Law firms in Australia are adapting to the digital age by incorporating technology and offering incentives for staff to enhance their skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools. Initiatives like internal digital currencies, AI-focused idea rewards, and proficiency systems are reshaping the landscape of legal practice in the country.
Law firms in Australia are increasingly incorporating technology and offering incentives to encourage staff to develop skills in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools. Gary Adler, Chief Digital Officer at MinterEllison, introduced “Mintcoin,” an internal digital currency based on Solana to incentivize lawyers to complete online modules. Mintcoin can be exchanged for gift cards or charity donations, and the initiative includes leaderboards to foster healthy competition.
At Gilbert + Tobin, an AI Bounty programme offered an A$20,000 reward for the best AI-focused ideas. The six-week initiative led to over 100 submissions addressing various pain points such as legal research and practice management. Joy Kim, a lawyer at the firm, won for her AI solution to review privacy policies.
King & Wood Mallesons instituted a martial arts-style proficiency “belt” system for AI training, which helped lawyers like Piero Craney refine their use of AI chatbots. Senior client relationship manager Emily Forbes also benefited from the training, enhancing her familiarity with AI tools.
Lander & Rogers, in collaboration with Monash University, launched an “AI clinical placement programme” where law students acted as “AI investigators” to find efficiency improvements within the firm. This led to around 40 ideas, with 15 selected for deeper analysis using tools like Microsoft Copilot and DraftWise AI.
These initiatives reflect a broader strategy in law firms to integrate digital assets and AI to enhance engagement and skills development among employees.
