What do you do now and what do you enjoy about it?
I recently took a bold step forward in my professional journey by becoming an independent Legal Tech specialist. I take charge of law firms’ legal technology implementations, helping them gain a competitive edge in the market.
I enjoy that I can take full ownership of the projects. It gives me the freedom to be creative and play a role in shaping the future of the legal profession.
How did you get to where you are today?
My journey began during my studies at the University of Vienna, where I pursued both physics and law. I studied both because I excelled at science, but was curious about the legal profession. While it was a daring decision at the time, I am grateful for the path it set me on today. Studying physics taught me to think outside the box and to be a problem solver, which enriched my abilities as a legal tech specialist today. Physics also introduced me to coding, which has become a useful tool for my legal tech career.
During my exchange semester at Santa Clara Law School in Silicon Valley, I took a class on “AI, Law & Business.” This class ignited my passion for technology and law; particularly the applications of AI in the legal field. It was during that time when I participated on my first legal tech project. Our team aimed to automate the expungement process in the USA. Witnessing the positive impact this technology could have on thousands of lives, I decided I wanted to do something with a purpose.
Upon returning to Vienna in 2019, I faced challenges posed by the Covid pandemic head-on. All universities shut down, and professors and students alike did not know what the semester was going to look like. To overcome the new social distancing laws imposed during Covid, I came up with the idea of creating a platform to help law professors transition to remote teaching. Collaborating with my team at the Department of Innovation and Digitalization in Law, we swiftly launched the platform, helping professors navigate through challenging times. For our efforts, I was both thrilled and honored to receive the European Women of Legal Tech Award 2020. During my time at the Department I was also in charge of organizing the “Legal Tech Start Up Day” and the “Legal Tech Hackathon”. Both of which proved to be great opportunities to network with people in the legal tech field.
After completing my studies, I wanted to work for a law firm that embraced innovation and technology. I seized the opportunity to move to Zurich and assumed the role of Head of Legal Tech for Code Law. We did everything relating to legal tech from conducting market research and identifying technological flaws to building digital startup packages. Being in charge of the legal tech project was an incredibly fulfilling experience.
What tips would you give to anyone following the same path as you?
First of all, you need passion for this job. You will need to deal with lawyers, that are set in their old ways, so try to be resilient and empathetic. Be bold, think outside the box, and network (I am always available for a chat on LinkedIn 😊). Last but not least, recognize that you are part of a transformative movement shaping the future of the legal profession.
Doruntina Berisha