STL Welcomes Singapore Academy of Law Delegation for Cutting-Edge Legal Tech Dialogue

On the morning of February 26, Peking University School of Transnational Law (STL) welcomed members of the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), along with lawyers from major Singaporean law firms and corporate legal counsel. The event was organized by the STL Program on Law and Innovation (SLI), co-directed by Professor Ray Campbell, Professor Gilad Abiri, and Liav Orgad. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on the importance of legal technology in international legal market competition, the current state of legal technology in China, and the development of legal technology in Singapore. The event was moderated by Professor Ray Campbell.

The event began with welcome remarks by Professor Mark Feldman, Interim Dean of Peking University School of Transnational Law. He welcomed the Singapore Academy of Law delegation and highlighted STL's commitment to innovation in legal education and international cooperation. Professor Feldman noted that legal technology is accelerating the transformation of legal education and practice, and expressed that STL is dedicated to cultivating legal talents with international perspectives and technological literacy through collaboration with the Singaporean legal community.

Professor Ray Campbell then delivered a speech on "The Importance of Legal Tech in the International Law Market Competition." Professor Campbell pointed out that legal technology has become a key factor in the competition in the international legal services market. In the context of globalization, legal service providers must leverage technological means to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and provide innovative service models. He emphasized that legal technology is not only a tool to enhance lawyers' work efficiency but also a driving force for innovation in the legal service industry. Professor Campbell called on law schools and the legal profession to actively adapt to this transformation, incorporate legal technology into education and practice systems, and cultivate students' technological literacy and innovation capabilities.

Mr. Cao Jianfeng from Tencent Legal Research then shared his insights on "The Chinese Legal Tech Landscape." As a long-term observer of legal AI development, Mr. Cao provided a detailed introduction to AI's impacts on law and the legal industry. He explained three major trends in legal artificial intelligence: first, legal AI improves the efficiency and quality of legal services, such as legal research, document review, document generation, automated consulting, and case outcome prediction; second, online dispute resolution (ODR) will become the dominant way to solve most legal cases in the future; and third, rule-by-code (code-is-law) will play a bigger role in the future digital space.

Mr. Cao also specifically introduced how AI tools like DeepSeek are transforming legal workflows by automating repetitive tasks, streamlining case management and research processes, and enabling faster and more accurate legal analysis. He pointed out that as AI takes over routine tasks, lawyers will need to focus on more complex, strategic aspects of legal work, develop skills in AI implementation and oversight, and adapt to new ways of delivering legal services. Finally, Mr. Cao emphasized the importance of using AI responsibly in the legal field, including addressing concerns related to data privacy, algorithmic discrimination, cybersecurity, digital exclusion, opaqueness, and maintaining human oversight and judgment in legal decisions.

Mr. Paul Neo, Chief Operating Officer of the Singapore Academy of Law, shared Singapore's development experience in the field of legal technology with the theme "Singapore's Legal Tech Scene and Our Approach to Use of Gen AI in Law." Mr. Neo first introduced the background and mission of Singapore's Future Law Innovation Programme (FLIP), which aims to connect the legal and technology sectors and promote legal innovation. He pointed out that against the backdrop of technological change, the legal industry must proactively embrace transformation or passively accept external disruption.

Mr. Neo elaborated on Singapore's holistic approach to developing legal technology, which covers various aspects including business models, technology, knowledge, regulations, and mindset change, and requires participation from all stakeholders including lawyers, technologists, regulators, entrepreneurs, and investors. He introduced Singapore's approach to regulating legal technology, emphasizing the importance of balancing innovation and protection, as well as the impact of relevant legislation on the use of legal technology. Finally, Mr. Neo shared Singapore's general principles and guidance on the use of generative AI in court, as well as the professional standards expected of lawyers using legal technology.

In the subsequent panel discussion and Q&A session, the guests engaged in lively discussions on legal technology trends and the future of the legal profession. The discussion particularly focused on Singapore's strategy to balance legal technology development with protecting lawyers' interests, exploring how to maintain the core values of the legal profession while promoting technological innovation. Students and faculty actively participated in the Q&A, creating an engaging interactive atmosphere.

The successful hosting of this event not only deepened the exchange and cooperation between Peking University School of Transnational Law and the Singaporean legal community but also provided students and faculty with a valuable opportunity to understand the frontier developments in international legal technology. Against the backdrop of digital transformation, Peking University School of Transnational Law will continue to be committed to cultivating high-quality legal talents with global vision, interdisciplinary knowledge, and innovative spirit.