John Keers, BL

John Keers BL – Director, Centre for Legal Technology, Ulster University

John is a qualified Barrister and accredited Mediator with a strong focus on innovation in legal practice and judicial systems. Over the past five years, he has led the design and piloting of two Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) solutions aimed at improving access to justice in small claims and consumer disputes. In November 2024, he was appointed as Director of the newly established Centre for Legal Technology at Ulster University.

John's research explores the transformative potential of technology in law, with a particular emphasis on online and digital dispute resolution, AI in judicial systems, and the ethical adoption of LegalTech.

He is Principal Investigator on two major projects: a pioneering UK AI Security Institute funded study into the responsible use of Agentic AI in judicial decision making, the only legal project awarded funding in 2024, and a high impact collaboration with the Labour Relations Agency and Northern Ireland legal technology start-up to pilot AI driven solutions for mass case management.

His work is grounded in real world challenges and seeks to improve access to justice, transparency, and system efficiency across courts and public sector dispute resolution.

For the last 15 years John has lectured across a broad range of subjects including International Commercial Law, Commercial ADR, Corporate Law, Equity & Trusts, and Land Law. In 2018, he successfully designed and launched an industry-leading LLM programme in International Commercial Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution, which is now also being delivered at Ulster University’s international partner campus in Qatar.

A passionate advocate for technological reform within the legal system, John was appointed in 2021 by the Office of the Lord Chief Justice to serve on the Judicial Steering Group on Digitisation in Northern Ireland. He also acts as External Examiner for the undergraduate law programme at London South Bank University and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Beyond academia, John serves as Chair of Family Mediation Northern Ireland, Board Trustee at Relate NI and was recently appointed to the Shared Island Mediation Project.