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As legal questions and challenges surrounding the metaverse, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), robotics and artificial intelligence increasingly become part of daily life, Herbert Smith Freehills is offering students and graduates the opportunity to develop their understanding of these emerging technologies and digital law.

The firm is running a series of three sessions exploring how lawyers help innovative clients navigate novel legal and regulatory issues in the digital age. To bring these issues to life, the first session will be streamed live from the metaverse. In what is believed to be an industry first, course completion certificates will also be transferred to participants as NFTs after they have been shown how to mint them.

The Digital Law Course will be open to students and graduates of any level and discipline who are considering a career in the law. Participants will hear from Herbert Smith Freehills' digital lawyers about the opportunities that these exciting new technologies bring to pioneering businesses, as well as the legal and regulatory problems those businesses have to navigate. Topics covered include the legal considerations of operating in the metaverse, artificial intelligence and how to operate with NFTs.

"Digital technologies bring about real-world opportunities and challenges for businesses," says Alex Cravero, Digital Law Lead for the UK, US and EMEA at Herbert Smith Freehills. "As the impact of technology and data on our personal and professional lives grows, so does our clients' need for lawyers who truly understand these technologies and the strategic role they play."

Building on the success of last year's course, participants will be able to apply to join any of the three sessions. In keeping with the technologies being discussed, each session aims to provide an immersive and interactive experience that includes an "ask me anything" (AMA) slot with presenters at the end of each session where participants can ask questions live.

Registration for the course opens on 26 September and closes on 9 October 2022, with up to 1,000 participants being awarded free places per session. Sessions take place between 6 pm and 7:30 pm on Tuesday evenings (UK time) on 18 and 25 October and 1 November 2022. Applications are open to students and graduates in the UK, US, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, while a separate course will be run by the firm in early 2023 for students and graduates in Asia Pacific.  

Those completing any session could also win a two-day work experience with Herbert Smith Freehills' digital lawyers, seeing first-hand how they advise pioneering clients on the challenges described during the course. Participants can further win a place on the firm's Digital Open Day, held in-person in its London office on 8 November 2022, where they will join up to 80 other students and graduates in discovering what it is like to be a digital lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills.

Cravero concludes: "Getting hands on with complex emerging technologies is vital if we want to demystify them. Their ever-increasing use is ushering in a new era of law and regulation, and the most successful lawyers of tomorrow will be those who understand and embrace this change. This course is an exciting and engaging step for students and graduates on their way to becoming a future digital lawyer."

Key contacts

Alexander Amato-Cravero photo

Alexander Amato-Cravero

Regional Head, Emerging Technology Group (UK, US & EMEA), London

Alexander Amato-Cravero

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Mike Petrook

Communications Manager

London