Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged the legal profession to undergo a significant transformation in values, skills, and knowledge to stay relevant amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and rapid global changes.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, in his keynote address at the inaugural Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) Conference, Anwar stressed that future lawyering must extend beyond merely mastering statutes and precedents, as these tasks are increasingly being taken over by advanced AI systems. He envisioned that by 2030, lawyers will need to develop skills that AI cannot easily replicate and that complement the capabilities of AI.
Anwar highlighted the importance of training law students to act as ethical filters in the expansive data landscape. He stated that future lawyers must be technologically competent, possess the ability to interpret data, and ensure that the law is applied for the public good. These remarks were made during the conference themed 'Lawyering 2030 - Skills, Strategy and Legal Education' at Universiti Malaya (UM).
The event was attended by notable figures including Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Chief Justice Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, CLEA Patron Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, UM Pro-Chancellor Tan Sri Zainun Ali, and UM Vice Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman.
Anwar stressed the centrality of values and ethics in legal development amidst technological advancements, advocating for the MADANI framework which emphasizes educating the youth to uphold compassion, dignity, and moral responsibility. He called on lawyers to serve as ethical authorities and moral anchors to ensure that legal outcomes are not only correct but also just.
Furthermore, he spoke on the need for a more holistic approach to dispute resolution, including mediation, negotiation, and conciliation, especially in domestic and private law matters. He noted the evolving landscape of legal issues, citing digital assets and climate change as examples that require lawyers to adeptly navigate laws across multiple jurisdictions.
Anwar also highlighted the necessity for current legal practitioners to continuously adapt to current developments to meet contemporary societal needs. He emphasized that the law should be accessible to the public and not restricted within an elitist domain.
On the Malaysian reform agenda, Anwar reiterated the government's commitment to improving access to justice, particularly for marginalized communities, in line with the Malaysia MADANI concept. He noted that while progress has been made, more efforts are needed to achieve legal singularity, where every citizen has meaningful access to justice and remedies.