Legal cheek carrier Sitting with ULAW alumni and teaching assistant Callum Gee discussing legal skills, career support and his own journey
Callum Gee, a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Law (ULAW), is passionate about the role of legal technology and its growth in profession. He is involved in the design of legal technology modules for the university's undergraduate programs and will pursue a master's degree in legal innovation this year. Ahead of his panel appearance at Legal Cheek's upcoming virtual student event, “AI and The Law,” along with A&O Shearman, MacFarlanes, Osborne Clarke and Ulaw, I sat with Gee to talk about everything for technology-oriented law students and got his best hints.
I started by asking Zee about his legal journey so far. “It was strange!” he laughs. “I completed my undergraduate program three years ago, and during that time I ran my own legal technology company. After that I left university and started it full-time myself for about two years.” After running the company for several years, he explains that a former ULAW lecturer reached out and asked him if he wanted to enroll in college as a graduate teaching assistant. “So I'm currently training as an academic contractor and a designer of the Legal Technology Modules for Undergraduates. That's very rewarding!”
Wanting to learn more about Gee's interest in legal technology, I ask him what motivates him to pursue this field. “My core motivation comes from Paddy Grant, a great ULAW instructor,” replies Gee. “He encouraged me to pursue what I wanted to do, and my interest has since blossomed.” He continues:
“From a legal standpoint, one of the things I've always loved is to discuss where we are, what the problems are, and how to fix them. In a nutshell, it's legal innovation. It's about having these conversations and stimulating bright minds to solve these problems in their careers.”
I mentioned his hopes to stimulate a bright mind, so I would like to know how law students can learn more about legal skills and important insights they need to know. Ji joked, “I feel more comfortable talking about this than talking about myself!”
“From an academic perspective, we can't teach new technologies,” Gee says. This is because of the pace at which these technologies change and develop. “What exploding – artificial intelligence and documentation automation are now necessary – we can't teach a specific platform because in five years it may be different or not in some way,” he says. “You have to get it back,” Zee told me. “Students must be taught the basics so that they can adapt no matter what technology comes into the future. They cannot jump into the deep edge,” Gee also emphasizes that the best thing that future lawyers do is “not be overwhelmed by buzzwords.” ULAW's legal technical courses are “great” to this, he commented.
In our conversation, Gee says there is currently no hub or center of excellence that lawyers can go to to gain a basic understanding of new legal skills. He says that while ULAW has the advantage of graduating from these things, “Now there is no hub of lawyers in the world to gain that knowledge, and they need it. Filling that knowledge gap is that Gee wants to work outside of his duties on education.
Having studied and taught in college, I will proceed to ask Gee about the support that is being offered, both academically and career advice. “They were amazing!” he says. “When it comes to academics and career advancements, if you're someone who wants to climb a ladder, Ulaw offers all the rungs on that ladder.” He considers this to be one of the most valuable things in the institution. Gee further says he feels “equal” to those who have been there for 25 years, despite only working for a year. He is among the first six people hired for a graduate education scheme and says, “I can say they want to make it work.”
Gee said: “It was one of the greatest privileges of my life. In the final semester, I am honored to teach nine undergraduate law classes a week, develop strong personal relationships with students, and teach such a bright mind.”
One particular moment of staying with Gee met him with “huge pride” because the average was so high after the student's exam results were published. He also shares that the role places him in “a great position” as the ultimate career goal for Gee, a professor of law and innovation.
I would like to know if there are any tips for those considering careers in legal technology and innovation, on student education and exciting topics. His advice is, “If you're an entrepreneur or someone who doesn't understand why we need to accept things like we are, then if you have that mindset, you're probably interested in legal innovation.” “You have the ability to change the world. It's as cheap as it sounds, and it's true.”
To conclude the conversation, he asks if there is anything he wanted before studying legal skills and law in general. “Good question!” he smiles. Gee's key advice is to keep young undergraduates “open minded.” Don't feel pressured to choose the lawyer or barrister aspect. There are many options. “If you don't know what kind of doors you have, then you'll notice that there are more than one door later, so do your best.” Gee later discovered academia and described it as “perfect.”
Callum Gee will be speaking with representatives from AI and Law Law Firms, along with virtual student events A&O Shearman, MacFarlanes, Osborne Clarke and Ulaw, which will be held on Tuesday, July 22nd. Apply now.
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