CEO Riana Steyn also addressed the impact of AI on law graduates’ prospects at a panel discussion
Bartier Perry has celebrated 10 years of supporting the Western Sydney University Leadership Scholarship for Women.
“We’re proud to support a scholarship that recognises and fosters the leadership potential of women in law,” CEO Riana Steyn said at an event commemorating the milestone. “It’s about ensuring that the next generation of legal professionals reflects the diversity and strength of our broader community”.
Steyn was part of a legal panel commemorating the 30th anniversary of the WSU School of Law. She touched on the impact of AI on the job prospects of law graduates.
“AI will transform the law—just as it will transform our clients’ businesses. However, AI is not genuinely empathetic. It is not ethically driven. It does not possess negotiation, judgement, or advocacy skills”, Steyn said. “Legal graduate jobs therefore will not disappear—but they will evolve”.
She explained that technical proficiency and an understanding of AI tools would be key. Bartier Perry chief people officer Nadine Cooper added that the legal technology education should not just be optional.
“We believe legal technology and innovation must be embedded into core curricula—not offered as electives. Universities will also need to model continuous learning by providing access to short courses, digital platforms, and peer learning opportunities”, Cooper said.
She explained that the law was founded on “intellectual rigour” based on “diverse views, perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences” and not “vibes, popularity, or selective facts”; thus, universities must cultivate the expression of varying perspectives and ideas “in an age of algorithms”.
