Who are digital lawyers and what do they do?

How is a digital specialist different from a conventional one?

Legal profession appeared even in ancient Rome. For centuries, the approach to it has not changed: a good specialist had to know the laws and be able to apply them. But modernity has left its mark on the profession: now almost all companies use electronic signatures and exchange documents over the Internet. A lawyer who wants to remain in demand needs not only to understand various areas of law, but also to be able to conduct electronic document management, own specialized services and applications, as well as advise clients online.

It is also necessary for such a specialist to follow the news of technology. Developments appear regularly that may lead to changes in laws. For example, the development of neural networks has raised a discussion about copyright for content that artificial intelligence creates. And although this question

not settled at the legislative level, in the future it is quite possible.

What companies can you work for and what should you do there?

Tasks for such a specialist can be found in almost any organization that uses digital technologies. A lawyer can advise marketplaces, IT firms, computer game developers, crypto startups, banks that create their applications and platforms.

There are two main areas in which to conduct business:

• Work with documents. A competent lawyer should be able to draw up a user agreement, security and privacy policy, as well as other documents, taking into account the laws in the field of digital technologies. For example, an online store can not just place a form on the site to subscribe to an email newsletter. You need to add a checkmark about the client's consent to the processing of personal data and provide a link to the user agreement, which will indicate how the company plans to dispose of this information. A lawyer can help draw up the rules for using the resource.
• Advise clients. A digital lawyer is approached on issues of data protection, copyright, intellectual property. For example, such a specialist can help an IT company with accreditation or prepare a license agreement for a program or application that it develops.

The work provides opportunities for growth and development, because it involves gaining knowledge in various areas - law and information technology. Although the direction has appeared recently, it is noted by the professional community. For example, in Russia for five years handed over Digital Lawyer of the Year award.

What tools are useful to master

• Programs for working with documents. Modern lawyers do not draw up standard contracts, extracts and protocols from scratch. They use services that already have ready-made templates and you only need to substitute data. However, familiarity with the standard forms of documents will not hurt. This way it will be possible to track errors at the stage of creating templates - after all, they are still written by people.
• Databases for lawyers. When a specialist is faced with a complex issue of law enforcement, he needs to study all the nuances of this task. Databases help — they contain legal acts, commentaries, books, legal research, and so on. The specialist must be able to quickly find useful information without wasting time sifting through unnecessary material.
• Applications for video conferencing and instant messengers. Lawyers, like other professions, can work remotely. Therefore, it is useful to have the skills necessary to organize online meetings with colleagues and clients.
• professional social media. They help you connect with other lawyers, as well as other professionals who may one day become clients.

The ability to write code at the level of a professional developer is hardly required for a lawyer. But understanding the basics of programming is useful in order to more effectively help companies that work in the field of digital business. Some professionals notethat understanding how the code works and how the development process is structured allows you to better see how processes are built in software companies.

How Much Can a Digital Lawyer Earn?

Salaries depend on the field and experience of the specialist. For example, game developers may expect a lawyer to be proficient in international law, resolve issues for the protection of intellectual property, to understand what taxes you need to pay in the country where you are registered company. But the salary of such a specialist will be higher than in other areas. Research Moscow Digital School showedthat it takes more than two months to fill a job as a digital lawyer in the field of computer game development. In Moscow, they are ready to pay him an average of 493 thousand rubles a month, and in the regions - 216 thousand.

In addition, the profession of a lawyer allows you to choose different career trajectories. For example, you can work for a large law firm, open a private practice, or become a freelance consultant. A specialist who works for himself and has earned a good reputation among clients can regulate income himself and choose the tasks that interest him.