Legally On the Move: Careers, Tech & Insights from Dubai – Sahar Farooqi – E08

You can hear Rob and Sahar discussing:

You can hear Rob and Sahar discussing:

–  Groundbreaking Legal Transformations Across the UAE

– How Legal Tech Including AI and Blockchain Are Making Waves in the Industry

– New and Engaging Opportunities for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

– The Growing Adoption of AI Among Legal Practices

– Sahar’s Leadership Insights in the UAE’s Legal Sector

Connect with Sahar here – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahar-farooqi/

Transcript

Welcome to Legally On the Move 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 Career inspiration, unlock the secrets to thriving, and divide dynamic legal market tech trends.

00:22

Dive into how AI, blockchain, and legal tech are reshaping the industry, diversity and leadership here from Trail Blazers.

00:30

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.

00:53

So welcome to League Speaking podcast name and title.

00:58

Saha Farooqi, barrister and Transformation officer and Legally Speaking Podcast alumni, been on the show before.

01:03

One of our most downloaded episodes.

01:05

It’s great to have you back doing this live in Dubai.

01:09

Let’s talk about legal transformation then within the UAE.

01:11

How is the UAE’s legal landscape evolving and what role does transformation play in its growth?

01:17

It is evolving rapidly and the level of investment from law firms that we are seeing in the region is quite literally transformational actually, because what’s happening is it’s gone from in a number of cases.

01:35

Being seen historically as a sort of satellite office or a regional hub where it’s important to have some kind of presence just to be able to service the work that a firm is currently doing.

01:51

Into now a real powerhouse and a central linchpin of the strategies that law firms have.

02:00

And that is reflected not just by the UAE, but the region as a whole.

02:06

Obviously the influx of law firms into Saudi and the increasing interest in Abu Dhabi is is also feeding that.

02:17

Yeah, I’ve been in the conversation I’ve been having obviously Dubai is is buzzing but.

02:21

Abu Dhabi in particular, people have been saying is a, a real kind of evolving legal market in itself.

02:26

OK, let’s talk about change because some of the law firms are not always, you know, the 1st to sort of wanting to, to change.

02:32

So what’s been the key in driving meaningful change, particularly within the UA ES fast moving legal sector?

02:37

Well, it’s recognising what is going on in, in the wider world, recognising what’s going on in the markets and understanding that it’s not possible to.

02:49

Remain stagnant.

02:50

It’s not possible to.

02:52

Continue with the same strategy that launched out here in 2010 or more pertinently in some cases the same strategy that existed in the run up to COVID.

03:04

Because the world has changed, the outlook of employees has changed, the markets have changed and all of that drives the impetus to make sure that actually.

03:17

We’re evolving, we’re changing, and we’re ready to be part of that.

03:20

Because if you’re not, then you’re just you’re, you’re left behind.

03:23

Yeah.

03:23

So the types of changes that we’re actually seeing are predicated on a recognition of of what is coming.

03:30

And also that little word which people do talk about a bit more now, which is the the advent of of tech tech, legal tech, the legal tech community has kind of gone from being something of almost like a fringe kind of cult thing and sort of 2015 to now rightly being.

03:53

Totally mainstream because it’s, it’s, it’s part of what people need to get to be able to actually run this through.

03:59

Yeah.

04:00

And it, you know, we’re, we’re doing a whole series related to in and around legal tech.

04:03

You know, years ago, you know, we’ve just been focused on the careers purposely.

04:07

But now, you know, tech is pretty much part of the career.

04:09

And it’s going to change the direction of travel for so many lawyers, what their jobs look like, law firms are run, you name it.

04:14

Let’s talk about something else, which you do some fantastic work in, particularly in terms of advancing inclusivity.

04:19

You know what is the biggest opportunities and challenges in diversity and inclusion within the UAE specifically?

04:27

I think that the biggest opportunity is.

04:31

The fact that there is quite clearly a state sanctioned interest in making Dubai the centre of the world.

04:42

And if you make yourself and pitch yourself as being the centre of the world, that inevitably means you’re going to attract people from all over the world.

