When Dr Sergio Sulmicelli arrives at Sydney Law School this year as the new Colin Phegan Lecturer, he is stepping into a profession undergoing profound change.
A legal scholar specialising in artificial intelligence and its implications for constitutional rights, Dr Sulmicelli has spent his career examining how law must evolve as technology reshapes the way decisions are made and justice is delivered. His work explores how legal systems must adapt as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes the relationship between institutions and citizens.
“In my view, the relationship between authority and citizens is no longer just a two-way interaction,” he says. “It’s becoming a triangle between technology, authority and citizens. That means fundamental principles like equality need to be rethought in this new context.”
Through the renewed Colin Phegan Lectureship, a three-year teaching and research role, Dr Sulmicelli will help prepare a new generation of lawyers to navigate this emerging landscape.
The lectureship was first established in 2013 through the philanthropic support of alumnus Tom Yim (LLB '73), who was inspired by a formative experience with his former lecturer during his own studies.
“I was focused on the story,” Yim recalls of his early attempts to read legal cases. “But Colin showed me it’s the reasoning behind the decision that matters.”
That moment with Professor Colin Phegan reshaped how he approached the law. Years later, when he was in a position to give back, Yim wanted to create something that would support students facing similar challenges.
“There were students coming into law from different backgrounds,” he says. “They’re very capable, but they need some guidance in how to interpret case law. That support made a real difference.”
The lectureship helped hundreds of students build confidence in legal reasoning and supported early-career academics. Over time, its impact extended into the broader curriculum.
Now, it is evolving once again.
Responding to a shifting profession
“The renewed Colin Phegan Lectureship represents an opportunity to position our students at the forefront of a profound shift in legal practice,” says Professor Fleur Johns, Dean of Sydney Law School.
“AI is not simply another tool. It is reshaping how legal reasoning is performed, how services are delivered, and how justice is accessed.”
Across the legal profession, artificial intelligence is already transforming how work is done, from research and drafting to analysis and decision-making. Yet the pace change and unevenness of resources have created new challenges for legal education.
“Our ambition is to ensure every graduate leaves with both the technical fluency to work effectively with AI systems and the intellectual capability to interrogate and challenge them,” Professor Johns says.
“Importantly, this is not about replacing foundational legal skills, but strengthening them.”
We have to recognise that AI is already in the classroom. Students are using tools like ChatGPT, so ignoring that reality isn’t effective.
Dr Sergio Sulmicelli
Colin Phegan Lecturer
Learning in an AI-enabled classroom
Dr Sulmicelli’s teaching approach starts from the simple premise that AI is already part of students’ lives.
“We have to recognise that AI is already in the classroom,” he says. “Students are using tools like ChatGPT, so ignoring that reality isn’t effective.”
Instead, he focuses on guiding students to use these tools critically and responsibly. This includes encouraging them to question outputs and understand the limitations of AI systems. By making that process visible, students develop not only technical familiarity, but also the judgement needed to engage with AI in a legal context.
As Dr Sulmicelli points out, AI has the potential to create more equal opportunities, if used thoughtfully.
“AI can help level the playing field. It can support students in developing skills and confidence, regardless of their background,” he says. “It also allows people to compete on a more equal footing, but only if we teach students how to use it critically and responsibly.”
The role of philanthropy
For Dr Sulmicelli, the opportunity to take on his new role highlights the long-term impact of philanthropic support.
“It was striking to realise that this lectureship was created in 2013, when I was still in high school,” he says. “The idea that something established then is shaping opportunities for students now is quite remarkable.”
For Yim, the motivation behind that support is based on a commitment to education.
“My wife and I decided to focus our giving on education,” he says. “We’ve been fortunate, and this is a way of giving back and supporting students.”
That support is vital in enabling the Law School to respond to emerging challenges.
“Philanthropy plays an essential role in moments of transition like this,” Professor Johns says. “The pace of change in areas like AI often outstrips traditional funding models.”
“The Colin Phegan Lectureship shows what philanthropy can achieve. It allows us to invest in new areas of capability and embed innovation directly into the student experience to help deliver broader community benefits that flow from the legal profession adapting responsibly to societal change.”
Preparing for what comes next
As AI continues to reshape the legal profession, the task for educators is not just to teach new tools, but to rethink how lawyers are trained.
Legal judgement and ethical responsibility cannot be automated. Instead, the future lies in equipping lawyers to work effectively alongside AI, using it to enhance their capabilities while maintaining critical oversight.
“I don’t see AI replacing lawyers,” Dr Sulmicelli says. “Legal reasoning is fundamentally human, but lawyers need to be prepared to use AI effectively. This allows them to focus on the aspects of legal work that require human insight.”
Hero image: Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash
Dr Sergio Sulmicelli will commence his three year tenure as Colin Phegan Lecturer this year. Photo: Courtesy Sergio Sulmicelli.
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