Award winning Dean

UTS Faculty of Law Dean, Lesley Hitchens’ commitment to embracing new technologies and the challenges they present for the law has been recognised with a prestigious award.

The Financial Times has honoured Lesley as the Legal Innovator of the Year for 2018.

It is a fitting tribute for the Dean who has actively worked to ensure that students in the Law Faculty gain an understanding of how new technologies will shape and change their future careers.

2015 saw the launch of a series of public discussions on ‘The Future of the Legal Profession’. These included a focus on how technology could enhance and benefit the practice of law.

In the description of Lesley as the Innovation winner, the Financial Times praised the discussions:

These highlighted the benefits new technologies would bring, such as more affordable access to legal advice. It also helped shift the tone of the debate in Australia and led to change in how legal education is delivered at her faculty.

The award cites the Dean’s leadership in creating technology focussed areas of study and learning within the faculty, including the new Legal Futures and Technology Major and the Law Tech Challenge for Social Justice.

It also recognises the strong relationships created with the profession and industry which have helped foster technology based student internship programmes.

Lesley says it’s a win for the whole Faculty:

This is a tribute to my academic and professional colleagues who have been willing to embrace new ideas and future challenges.

Read the Financial Times article announcing the winners.