Page 48 - Campus Technology, March/April 2019

C-Level View
decisions about these technologies?
Part of the extreme rate of change is driven by
the competition to rush technologies to market: Are we really going to be able to understand, in a timely manner, the possible impacts these technologies are going to have?
CT: At that point, is the process of under- standing what’s legal going to help?
Christian: Eventually, yes. There’s a long road ahead — which may include more standards development and potential regulation in some new areas. But if our awareness is sharpened, we’ll know both what’s possible and what’s legal. Over time, a more general knowledge of what’s legal will help shape what’s possible — these things work together.
CT: So, who’s going to lead the charge? Is there an important role here for law schools to create programs and curricula about the possibilities of emerging technologies — and examine their legal issues?
Christian: Yes! And it’s a relatively new role that offers real promise to benefit both the legal pro- fession in general and the law schools that offer
these types of programs in particular.
There could be many benefits to the schools that take on these challenges. Enrollments will increase. Graduates will get excellent jobs, and new applicants will view these schools as much sought-after choices. Work done at such law schools on the legal implications of emerging technologies will inform the profession in general
and present significant value to society overall. I’m not saying that building programs and cur- ricula related to emerging technologies will be easy or cheap, and I’m not saying that this will fit into every school’s mission. But those law schools that expand their understanding of emerging technologies and lead the field in the exploration of related legal issues will achieve
greater national prominence.
CT: Finally, considering a wider range of disciplines, what should technology lead- ers keep in mind?
Christian: Going back to the rate of change, it’s important for us to be constantly pulse-checking what’s going on around us, and building a better understanding of the true impact of our technolo- gies. With persistence, even in this challenging environment, it’s possible to close the gap.
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CAMPUS TECHNOLOGY | March/April 2019
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