Technology helps tax and legal teams to be more prepared for changes
I work as Tax and Legal Technologist at PwC Finland. Together with my colleagues from diverse backgrounds (for example, law, business, software engineering, data science), we work on solving complex challenges with the help of technology.
As the legislative landscape and business environment get increasingly complex, technology can help to make faster and more informed decisions. Each project gives an opportunity to learn a lot about people, business processes and obviously new technologies.
Endless learning possibilities is definitely something that I enjoy in my work. Sometimes it feels like I have never left school. Another inspiring thing is the spirit of collaboration. Working as a tax and legal technologist is about co-creation and intensive exchange of ideas and experience. It can sometimes be very overwhelming but very rewarding at the same time.
From a lawyer to a technologist
I started my journey in legal technology back as a business law student at the University of Helsinki, when Pilvi Alopaeus, founder of Legal Design Summit introduced me to the world of legal innovation. I got excited about being on a mission to make practicing law less boring and more efficient and creative for lawyers and other stakeholders. I started to learn programming (basics of Java) and data analytics (quite boringly, starting with Excel Pivot tables) six years ago. Then, by chance, our current Tax & Legal Technology team lead Jari Kärkkäinen found me on LinkedIn and invited to join a Tax and Legal Technology team at PwC Finland.
At PwC I work with both internal development projects and client assignments on the digital transformation of public and private sectors. I also act as a team lead for Tax and Legal Technology trainees, being responsible for trainee onboarding, daily supervision and digital upskilling. Every day is unique and unpredictable, and it is difficult to say where your work will take you in one or two years.
Most important is to stay alert to new technological and legislative trends and work together to make the best use of them. It is also crucial to be able to anticipate a change and what it brings. For example, the growing importance of AI will inevitably involve lawyers in conversations around trustworthy and responsible AI.
Legal technology is about building the bridge between business and technology
I like comparing my work to building bridges and introducing different teams to each other with a goal to create a new software product or to optimise a process. Understanding the needs of tax and legal experts and having a good grasp of technology (for example, data analytics solutions and document integration processes) helps me to communicate with both business and technology teams.
How to become a legal technologist?
I think there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each field of law has its unique challenges and trends. Each legal team is unique in the way it is structured and how it operates.
You can be a lawyer at your current job and still be a legal technologist by becoming an agent of change in adopting new documentation, automation and analytics technologies, as well as working on digital upskilling of your colleagues.
Another way is to become a legal technology consultant and help other lawyers to be more innovative. Most important is to keep your eyes open to opportunities and ideas, as well as constantly challenge your own (and others) way of thinking. This requires constant learning and looking for mentors and trusted advisors to improve your ideas.
Even if you end up as a hired employee, being a legal technologist needs an entrepreneurial mindset. You need to be ready to challenge your own way of thinking and try new things, even if you do not know where it brings you.
Alexandra Shtromberg