The ex-Minter Ellison lawyer with a staggeringly humbling CV has herself developed and incubated legal software that has now been spun out into a separate entity and is now in use in legal teams internationally.
“Australians developing, incubating and embracing new technology and innovation is something I’m very vocal about,’’ says Baker.
Having founded the award-winning Hive Legal in 2014, a groundbreaking virtual law firm servicing blue chip clients, Jodie now heads Xakia Technologies, a company whose matter management software for in-house corporate legal teams is now being used widely in Australia and globally.
Jodie has worked with some of the world’s leading stockbrokers, spent two and a half years working in the US, and her journey with tech and innovation gives her an inside view of what is happening to the legal profession – knowledge that will help lawyers at the College of Law’s Centre for Legal Innovation.
“I believe that looking at global trends in our industry and listening to what the market needs will inform our understanding of innovation, which is driven not just by technology but by the needs of the clients.
“Necessity is the mother of all invention – the legal industry innovation we are currently seeing combines advances in technology and thinking together with the need to address financial pressures caused by reducing legal budgets.”
Jodie says the biggest risk to the legal profession is if it “just sits back”.
“Others will step forward and the disruption and innovation will come from outside the industry to fill the void.”
But lawyers and the legal profession can emerge from disruption stronger than ever, she says.
“Lawyers have unique skills to navigate complex landscapes. There is an opportunity to use these skills and combine them with innovation to create great solutions.
“Australia has a thriving community of legal innovators, and this is an exciting time for the Australian legal community to shine on the global stage.”
With regard to the future, Jodie says it is a lot easier to see 10 years ahead than five.
“In 10 years I can see artificial intelligence and machine learning being very common and working alongside humans with complex legal problems.
“The next five years will be more about systemisation, and automation applications.”
Jodie predicts legal profession will be changed, with some specialities being “decommissioned”.
“There will be some jobs that will disappear off the landscape, but new professions and specialties within the legal profession will be created.”
“It’s a great opportunity for new lawyers coming through. Young people can position themselves for an exciting future.”
She urged new lawyers to stay across digital trends and not be frightened of the future.
“Know what is happening with regard to change, increasing mobility and innovation. It’s important that people are not scared off by new technology and innovation more broadly.”
She says readying lawyers for change is “what the Centre for Legal Innovation is for”.
“It’s a place for people to see what legal innovation and what new technology is all about.
Her final advice: “Just get started and open your eyes to what is happening and where the market is – with the Centre that is now possible.”