I recently attended the TechNExt fringe event “Collaboration in Action”, hosted at Norton Rose Fulbright in Newcastle. As an apprentice in Infrastructure, DevOps, and Cloud, I am particularly interested in how technology is evolving within the legal sector. I went into the event expecting to learn more about innovation and collaboration, but it ultimately delivered much more.

Overall atmosphere

One thing that stood out throughout the day was the professional and welcoming atmosphere, creating an environment where people were comfortable sharing ideas and engaging in discussions. There was a strong sense of curiosity, with attendees showing genuine interest in the topics being presented. The event demonstrated the importance of collaboration, whether across teams, departments, or disciplines. It was interesting to see how combining different areas of knowledge can lead to better solutions and stronger outcomes.

Fresh Perspectives Through Early Careers 

One of the standout sessions for me was the panel exploring early careers. It was interesting to hear how our early careers programmes are contributing to the organisation by bringing in diverse skill sets and new ways of thinking, while also providing opportunities for individuals. The panellists shared their perspectives and personal experiences on how they have benefited from the firm’s early careers programmes, with each experience varying across the different sectors of legal tech. Being early in my own career, the importance of continuous learning and contributing ideas really resonated with me.

The role of AI and automation

This session on “Revealing Organisational Knowledge through a Chatbot” stood out as it demonstrated how technology can make information more accessible, allowing us to search for resources more efficiently. Alongside this, the “Copilot Hackathon” session provided insight into how AI tools are being explored in practical scenarios, showing the growing impact of automation in the workplace.

Personal reflections

Attending TechNExt gave me valuable insight into how technology is used within a large organisation and how it continues to evolve. It reinforced how my apprenticeship is helping me build relevant, real-world skills that align with the future of the industry, and motivated me to continue learning and exploring areas such as AI, cloud technologies, and automation. Overall, the event not only expanded my understanding of the industry but also highlighted the importance of continuous development and innovation.