04:50

And they’ve been doing that successfully for for several decades.

04:54

I think the challenge then comes from.

04:58

The landscape and reality of the historic conservatism.

05:04

That exists within jurisdictions like these and trying to find mechanics and ways to balance the fact that progress requires aspects of that conservatism to change.

05:19

I think there’s a mix between those two things which isn’t always comfortable.

05:24

The UAE is probably slightly different than that.

05:27

That varies across the different Emirates.

05:30

And Saudi is is obviously a different kettle of fish.

05:34

When you look at some of the rhetoric, for example around the 2035 World Cup, they are very clear that they are going to stick to a lot of those values.

05:42

So when you look at it from an EDNI perspective, there is a natural tension there, but it’s not insurmountable.

05:49

It wasn’t like the Qatar World Cup was a failure because they stuck to their guns on certain things, but there is also a softening.

05:59

So I think the opportunity comes from making the Middle East a total global powerhouse for everyone wants to be with the history and nature of a changing kind of social.

06:13

Yeah, and I think it’s exciting and you know, I think they’re doing a tremendous job.

06:17

Let’s switch back to tech because we can’t move away from it just given where we’re we’re out in the world.

06:21

So what do you think the current comfort levels are with AI adoption in legal?

06:26

They are growing exponentially.

06:29

I think now actually what’s happening is that comfort levels are giving way to a recognition of reality.

06:39

That whether we’re comfortable with this or not, whether we fully understand it or not.

06:43

We have to get on board with it because we are going to be left behind.

06:48

In fact, we are already behind.

06:50

So comfort is an interesting word because actually I think that’s now just giving way to reality.

06:57

And as a result of that, what you’re seeing is a significant uptick in education, in firms investing in educating their own people.

07:07

I’ve run those processes before globally for organisations getting Rd shows out there to make sure that there is.

07:14

A level of understanding about the advent and adoption of AI and and various associated technology.

07:23

So I think comfort is growing and that is fed by the reality of the situation.

07:27

Yeah and I guess this leads on to leadership, right And it’s such an important part of that in terms of, you know, easing hopefully that comfort and making people feel more comfortable but how can the UAE legal professionals lead with change with overcoming this resistance that inevitably is still going to be there like with.

07:43

Things, Rob.

07:44

I think it’s, it’s just going to be the passage of time.

07:47

Yeah, there are some doors that were closed which are no longer closed and there are some which are ajar and there are some which remain shut.

07:57

And it’s going to be, it’s going to be pushing.

08:00

And I think it’s also going to be competitive tension.

08:04

Sometimes it takes a market leader, an industry leader, a law firm, whoever it is.

08:11

Who be an early adopter or a serious adopter of something?

08:16

For it to then become something that everyone else wants to do or something that everyone else recognises we need to have.

08:24

And that breaks down the resistance process.

08:27

And the other thing that you need is you need change champions.

08:30

You need, you need to hire and empower people who understand this space so that they can highlight to those in your organisation why it’sso important.

08:40

Yeah, well said.

08:41

And why what you’re doing is so important, particularly from the transformation perspectives.

08:45

An absolute.

08:46

Having you back seriously, absolutely on the League team podcast.

08:48

Where can people find out more about what you’re getting up to?

08:50

Is there any website, any social media handles you’d like to shout out?

08:53

Well, the big the big thing and the platform that I am known on is I’ll let you answer that it is LinkedIn to follow that.

08:59

There’s some brilliant content, really authentic, but really, really, really good.

09:02

So thanks so much again for joining on the League of Swing podcast.

09:04

But from all of us over and out, thank you so much for tuning into this episode of our legally on the move from Dubai series.

09:11

If you enjoyed today’s conversation, please take a moment to rate and review the show on.

09:16

Your favourite podcast ?

09:17

platformIt really helps us out.

09:19

And if you want to connect with us directly, join our vibrant Legally Speaking Club community on Discord or visit our official website legallyspeakingpodcast.

09:27

com for more updates and ways to get involved.

09:30

Stay tuned, we’ll see you again soon, over and out.