In-house lawyers enable rather than hold back organisations, the general counsel says
For Keely Smith, lawyers generally try to find ways to say “yes” while managing risks. As the general counsel and her team of in-house lawyers enjoy their proximity to the University of Waikato’s decision-making process, she sees their role as enabling rather than restricting the organisation.
In the second part of this interview, Smith tells NZ Lawyer how the team is approaching AI adoption and the increased awareness of the importance of the rule of law.
How has AI affected your in-house role, and in-house legal more broadly?
AI is already changing the legal landscape, but I’d say our in-house team is still in the earlier stages of that journey. We’re not yet fully embedded in using AI day-to-day, but we’re actively exploring where it can add value - particularly in areas like drafting, research, and workflow efficiency. There’s a growing assumption that legal can be faster and more responsive, and AI is part of what’s driving that. The key issue for us, is governance - ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and appropriate use. Even though we are yet to fully adopt it, it’s already influencing how we think about our role and how we deliver value.
What’s one misconception people have about lawyers?
Probably that lawyers are there to say “no.” In reality, most of us are trying to find a way to say “yes” - just in a way that manages risk. Especially in-house, our role is really about enabling the organisation, not holding it back.
What are your thoughts on the state of the rule of law globally?
The rule of law remains a foundational principle, but it is under increasing pressure in many jurisdictions - whether through political interference, weakened institutions, or challenges to judicial independence. At the same time however, there’s also strong awareness of how important the rule of law is, and so there’s a lot of effort going into protecting it. My thoughts are, although it’s a foundational principle for most of us, it’s not guaranteed.
What are you looking forward to most in the coming year?
What I’m looking forward to most is how our legal function will evolve with the development of a new rural medical school that will require the use of AI and technology and new integrated ways of learning. It’s a genuinely interesting project, not just from a legal perspective but in terms of how it’s rethinking delivery and learning using technology. I’m looking forward to being involved in that as it takes shape - especially the opportunity to contribute early and help navigate some of the uncertainty.
