Hello everyone! My name is Hannah Pryor and, as the appointed Student Digital Champion for the School of Law this year, I have had the incredible opportunity to engage with a diverse range of students across the university supporting your digital concerns and collaborating on innovative projects exploring the evolving landscape of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Reflecting on my journey as a digital skills assistant, standout moments include leading the ‘ChatGPT Unlocked’ workshops to support students in AI responsibility and the unbelievable opportunity to present at Jisc’s national conference, Digifest 2024.

As a third-year Law (LLB) student who has just wrapped up final coursework and a dissertation, I am keenly interested in the intersection between law and technology, particularly in the evolving paradigm of the legal profession as AI integration becomes ubiquitous. Thus, serving as the Student Digital Champion representative has been personally fulfilling, enhancing my understanding of the changing landscape of the legal profession, which I endeavor to join. The most rewarding aspect of the role has been having the opportunity to engage with students and faculty members from across the university, collaborating closely with different perspectives and fostering meaningful relationships with staff within the School of Law at the forefront of legal-technological academia.

However, the role has not only been personally fulfilling but also has been instrumental in furthering our collective understanding of digital advancements in the academic sphere. The ‘ChatGPT Unlocked’ workshop series has been revolutionary, offering practical guidance to students on how to responsibly integrate AI tools into their academic endeavors, ensuring they maintain academic integrity throughout their work. The feedback from QUB students across the faculties has been overwhelmingly positive, with many participants from the School of Law highlighting the perceived value of such initiatives to legal studies. On a broader scale, my role has influenced the ongoing discourse surrounding AI in academia through close collaboration with Jisc, an influential higher-education technology company. This partnership culminated in an invitation to present on a student panel at their national conference, Digifest 2024, held in Birmingham.

Following my contribution to Jisc’s ‘Student Perceptions of Generative AI Report’, I was honoured with the chance to share my insights and perspectives on a panel discussion in front of academic and industry professionals. Combining the feedback provided by fellow QUB students throughout the year with my own findings, the panel proved to be a resounding success, resulting in subsequent conversations for the remainder of the conference with industry professionals impressed by the Student Digital Champion role. As a follow-up, I have had the opportunity to speak on internal panels within QUB, sharing insights gathered from the year of experiences.

Currently, I am actively leading projects that have stemmed from the feedback received at the conference, and I am excited to soon share a comprehensive QUB perspectives on AI report. As I look to the future, my aim is to further contribute to the intersection of technology and law, leveraging the incredible experiences and opportunities afforded to me as the Student Digital Champion for the School of Law. Thank you to the students and faculty who have enriched this experience and inspired me to continue shaping the future of law in the digital age!

Find out more about the work of the Digital Champions here.