A non-stock, non-profit organization aimed at formalizing the relationship of law and technology was launched at the culmination of the four-part series called “Technology and the Legal Practice” hosted by Apptitude.
Legal Tech Philippines (Legal Tech PH) will serve as the formal venue where stakeholders from both the legal practice and technology industry can talk about and advocate digital transformation, digital property, and machine learning among many things.
“(Like when) the government puts up a new website and it is still using technologies from the 1990s, will the consumer feel that it is trustworthy? Does it have the security standards that are bank-worthy? Will it pass the compliance requisites of privacy? All of these things must be standardized and talked about. This entity (Legal Tech PH) will lead and make it beneficial to both the regulatory side and to the markets who already have established best practices,” according to Mars Veloso, Chief Executive Officer of Apptitude.
Apptitude is a Filipino-made online learning management system that aims to provide a technology network in the education industry that enables teachers, students, and professionals to enhance their current capabilities and adapt to the global demand for skills and innovation.
Private companies, government agencies, programmers, law firms/lawyers, and businessmen interested in the legal tech spaces are invited to be part of the organization and initiative.
From 13 August 2021 to 04 September 2021, Apptitude hosted a series of webinars on LegalTech, Online MCLE, and Data Privacy and Compliance. The culmination activity of the series was graced by Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Panfilo Lacson, who both emphasized the importance of technology in the public sector.
“The exponential advancement of technology in the digital age has changed and continues to change the way we live our lives and the way we look at the future at such a rapid phase. The momentum of digital evolution in the Philippines is low primarily due to weak transaction infrastructure, as well as lack of government capability to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations,” said Senator Sherwin Gatchalian who gave a speech on the importance of technology in improving the delivery of public services.
Senator Lacson, on the other hand, discussed the legislative agenda on ICT, particularly the passage of the Philippine Identification System, the roll-out of the digital connectivity program, and the expansion of science, technology, and innovation (STI) initiatives. According to Senator Lacson, both the government and legal community play a role in marshaling tech adoption to ensure this improves judicial values and results in the efficient delivery of public services.