The Russian Legal and Forensic Information Agency (RAPSI) reports from XI International St. Petersburg Forum, while noting remarks from the Petersburg Law Forum (SPBILF) press service about ongoing discussions on digital law and its implications for the profession.
Leading voices in the Russian legal community emphasize a clear shift toward technology-infused practice. Elena Avakyan, Vice President of the Federal Chamber of Lawyers of the Russian Federation, observes a growing interest among lawyers and law students in digital law as a pathway to roles within major IT companies. She notes the motivation is partly financial and partly a sense of stability in in-house work, yet she cautions that future lawyers should not limit themselves to traditional case law. There is a keen expectation that new entrants will also learn how to work with machine learning and programming languages, thereby broadening their professional toolkit.
Avakyan stresses the importance of digital literacy for practitioners who want to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. A practical approach to training is required, she argues, because the future of law will hinge on the ability to interpret, communicate with, and leverage technology. The goal is not merely to understand statutes but to engage with the language of data, algorithms, and digital systems that increasingly shape outcomes in judicial and regulatory contexts. In this view, a digital lawyer should be able to interact effectively with both machines and people, ensuring that legal advice remains grounded in human judgment while informed by technological capability.
At the University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, prominent faculty members such as V. Ya. Kikot, and Tatyana Deryugina, are underscoring the integration of digital competencies into legal education. They advocate for a dual strategy: either appointing an information science specialist to assist investigators or, more broadly, embedding the fundamentals of digital law into the core curriculum. The preferred route is the latter, with the belief that universities must raise legally trained professionals who can navigate the digital dimensions of law with confidence.
Natalia Kovaleva, who leads the Department of Digital Technology Law and Biolaw at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, highlights that the aspiration to become skilled digital lawyers is spreading beyond Moscow to regional hubs. The demand for programs that blend law with technology is rising in universities across the country, reflecting a nationwide push to cultivate expertise that meets the needs of diverse markets and public institutions. This trend suggests a broader movement toward democratizing access to digital legal education, ensuring that regional professionals are prepared to serve clients and agencies that rely on digital infrastructure.
Maria Majorina, Vice-Chancellor for Strategic and International Development at Moscow State Law University, adds a practical note about market breadth. She argues that the pathway for digital lawyers should not be overly narrow. When asked who would require training in this field, she responds that essentially any company or government entity that carries a digital or data-centric footprint stands to benefit. In other words, the demand for digital legal expertise is widespread, spanning private sector firms, public administrative bodies, and non-governmental organizations that operate in a data-rich environment. This perspective aligns with broader industry expectations in North America as well, where the convergence of law, technology, and public policy is reshaping career trajectories in both the United States and Canada. (Sources: RAPSI, SPBILF discussions)