She believes AI will be to writing what smartphones were to picture-taking
For Gwendoline Keel, the core of law lies not in one's mastery of rules and procedures, but in serving others. Waikato-Tainui's general manager for governance and legal believes the profession needs to prioritise humanity and relatability, ensuring that access to justice is available to all.
In the second part of this May interview, Keel talks tapping into her creative side again and why she's excited for the rise of legal tech.
How would you describe the core of law to the next generation of lawyers?
Being a lawyer isn’t just about being a great technician, mastering rules and procedures. It’s a privilege to have the knowledge and skills to help people navigate, access, and challenge the law where necessary. Our role is to use that expertise to improve access to justice, empower our clients, and make a real difference in their lives. To me, the core of law is serving others.
What should the profession focus more on?
Being humane and relatable. Fostering diversity within the profession. Advocating for equity by making legal services more representative and accessible. Expanding pro bono work, legal aid, and community legal education, and ensuring everyone can access legal help regardless of their circumstances. Treating each other well.
What challenges are particularly pressing in the country’s legal industry?
Women in the legal profession face several persistent and pressing challenges. Women remain significantly underrepresented as partners and as lead counsel in higher courts. These challenges are systemic and require significant, structured intervention to achieve genuine gender equality and representation at all levels of the profession. My impression is that women are far more present , mobile, and senior in-house, and we need to consider why that is, beyond the obvious.
What are your thoughts on new technology and its impact on the legal profession?
I’m super excited about it. The rise of legal tech is creating new roles and requiring lawyers to develop skills in data analysis, technology management, and hybrid legal-technical expertise. I enrolled in the MInfoGov course because I could see that unprecedented change is coming, fast, and I wasn’t sufficiently up to speed with the material (I’m old enough to remember when we first got email, stopped using faxes, and got our first cellphones). Studying in this area has put me in a much better position to understand, critique, and embrace change.
I recommend studying and participating in this space to everyone. I think the first dramatic change we will observe is the democratisation of writing. AI will do to writing what smartphones have done to photography.
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
Last year I promised my family that I’d step back from some significant external commitments to create some more space for them. I’m at a pivotal moment in my family’s life and I’m really looking forward to being more available and present. I’ve realised that I’m not good or comfortable at being relaxed, though, so I’m working on that. In the meantime, I have challenged myself to write a song for church this year just to tap back into my creative self again!
