Artificial Intelligence (AI) and disruptive technology

Advancing law and policy while exploring the implications of AI and emerging technologies.

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How do we ensure that remarkable advances in digital technology are appropriate for different purposes for society? At UNSW Law & Justice, we are committed to trustworthy, ethical and responsible use of technology, with strong protections for privacy, human safety, and non-discrimination.

While AI presents opportunities to enhance affordable and timely access to justice, its use in policing, regulation and the administration of law raises significant ethical, legal and social challenges.

The responsible use of AI, alongside the broader impacts of technological disruption, is recognised as a key challenge in our Law & Justice 2030 strategy. Addressing these issues will require new legal and regulatory approaches and interdisciplinary thinking.

Our priority is to equip our graduates with the knowledge and skills to engage critically with AI and emerging technologies that they will encounter as future legal professionals. More generally, we will inform, partner with and support the legal profession as they address the technology-induced shifts in legal practice.

Our leadership

UNSW Law & Justice is at the forefront of integrating AI into legal education, research and policy engagement.

Our work focuses on:

Advancing law and policy that responds to technological change
Understanding and addressing the societal impacts of AI
Supporting ethical, responsible and rights-respecting uses of technology
Exploring how AI can improve access to justice while guarding against harm
Through a range of interdisciplinary initiatives, the Faculty is tackling the legal and ethical challenges posed by AI, automation and digital transformation.

Our research spans:

Private and public law
Criminal justice
Regulatory design
Industry sectors including financial services and health care
International law

Key initiatives include:

UNSW Public Interest Law & Tech Initiative (PILATI)

PILATI is an independent community of scholars at UNSW focused on the interaction between law and technology. The initiative aims to advance public interest by fostering discussions, debates, and collaborations among various stakeholders, including academia, civil society, government agencies, and industry. It emphasizes building networks and understanding across diverse disciplines and perspectives.

AI-driven legal research projects

Improving access to justice, including work in refugee law and data-driven policy reform.

AMP Responsible AI partnership initiative

Providing expertise to AMP on practical principles, action plan and governance framework to operationalise responsible AI within AMP.
Led by UNSW Law & Justice and informed by the legal industry, the Centre for the Future of the Legal Profession supports the profession in navigating technological change, evolving societal expectations and new ways of working.

The Centre’s work on AI and technology includes:

Leadership in legal research on use of AI that influences policy development
Expertise in AI governance and commercial law
Designing regulatory frameworks that respond to emerging technologies

Learn more: Centre for the Future of the Legal Profession
In forced migration, as in many other areas, technology brings both significant opportunities and serious risks.

Governments increasingly use new technologies to manage borders and process visas, raising concerns around surveillance, privacy and accountability. At the same time, people on the move can use technology in empowering ways, and digital tools can help civil society promote transparency and fairness.

A key question guiding our work is how to maximise the benefits of technology while mitigating the risks in refugee and asylum contexts.

Kaldor Centre Data Lab

To support fairness in courts and tribunals, the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law established the Kaldor Centre Data Lab, the first of its kind in Australia.

Led by Deputy Director Daniel Ghezelbash, the Data Lab uses data to examine decision-making in Australia’s refugee legal system. The Lab helps identify potential bias and systemic bottlenecks, promoting transparency, efficiency and fairness for people seeking asylum.

Learn more: Kaldor Centre Data Lab

Hear Me Out

Hear Me Out is Australia’s first AI-powered complaint platform and one of the world’s first direct-to-consumer, generative AI legal self-help tools.

The initiative is led by the National Justice Project, developed in close partnership with UNSW’s Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, and supported by the NSW Government’s Access to Justice Innovation Fund.

Key features:

Free online tool available at HearMeOut.org.au
Enables users to describe their experience and receive guidance on how and where to make a complaint
Covers more than 75 NSW and Federal complaint bodies
Includes legal resources, factsheets and navigation support

The platform is expanding nationally, with Victoria the next state to be rolled out.