Why legal education must encompass the intricate relationship between law, human rights, and technology

Law schools must provide students with interdisciplinary insights, encouraging them to analyse human rights issues beyond statutory frameworks. 
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Integrating human rights and technological competencies into legal education has now become a necessity. As societies become increasingly interconnected and digitalised, professionals need to be able to navigate complex intersections of ethics, human rights, and technology.

Human rights, as the bedrock of legal systems worldwide, must remain central to legal education. These principles ensure justice, equity, and dignity for all individuals. However, merely understanding human rights laws is insufficient today. Students must also grasp their practical implications in an increasingly globalised and fragmented world.

Human rights issues

One of the pressing issues is the dynamic interpretation of human rights in light of cultural diversity, climate change, and socio-political conflicts. For instance, climate justice is no longer a purely environmental concern but a human rights issue. Rising sea levels and resource scarcity disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, challenging lawyers to approach these matters with a human rights perspective.

Law schools must provide students with interdisciplinary insights, encouraging them to analyse human rights issues beyond statutory frameworks. Clinical programmes, moot court exercises, and international law electives focusing on real-world applications can be invaluable. By fostering critical thinking and empathy, these programmes enable future lawyers to protect and advocate for fundamental rights effectively.

Technological implications

Parallel to human rights, technology has reshaped the legal profession. AI, blockchain, and data analytics are no longer fringe concepts but central to how legal services are delivered. While these advancements enhance efficiency and accuracy, they also introduce challenges such as data privacy concerns, algorithmic biases, and cybersecurity threats.

Legal professionals must now navigate these technological domains and understand their implications. For instance, the increasing reliance on AI in predictive policing or courtroom decisions raises questions about transparency and accountability. Without adequate oversight, such systems risk perpetuating biases, undermining the legal principles they are meant to uphold.

Law schools need to integrate courses on legal tech, cybersecurity, and data ethics into their curriculums. By exposing students to the technological tools transforming the profession, they can prepare them to adapt and innovate. Partnerships with tech companies, hands-on workshops, and collaborative projects are excellent ways to foster tech competency among students.

The intersection of human rights and technology is where law schools can create transformative learning experiences. Digital rights is an example. Issues such as online censorship, data surveillance, and misinformation directly impact freedom of expression and privacy rights. Future lawyers must understand these nuances to advocate for policies and frameworks that balance innovation with fundamental rights.

Additionally, the ethical dimensions of technology, such as AI’s role in decision-making, warrant rigorous debate. Legal education should encourage students to question how emerging technologies align with human rights principles. Are these innovations inclusive? Do they promote equality or widen existing disparities? Addressing these questions is crucial to foster a generation of socially responsible lawyers.

Legal education must adapt to meet these challenges head-on. A comprehensive approach that includes interdisciplinary learning, practical exposure, and emphasising the need for lifelong learning can prepare students to become socially responsible professionals. This will ensure that future lawyers not only understand the intricate relationship between law, human rights, and technology but also have the tools to advocate for justice in an increasingly complex and connected world.

The writer is Director in-charge of SVKM’s NMIMS Chandigarh and Associate Dean of the School of Law.

Published – February 22, 2025 03:30 pm IST

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