KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called on the legal profession to undergo a fundamental shift in values, skills and knowledge to remain relevant in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and rapid global change. In his keynote address at the inaugural Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) Conference, he said the future of lawyering must go beyond mastering statutes and precedents, as these are increasingly becoming the domain of advanced AI systems. "The lawyer of 2030 will therefore no longer be a 'search engine in a suit' because far more will be required. It follows that what needs to be cultivated today must shift to those that are not easily replicated and are complementary to current and upcoming AI capabilities. The prime minister said lawyers must serve as ethical authorities and moral anchors, ensuring that legal outcomes are not only correct but also just, while demonstrating empathy in handling disputes.

Source: The Edge Markets April 02, 2026 06:31 UTC