The Future of Law Lab

The Lab sits at the intersection of law, innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. Through our activities, we explore the key questions shaping the legal field. We promote, support, and develop programs examining the evolution of law practice.

Our Work

We are a legal laboratory based at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law that focuses on experiential learning, research & strategic policy development, inter-disciplinary knowledge sharing, and job creation.

Three JD students in the Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP Atrium in the Jackman Law Building

Experiential learning

We provide initiatives ranging from speaker series, and hack-a-thons, to workshops and more to provide an experiential learning experience. Our initiatives have addressed topics including Predictive Decision-Making, Climate Change, Privacy Law, Competition Law, and more.

Hand holding a smartphone that displays an image of a lock and the word "Privacy"

Research and development

Research is pivotal in understanding how the future of law continuously evolves. We spotlight faculty courses on AI, data governance, and emerging technologies. Our renowned faculty explores key questions driving societal responses to technology. Follow our Twitter for recent publications.

Professors Trudo Lemmens and Jean-Christophe Bédard-Rubin in conversation.

Co-curricular opportunities

The Future of Law Lab promotes experiential and cross-disciplinary learning as an opportunity for students to develop their skillsets, both during the academic year and in the form of summer employment.

Knowledge sharing

We collaborate with industry, academic institutions, think-tanks, and policy groups in an effort to promote multi-disciplinary collaboration among professions.

Our numbers

20+ Research projects completed over the last 3 years 90+ Participants in our recent Legal Hack-A-Thon 8 Case simulations developed 25 Student jobs created each year 9 External collaborations 3 Internal collaborations

It is exciting that the Future of Law Lab seeks to create more interdisciplinary spaces at the law school where law students can learn alongside and innovate with students from different disciplines and backgrounds, like computer science, engineering, business and design. This appears more crucial than ever, as the lawyers of the 21st-century need to be more agile and capable of thriving in diverse, and perhaps, non-conventional teams and in novel environments.
Amy Lin (J.D. Candidate, 2022)

The future of Law Lab is the faculty’s gateway to Toronto’s world-class tech ecosystem. A growing number of U of T Law students are curious about entrepreneurship and how the law plays a role in tech innovation. The Future of Law Lab fills a need for these students by creating a home base where students, alumni, community leaders, and industry experts can connect.
Courtney Cowan (J.D. Candidate, 2023)

The diversity of the guest speakers and topics covered in the events is incredible. The Future of Law Lab offers insights into current and future innovative legal practices that are essential to anyone interested in the legal community.
Katharine Li (J.D. Candidate, 2023)

The Future of Law Lab is a forward-thinking initiative that five us students a unique opportunity to explore how law, technology, and entrepreneurship interact, from leaders and scholars within these fields!
Stephanie Rei (J.D. Candidate, 2023)

As a first-year law student, the Future of Law Lab has allowed me to participate in many incredible events that have been a truly refreshing addition to the learning I receive in my courses. In my first semester, I got the chance to hear from some exceptional engaging speakers, learned about the impact of AI and other technology in the legal field, and was exposed to fascinating non-traditional legal career paths.
Daniel Mester (J.D. Candidate, 2023)