The Legal Geek 2024 conference was alive with energy, and the workshop “Re-designing Access to Public Services: A Rollercoaster Ride,” presented by Adam Roney, Founder and CEO of Calls9, and Patrick Grant, Associate Professor of AI and Technology at The University of Law, stood out as an interactive and thought-provoking session. Held on Wednesday, 16 October 2024 in London, the room was full of engaged legal tech enthusiasts eager to dive into how AI could be harnessed to transform public service delivery.
Patrick Grant opened with a thoughtful caveat, emphasising that the session wasn’t about criticising the committed individuals in charities and local government. Instead, the focus was on collaboratively addressing the challenges of AI adoption and public procurement in a constructive way.
Key Outcomes
The goal was to provide the attendees with three key insights:
- A Clear Understanding of How AI Can Transform Public Services: Attendees were presented with real-world examples demonstrating AI’s impact, from AI-driven predictive maintenance preventing streetlight failures in London to using AI to optimise traffic signal timings in Barcelona.
- Actionable Insights on Overcoming AI Adoption Barriers: Practical guidance was shared to help smaller organisations overcome obstacles, including navigating complex public procurement processes. The Procurement Bill 2024 was highlighted as a promising development to simplify these challenges.
- A Vision for Future Collaboration Between Startups, SMEs, and Public Services: The presenters outlined opportunities for more effective partnerships, leveraging new policies to create a more transparent and efficient public sector.
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Exploring practical AI applications to enhance access to justice
Using a real case study, Adam and Patrick showcased how a combination of AI technologies and tools can significantly improve access to justice. The case study provided a practical and compelling glimpse into the real-world application of AI, particularly in addressing critical societal issues such as supporting non-English speakers in accessing vital services.
Audience Engagement and Final Note
The workshop was highly interactive, with numerous questions from the audience, reflecting a shared enthusiasm for tackling the challenges discussed. Adam and Patrick left the audience with a call to action, inspired to consider the role of technology in reshaping public services.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to the organisers of Legal Geek for inviting us to be part of such an inspiring and well-curated conference. We can’t wait to see what incredible innovations the next conference brings!
