Legally On the Move: Careers, Tech & Insights from Dubai – Khaled Shivji – E16

You can hear Rob and Khaled discussing:

– AI Adoption in Organisations and How it is Carried Out

– Career Opportunities in Dubai’s Legal Markets

– The Importance of Networking and Trust

– How the UAE Has Openly Embraced New Developments in AI & Technology

– The Entrepreneurial Mindset for Success

Connect with Khaled here – https://ae.linkedin.com/in/shivji 

Transcript

00:00

Welcome to Legally on the Move.

00:02

Careers, tech and insights from Dubai.

00:04

In this exclusive miniseries of the Legally Speaking podcast, we’re taking you to the heart of Dubai, a global hub for legal innovation, cutting edge technology and transformative career opportunities.

00:15

Here’s what you’ll gain.

00:16

Career inspiration, unlock the secrets to thriving in Dubai’s dynamic legal market, tech trends, dive into how AI, blockchain and legal tech are reshaping the industry, diversity and leadership, hear from trailblazers,is driving inclusivity and innovation in the UAE, and Global Perspectives explore how Dubai’s unique blend of tradition and ambition is creating a thriving legal ecosystem.

00:40

Recorded in iconic locations, these episodes bring you the energy and insights of one of the world’s most exciting legal hubs.

00:48

Don’t just listen, experience the future of law.

00:50

Ready to move forward with us?

00:52

Let’s go.

00:54

So, welcome to the Legally Speaking podcast, Name, Title and Organisation.

00:58

My name is Khaled Shivji.

00:59

I’m a senior consultant with Jameson Legal Technology.

01:03

Absolutely.

01:04

And it’s a pleasure to have you with us today.

01:06

So let’s get into it.

01:07

You know, AI is here, it’s everywhere.

01:10

But what does it take to actually implement AI and get over a lot of the resistance that’s out there right now?

01:16

I think there’s just a huge amount of fear about AI.

01:19

According to the Harvard Business Review, 70% of organisations are fearful ofAI, but 80% of their employees are actually using Gen AI either in their personal lives or to a system at work.

01:29

So I think it’s incumbent upon those companies to try and help their employees to integrate AI into the way they’re working on a day-to-day basis.

01:36

There are a lot of people that are going to say, I get it, we need to do that, but how do you take them on that journey?

01:41

Are there any tips you would say for organisations and firms to really take them on the journey of sort of embracing rather than sort of being dragged along?

01:50

I understand completely.

01:51

Well, that naturally needs to be stakeholders.

01:54

and leaders within organisations who will champion the use of AI.

01:57

They need to be leaders in the organisation who will uniformly say, we need AI, this is the way we’re going to move forward, this is the strategy we’re going to use to adopt AI, and this is how we’re going to train our employees on how to use AI going forward.

02:09

It sends a signal from the top that using AI is acceptable, but it also helps to get rid of the fear factor from people who might be afraid of admitting they’re using AI for their day-to-day work as well.

02:17

Yeah, no, really well said.

02:18

And what’s your view on the current Dubai legal market and indeed the UAE legal market?

02:24

absolutely fantastic place for me to build a career as a lawyer.

02:26

I moved here in 2012 and since then I’ve been able to move from tech companies to working with the government to working with privately owned companies as well as well as startups.

02:35

It’s a very dynamic environment, very entrepreneurial.

02:37

It’s a great place for lawyers to actually build their skills in how to build businesses as well and they’ll get a far greater range of exposure to the challenges they might do in their home jurisdictions as well.

02:46

And that’s interesting I guess for people who are thinking of coming over.

02:49

What are some of the skills that you’ve picked up that you think are almost nuanced to Dubai?

02:54

or the UAE that, you know, are helpful for other people who might be thinking of making this move that’s helped you?

02:58

Is there any particular skills in your toolbox that you think actually that really works in this market?

03:02

The way the business operates over here, it’s all about trust.

03:05

It’s trusting your business partners, trusting them, getting to know them well.

03:08

So professional networking is really, really important as a skill out here.

03:12

You’ve really, really got to make the time to get to know people, spend time meeting people, telling them a bit more about what you’re up to, developing your elevated pitches as well, and helping to explain to them how you can help them as well as how they can help you as well.

03:22

I think that’s more importantimportant here in this region, especially in the UAE than perhaps in other Western jurisdictions as well.

03:28

But it’s a very exciting part of living and working here.

03:30

Yeah, no, absolutely.

03:31

And I guess looking forwards, what are you most excited about in terms of the region?

03:35

I think the embracing of AI and technology in the region has been absolutely amazing.

03:40

It’s outstanding to see the way that countries like the UAE have developedAI and have developed their affinity for AI by putting, for example, AI ministries or AI ministers in every single federal ministry in the UAE as well.

03:52

And they’ve signed a multi-billion dollar contract between Microsoft and G42 as well.

03:56

They’ve got then obviously the UAE’s outreach to the global S, which is really important to make sure that the UAE could be a standard bearer for how other countries that haven’t yet built out data centres can adopt AI too as well.

04:06

And that’s really, really wonderful to see that happening here in the UAE.

04:09

Yeah, I’m really for it.

04:11

I think it’s an exciting time.

04:12

That’s why I wanted to do a whole series on this.

04:14

Is there anything else you would like to share with our listeners that you think will be helpful or insightful when it comes to all things UAE at the moment?

04:19

I think the UAE is a great place to live and work.

04:21

I think that it offers a lot of safety and security to people who are here.

04:25

I think it relies on people to build connections first before they come out here looking for work.

04:29

But I think if people have that entrepreneurial mindset and a growth mindset as well that comes with living and working in the UAE, they’re going to be very, very successful.

04:35

Yeah, really well said.

04:36

Well, Kelly, it’s been lovely having you on the Legally Speaking podcast.

04:39

Love your energy, love everything you’re getting up to.

04:40

If people want to know more about you or stuff that you’re getting involved with, where can they find out?

04:44

find out more, feel free to charity websites or social media handles.

04:46

Just feel free to find me on LinkedIn.

04:48

There we go.

04:48

There we have it, folks.

04:49

Well, from live in Dubai, from all of us on Legally’s Moving podcast, over and out.

04:53

Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of our Legally on the Move from Dubai series.

04:58

If you enjoyed today’sconversation, please take a moment to rate and review the show on your favorite podcast platform.

05:05

It really helps us out.

05:06

And if you want to connect with us directly, join our vibrant Legally Speaking Club community on Discord or visit our official website, legallyspeakingpodcast.com for more updates and ways to get involved.

05:17

Stay tuned.

05:18

We’ll see you again soon.

05:19

Over and out.