A legal hackathon is an event where legal professionals, technologists, and innovators come together to solve challenges in the legal industry using technology. It’s like a brainstorming session on steroids, where teams compete to develop solutions that can make legal work more efficient, accessible, and effective. In this piece, Hamza Aslam invites us into his experience of a hackathon, this one held at the University of Cambridge.

At the LLM x Law Hackathon, we focused on creating innovative tools and technologies that could transform the legal landscape. The organizers formed teams by considering each participant’s skill set, knowledge, and background (either STEM or legal). Each team was composed of members from diverse backgrounds to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative problem-solving.

The Journey to Cambridge and the Inaugural LLM x Law Hackathon

My journey to the inaugural LLM x Law Hackathon at King’s College, Cambridge, began with a deep-seated passion for the intersection of law and technology. During my studies at the City Law School in 2020, I enrolled in a module titled “IP Law in Sports & Technology”, taught by Dr. Luke McDonagh. This course ignited my interest in the legal ramifications of breakthrough technologies, particularly those involving intellectual property. My dissertation, which explored the complex questions of ownership and authorship in inventions and artistic works generated by generative AI, was subsequently published in the 2024 volume of the City Law Review. This achievement fueled my curiosity and solidified my commitment to exploring the rapidly evolving field of legal technology.

In early May 2024, I stumbled upon a LinkedIn post by the King’s Entrepreneurship Lab at Cambridge announcing the LLM x Law Hackathon. Intrigued by the opportunity to further delve into legal tech, I promptly applied and was elated to receive an acceptance notice a month later. To prepare, I diligently studied resources provided by LLM x Law to understand the basics of the hackathon. Additionally, I sought advice from Professor Emily Allbon and Professor Susan Blake, from the City Law School which helped put me in the right direction.

The anticipation and excitement were palpable as I joined fellow participants at King’s College, renowned for its academic excellence and historical significance, particularly as the home of Alan Turing, the father of artificial intelligence.

The hackathon kicked off with an inspiring pre-drinks reception and an exhibition titled “AI as a Canvas” by Simmons & Simmons. This event served as an excellent icebreaker, allowing participants to connect and share their enthusiasm for the upcoming challenge. The opening ceremony featured a captivating keynote speech by Kimberley Boadu from Google DeepMind, who emphasized the transformative potential of AI in the legal field. The energy in the room was electric as participants listened to welcoming remarks from Kamiar Mohaddes, Co-Founder and Director of the King’s Entrepreneurship Lab, and Jay Mandal, a Stanford CodeX Fellow. Their words set the stage for a day of intense collaboration and innovation.

Challenges, Strategies, and Unfolding the Grand Finale

Our team, composed of Yaqoob (a postdoc at Cambridge University), Yishu (Rachel) Liu (an LLM student at Cambridge University), and myself, tackled the problem statement provided by BMW Group: “AI support for Litigation.” This challenge aimed to develop an AI-powered tool to assist lawyers in preparing for litigation by analyzing vast amounts of data, including case law, evidence, and legal documents, and providing actionable insights and suggestions. The potential rewards for solving this problem included collaboration opportunities with BMW Group’s legal department, mentorship, and access to BMW Group’s network of industry contacts and resources.

The hackathon presented us with a series of carefully curated problem statements, each designed to address real-world issues within the legal industry. Our team, composed of members with diverse backgrounds in law and technology, chose to tackle the challenge of inefficiencies in legal document analysis. We envisioned a tool that could streamline the process, drastically reducing the time required for document review and improving accuracy. This tool, which we named LitiGraph, aimed to leverage advanced AI and machine learning techniques to automatically analyze legal documents, extracting relevant precedents and citations. This not only promised to cut down a typical 20-hour workflow to just 2.5 hours but also aimed to enhance the quality of legal services by minimizing human errors.

The structure of the hackathon facilitated focused and productive work. After selecting our problem statement, we dove into brainstorming and development. Our strategy emphasized both innovation and feasibility, ensuring our solution was technically robust and practically applicable. We maintained close communication with mentors and industry experts, whose feedback was invaluable in refining our prototype. The intense, collaborative environment pushed us to think creatively and work efficiently, embodying the spirit of a startup-style competition.

Throughout the event, we had the pleasure of attending a series of enlightening lightning talks by industry leaders. Speakers like Harry Surden from Stanford University and Bernhard Waltl from BMW Group shared insights into the evolving use of AI in legal research and data strategy, respectively. These talks provided valuable context and inspiration, further fueling our drive to develop a groundbreaking solution. Additionally, we received guidance and support from professionals like Laura Hodgson from Linklaters and Merul Parmarand from Robin AI, who offered strategic insights and practical advice.

The grand finale was an exhilarating experience. Each team presented their solutions to a panel of judges comprising experts from academia, law, and technology. The presentations were followed by a rigorous Q&A session, where judges delved deeper into the technical aspects and practical implications of our solutions. Despite the high stakes and our best efforts, LitiGraph did not win the top prize. Nevertheless, the atmosphere was one of camaraderie and mutual respect, and the experience was incredibly enriching.

The hackathon concluded with a beautiful concert and singing on the river at King’s College, a fitting end to a day of hard work and inspiring innovation. Reflecting on the experience, I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a transformative event. The skills, connections, and inspiration gained from the LLM x Law Hackathon have reinforced my passion for legal technology and opened new avenues for future exploration. For any student interested in the future of law and technology, I cannot recommend these hackathons enough. They offer a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge ideas, network with industry experts, and potentially create solutions that could become the next MS Word for the legal industry. The experience is invaluable, paving the way for future innovations and career opportunities in legal tech.

Hamza Aslam is a BVS Candidate at The City Law School, University of London, specialising in Commercial and IP law with three years of professional experience. An enthusiast for revolutionizing legal practice by integrating tech, Hamza has published on the impact of AI on intellectual property law in The City Law Review and has actively participated in various legal tech initiatives.