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Legal software company Harvey has reinforced its focus on legal education and nurturing its international presence, rolling out its software to 100 law schools and opening a new office in Asia.
As artificial intelligence continues to transform the legal profession, AI software Harvey continues to prepare the next generation of lawyers to combine technological fluency with critical thinking, sound judgement, and effective and ethical AI usage.
With the company looking to work with more than 100 law schools across the world, Harvey is supporting educators and students in developing the necessary skills required for modern-day legal practice.
This comes after the AI software company recently partnered with BigLaw firms for a new AI-powered pro bono program, with the aim of expanding justice accessibility across the UK, Australia, and the US.
In addition, Harvey is expanding its global presence by establishing a Tokyo office, which is planned to open in early 2027, deepening its commitment to supporting law firms and in-house legal teams in Japan.
Preparing the next generation of lawyers for an AI-led profession
The team at Harvey has seen an opportunity to help educators prepare the next generation of lawyers, by working across more than 100 law schools globally.
Harvey’s chief strategy officer, Keith Enright, has worked with senior legal leaders at the intersection of technology and the delivery of legal work, highlighting the challenges and opportunities being faced by the profession.
Enright noted that many firms are investing heavily in AI and anticipate that graduates will arrive at law firms in an “AI-efficient” manner and with an eagerness to use the tools.
Increasing law student exposure to AI during legal education is seen as an advantage for future associates by making them more marketable to employers of all kinds and more immediately productive.
Australian BigLaw firms are already investing in upskilling young lawyers’ knowledge of AI, conducting training sessions and introducing them to tools early on, such as Harvey.
Internationally, students such as Mendel Jacobson from the University of Michigan have recognised the impact of Harvey on their legal education, particularly as a way of making a smooth transition into working as a young lawyer.
“Harvey has rounded out my legal education as I begin a career in transactional law,” Jacobson said.
“While in law school, I explored the platform and tried out the various prompts, agents, and review tables; this exposed me to the kinds of work a junior associate might do.”
In Australia, universities have also recognised the ever-changing landscape of the legal profession, appreciating the need for constant adaptation.
The University of Sydney Law School dean and head of school, Professor Fleur Johns, said: “Sydney Law School is supporting our teaching staff to incorporate use of HarveyAI and other legal AI tools into core teaching in creative, context-appropriate and pedagogically sound ways – ways that encourage students to compare tools, explore their utility and limitations, and understand associated professional risks.
“Free educational licenses to HarveyAI also enable our students to engage and experiment with AI already widely used in legal practice, with accompanying guidance.
“Meanwhile, we continue to assure the development of fundamental competencies through face-to-face teaching and secure assessments in all our programs.”
Jane Hogan, a lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney, has also comprehended that AI cannot be overlooked any longer, as it becomes an inevitable feature of the legal landscape.
“We at the University of Technology Sydney know that AI cannot be ignored and is now a permanent feature of the legal landscape,” Hogan said.
“We therefore want to equip our students with the skills to use AI effectively, responsibly and critically.
“This is only possible with hands-on experience of the way AI is used in legal practice.
“In this context, enabling our students to participate in a hackathon run by a major law firm using Harvey helps us achieve these goals.
“Not only did the students have a fun day – they also learnt about using Harvey to both solve a specific legal problem and to scale that solution to solve new matters of that kind.”
Deepening Harvey’s commitment in Asia
Adding to Harvey’s growing focus on innovation and expansion, in 2027 the company will open an office in Tokyo, aiming to support firms and in-house legal teams.
Harvey is investing in a local presence, aiming to build lasting relationships, listening to customers and ensuring that clients’ needs are guiding how the software can build and grow within the area.
The Tokyo office will support an expanding customer base in Japan and foster relationships with law firms such as Mori Hamada & Matsumoto and Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, and in-house legal teams, including Mitsubishi Corporation.
Commenting on the expansion, Harvey CEO Winston Weinberg sees the Japanese market as being a pioneer in AI integration across industries.
“Japan is a critical market for legal and home to many exceptional law firms and companies,” Weinberg said.
“With the government investing in AI acceleration country-wide, there’s no better time to bring Harvey to Tokyo.
“Having a team in Japan will help us better understand the needs of legal professionals in Japan and make their experience central to how we build and grow here.”
Mori Homada & Matsumoto partner and chief financial officer Koji Toshima also highlighted the beneficial nature of implementing Harvey to the law firm in Japan.
“Since establishing our partnership with Harvey in 2024, we have worked closely together to explore how AI can enhance the quality and efficiency of legal services in Japan,” Toshima said.
“Harvey’s decision to open a Tokyo office is a very welcome and significant milestone, demonstrating its strong commitment to the Japanese legal market.
“Building on our collaboration to date, including our recent support in bringing about the partnership between Harvey and Legalscape, we look forward to further strengthening our collaboration with Harvey to advance the development of innovative AI solutions tailored to the needs of Japanese legal practice and deliver even greater value to our clients in Japan and around the world.”
The new Tokyo office will expand Harvey’s presence across the Asia-Pacific region, alongside teams in Sydney, Singapore, and Bengaluru, with more than 3,500 customers in over 85 countries already using the software.
