, the firm’s knowledge site, the program, which is available at no cost to clients and key contacts of the firm, is designed to equip participants with “practical disruptive technology legal skills.”
To obtain a MicroCert in Disruptive Technologies, participants must complete five core modules and five elective modules. The five core modules cover: artificial intelligence (AI); blockchain /distributed ledger technology (DLT); autonomous vehicles; data; and the Internet of Things (IoT). The 13 available elective modules delve into industry-specific topics including cryptocurrencies, InfraTech, payments, and digital health. Each module consists of a 30-minute on-demand webinar led by the firm’s lawyers from across all regions, followed by a multiple choice assessment.
Nick Abrahams, Norton Rose Fulbright’s global head of technology and innovation and producer of the MicroCert Program, commented: “Our new MicroCert is a powerful addition to the firm’s range of learning solutions and provides clients and key contacts with a series of easy to follow resources for all levels. Disruptive technologies are changing the world and the way it works. Given the pace of change in this space, it can be challenging to stay on top of the latest developments. We have built a wealth of global knowhow in the disruptive tech space and want to share this with broader industries, through knowledge transfer, to improve productivity and continue to drive innovation.”
Following the mixed reactions to the Scottish Law Society’s new tech certificate, we half expected legaltech geeks to give this latest firm initiative a similarly lukewarm welcome. But Alex Hamilton, founder of Radiant Law, who started out as an associate at NRF, said: “The Society of Computers and Law love these topics and helping to educate clients is a good thing. Personally I retch over blockchain, but I’m an unreasonable person and it’s on the standard list of new stuff. But my take is – go for it, education is good. Big firms have the scale and should be offering support like this to help their clients.”
