IE Lawtomation Days 2024: The transformative power of digital ecosystems

IE Lawtomation Days 2024, held on September 26 and 27 at the IE Tower, brought together a wide variety of academics and practitioners from around the globe to discuss the transformative power of digital ecosystems. Centered on the theme "Computing the Law, Regulating the Algorithm: The Transformative Power of Digital Ecosystems," the two-day event attracted a hundred participants and featured 23 engaging panels. The conference also saw the active participation of 30 student volunteers who contributed to its success.

“Lawtomation is not just a research project; it is a thriving research community that has grown significantly over the past three years. It provides a dynamic platform for the study, discussion, and dissemination of new ideas on the evolving role of law in an increasingly digitized society," remarked Antonio Aloisi, Professor at IE Law School and an Emile Noël fellow at the Jean Monnet Center at New York University (NYU) School of Law.

The conference aimed to explore how technological advancements, particularly automation, can be harnessed to create more sustainable, inclusive, and ethically grounded environments. The overarching goal was to inspire deeper interdisciplinary research where law intersects with digital innovation.

Key topics focused on how law can pursue the goal of automation into diverse fields —from consumer and criminal law to labour and public law. This year’s conference provided a much-needed dose of realism to the dialogue, balancing hype with constructive critique to highlight both achievements and areas for improvement in today's legal frameworks.

The discussions were further enriched by renowned keynote speakers, including Omri Ben-Shahar (University of Chicago Law School), Lilian Edwards (Newcastle Law School), Oliver Goodenough (Vermont Law School), and Uma Rani (International Labour Office). 

The event was organized by IE University's Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for Law and Automation (Lawtomation), a hub of expertise and knowledge on the impact of automation on law that promotes excellence in teaching and research. The Centre is co-funded by the European Commission, within the framework of the Erasmus+ program.

Francisco de Elizalde, Director of Lawtomation and a professor at IE Law School, acknowledged the importance of convenors Federica Coppola, François Delerue, Guadalupe Martínez, Yuliya Kaspiarovich, the members of the Jean Monnet Centre, the European Commission, and IE Law School, whose support has been instrumental in the continued success of these initiatives.