Michael Legg

Professor Michael Legg is a Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. He holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne, an LLM from the University of California, Berkeley, and undergraduate degrees from UNSW. With over 25 years of legal practice experience at leading Australian and U.S. law firms, he is admitted to practice in multiple jurisdictions, including the Supreme Court of NSW, Federal Court of Australia, and courts in New York.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law, University of Melbourne
• Master of Laws (LLM), University of California, Berkeley
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of New South Wales
• Masters of Commerce (Honours in Accounting), University of New South Wales
• Bachelor of Commerce (Honours in Accounting), University of New South Wales

Research Interests: Professor Legg specializes in complex litigation, including regulatory enforcement, class actions, and innovation in the legal profession. His work explores the intersection of technology (e.g., AI) with legal practice, civil procedure reforms, and the ethical dimensions of modern lawyering. His research has influenced court judgments and law reform reports in Australia and internationally.

Articles Trends: His recent work emphasizes AI’s impact on legal practice, the evolution of class actions in the digital age, and the ethical challenges posed by technologies like generative AI. He also addresses regulatory gaps in areas like greenwashing litigation and securities law enforcement.

Awards:

• 2020: Article/Chapter Award, Australian Legal Research Awards
• 2017: Lawyers Weekly Academic of the Year
• 2016: Dean’s Award for Impact and Engagement, UNSW

Advising & Grants: Professor Legg has advised on high-profile cases and contributed to law reform through submissions to bodies like the Victorian Law Reform Commission. His grants include projects on AI in courts and litigation funding regulation. He leads the UNSW Centre for the Future of the Legal Profession, exploring tech-driven legal education and practice.

Labs/Teams: He collaborates with the Centre for the Future of the Legal Profession and participates in interdisciplinary teams addressing AI ethics, legal technology adoption, and global litigation trends.