Repsol strengthens ties with universities over the future of legal practice
Repsol is strengthening its engagement with universities through “Legal InnClass”, an initiative designed to share its experience in legal transformation and explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the profession. Its first edition brought together more than 250 academic representatives from over 70 Spanish universities.
Pablo Blanco, Repsol’s general director of Legal Affairs, highlighted the shared responsibility of universities and businesses in preparing future lawyers for a profession increasingly shaped by technology.
The company’s approach reflects the evolution of the in-house legal function, where technical expertise must be complemented by business awareness, critical thinking and digital skills. While AI can facilitate research and the analysis of large volumes of information, legal judgement, critical assessment and responsible decision-making remain essential.
The lawyer of the future
Repsol’s Legal Affairs team shared its experience of transforming the in-house legal function and integrating AI into its day-to-day work.
The discussions highlighted the emergence of a more multidisciplinary legal professional, combining strong technical and legal expertise with critical thinking, business awareness, technological capabilities, curiosity and a digital mindset.
Participants also explored how AI can improve access to knowledge, support the analysis of large volumes of information and streamline certain tasks. However, the discussions emphasised that these capabilities make legal judgement even more important.
The ability to ask the right questions, critically assess AI-generated responses and make responsible decisions will remain essential skills for lawyers as technology becomes increasingly embedded in legal practice.
