How technology is changing legal careers

Technology is reshaping business and society, and legal professionals are finding themselves at the centre of new challenges. Modern lawyers are adapting to work with artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, data privacy, and digital rights. Legal careers are rapidly expanding beyond traditional courtrooms into boardrooms, tech companies, and policy think tanks, where the future of our digital society is being shaped. We look at what the future of law and tech looks like and how our Bachelor of Law (LLB) Hons programme will stand you in good stead for this transitioning career.

The rise of automation, digital platforms, and cross-border data flows has introduced complex legal questions. Who's responsible when an algorithm makes a decision? How do you make sure data is secure across jurisdictions? What happens when intellectual property collides with the open internet? These concerns are now a core part of modern legal work.

Our legal landscape is becoming increasingly connected to technology and business, which means there is a growing demand for legal minds who can engage with emerging issues. Legal professionals are expected to understand the technologies driving change and the commercial realities behind them. Looking forward, lawyers need to know the law and apply it in the fast-moving world of global business, digital infrastructure, and regulatory innovation.

Key legal careers emerging from technology

New roles are taking shape that didn't exist a decade ago. These careers blend legal knowledge with digital expertise, offering pathways for professionals who want to work at the forefront of law, innovation, and ethics.

These roles align with the content covered in Module 3 of our LLB programme, which explores Legal Project Management, Cybersecurity Law, and Intellectual Property.

Here are some of the key roles of gaining traction:

Cybersecurity consultant

• Advises on privacy, compliance, and digital security frameworks
  
• Helps organisations mitigate legal risks tied to data breaches and cyberattacks

Intellectual property advisor

• Works with startups, creators, and digital businesses
  
• Protects innovations in fast-evolving tech environments

Legal project manager

• Oversees complex transactions or litigation processes
  
• Coordinates teams, timelines, and resources to deliver outcomes

AI ethics consultant

• Assesses legal risk in AI and algorithmic decision-making
  
• Develop ethical governance strategies across sectors

These careers are grounded in legal fundamentals and highlight skills such as problem-solving, communication, and business strategy. Knowing how to interpret a contract is as important as understanding how that contract plays out in a tech-driven, international market.

Many law degrees are beginning to reflect this shift, combining foundational legal education with insights from business, technology, and digital law. Programmes that explore internet regulation, fraud and corruption, digital rights, and project management are becoming more common. Flexible study options also mean more professionals are building their legal knowledge while working or retraining.

How Aston University Online prepares you

Aston University's online LLB (Hons) programme is designed specifically to align with this changing legal environment. While it provides a qualifying law degree that meets BSB requirements, its focus goes beyond traditional study. The curriculum integrates core legal principles with digital and commercial awareness, preparing students for the roles shaping modern practice.

Modules such as Cybersecurity Law, Intellectual Property and the Internet, and Legal Project Management (Module 3) give students direct insight into how technology intersects with regulation. Earlier in the programme, Module 1 develops research skills, legal reasoning, and written advocacy – all of which support SQE1 and SQE2 readiness. Module 2 looks at complex ethical and criminal scenarios, preparing students for challenges in litigation, client communication, and applied ethics.

Assignments are often modelled on real-world scenarios, helping students apply their knowledge to situations they're likely to encounter in practice. Innovation Week – a dedicated period in the programme where students are introduced to tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and digital communication techniques adds an extra layer of professional development, building interdisciplinary skills for a modern legal career.

What sets Aston apart:

• A qualifying online law degree that aligns with BSB requirements
  
• Part-time, fully flexible study with no fixed schedule
  
• Modules developed by legal experts with industry insight
  
• Practical skills in commercial law, project management, and technology law
  
• Customisable research projects aligned with your career goals
  
• Innovation Week to develop creative, tech-enabled communication skills

You also benefit from Aston's TEF Triple Gold-rated teaching, access to major legal and academic publications, and a small, supportive online learning community.

Graduates go on to a range of roles. Some pursue traditional routes such as solicitors or barristers. Others step into hybrid legal-business positions like consulting on compliance, managing corporate accounts, or advising on digital regulation. Aston alumni have joined organisations like Pinsent Masons, Rolls-Royce, Shoosmiths, and Citizens Advice, among others.

What you can do with a law degree

Graduates of online law programmes increasingly find opportunities across sectors, including:

• Human resources law: advising organisations on employment law and workplace compliance
  
• Corporate and commercial law: managing contracts, negotiations, and risk
  
• Cybersecurity and data protection: applying legal frameworks to emerging tech issues
  
• Criminal and regulatory roles: working in litigation, law enforcement, or public service
  
• International law and diplomacy: handling cross-border legal issues and policy

You can also pursue a law conversion degree or go on to postgraduate study with a law master's degree in specialised fields.

What legal skills matter in the digital world?

• Commercial awareness
  
• Digital literacy
  
• Legal research and reasoning
  
• Client communication
  
• Ethical decision-making
  
• Critical analysis
  
• Interdisciplinary thinking

If you’re exploring a future in law, the opportunities are broadening. Legal careers now exist at the intersections of technology, ethics, business, and governance. From specialising in AI regulation and advice on intellectual property to managing complex transactions, the future of law offers a range of roles that are both intellectually and practically rewarding.

The law remains about people, principles, and problem-solving. What's changing is the context and the tools legal professionals use to do their work. Aston University's online LLB prepares you with a strong foundation in legal thinking, a sharp sense of commercial awareness, and the confidence to navigate the future of law. Find out more about our law programme here.