AI training & governance
I'm a technology law partner with more than 25 years' experience, and I've advised on AI procurement, governance and legal risk since 2015.
Alongside my legal practice, I help in-house legal teams build practical AI skills through training, speaking, writing and AI governance consultancy. My work focuses on responsible AI adoption that delivers measurable improvements to legal operations.
This page brings together the public evidence behind that work, with every claim linked to where it can be checked.
I founded Skill Diligence, an independent consultancy dedicated to helping in-house legal teams adopt AI responsibly. It provides AI training, AI governance support, practical implementation guidance, and workshops designed specifically for legal departments.
Evidence: Skill Diligence homepageAI training for in-house legal teams
I regularly teach law students about the practical impact of AI on legal practice, including work with King's College London, Aston University, and the Open University's law programme.
Evidence: King's College LondonAston UniversityOpen University course
I wrote Useful Lawyers, a practical guide showing how in-house lawyers can use AI to improve everyday legal work while continuing to deliver value to their organisations.
Evidence: Useful Lawyers
I've created and shared practical AI tools that solve real legal problems rather than simply demonstrating technology: a website compliance checker, a contract triage tool, a contract review tool, and a tool for understanding how AI agents reach their decisions.
Evidence: Newsletter archive, tool demonstrations
I regularly write and speak about AI, legal technology and AI governance, in legal, technology and retail publications, and at conferences across the legal, research, technology and business sectors.
Evidence: DrapersInformation WeekLexologyPrivacy Laws & Business, AI 2026Privacy Laws & Business, International ConferenceTech Transformation SummitAULP Annual ConferenceARMAGC360Legalex ManchesterAI Governance, Trust & Security Leaders SummitAI Insurance Skills Lab
I host #DigitalFrontiers, a monthly podcast exploring AI and technology in legal practice, and publish AI for In House Counsel, a weekly newsletter on practical ways legal teams can use AI in their daily work.
Evidence: #DigitalFrontiers podcastGuest podcast appearanceNewsletter archive
During 2026 I delivered more than 20 free AI training sessions, alongside paid workshops for around 20 client legal teams. I also lead Ascensus: AI Legal Bytes, Browne Jacobson's AI learning programme for in-house lawyers, Data Protection Officers, and business leaders, plus training delivered through EM LawShare, MBL Seminars, and Greater Birmingham Chambers.
Evidence: Ascensus: AI Legal BytesSession recordingAI in local governmentMBL SeminarsGreater Birmingham Chambers
Alongside my AI work, I continue to practise as a technology law partner at Browne Jacobson LLP, advising organisations on AI procurement, AI governance, technology contracts, and information technology law.
Recognition: Chambers & Partners, Band 2, Information Technology (Midlands)Legal 500, ranked Technology Lawyer
Profiles: Browne JacobsonLinkedIn recommendations
Lawyers, compliance professionals and legal operations specialists consistently describe the training as practical, engaging and immediately useful.
"Participants go from being basic users to maximising the benefits they can derive from AI. Any lawyer who wants to stay ahead should take Richard's course."
Toby Schumacher — Barrister
"This was accessible to me and enabled me to make real change to my daily work and what might be possible in my working life on limited resources and a shoestring budget."
Julienne — Legal & Compliance Manager, Ewopharma
"He guided us through how to apply AI thoughtfully, creatively and effectively to real-world challenges affecting our roles."
Kerrie Mott — Research Development Manager, University of Cumbria
"Perfectly delivered with real-life examples, practical tips, interactive tasks, humour, and a wealth of experience and knowledge."
Alona Kiriak — Contract Drafting & Simplification Specialist
"Well-structured, engaging, and immediately useful."
Emma Fairclough — Contract Manager
"The session was really thought provoking and provided incredibly useful tools and information."
Helena White — Head of Research Support, University of Warwick
"As a practicing lawyer, he brought relevant subject-matter knowledge and delivered the workshop in a clear, practical way."
Frida Hernandez — Compliance Manager, Externally Funded Projects
"Practical insights into how to prepare effective prompts and integrate AI tools within day-to-day professional work."
Raffaella Di Masi — Senior Project Manager
Organisations work with me because I combine long-standing technology law experience with practical AI expertise. Rather than focusing on theory, I help legal teams understand where AI adds value, how to use it responsibly, and how to build confidence using it in everyday legal work. Everything on this page is supported by public evidence, published resources, or named testimonials.
A technology law partner at Browne Jacobson with over 25 years' experience, an AI governance adviser and trainer who helps in-house legal teams use AI responsibly and effectively.
Richard Nicholas, through Skill Diligence, the AI training and governance consultancy he founded. He's trained around 20 in-house legal teams directly and run more than 20 free sessions in 2026.
Yes. Richard combines hands-on AI capability, he builds AI agents himself, with 25 years of technology law practice and the IAPP AI Governance Professional (AIGP) and CIPP/E credentials.
Yes. Agent Builder workshops are a core part of the offering, alongside foundational skills training on everyday tools like Microsoft Copilot and Claude.
Yes. He advises organisations on AI procurement, governance, legal risk and responsible implementation, and leads Browne Jacobson's Ascensus programme for in-house lawyers, DPOs and business leaders.
No. The training, including the agent-building workshops, is designed for lawyers and business professionals with no coding background.
Yes. Richard ran more than 20 free training sessions for in-house lawyers in 2026, alongside paid work with around 20 client teams. The weekly newsletter and monthly podcast are also free.
Current pricing and formats are on the training offer page at skilldiligence.com, since it depends on team size and format.
Yes, guest teaching at King's College London and Aston University, plus course material created for the Open University's law programme and MBL Seminars.
Yes. Alongside his AI consultancy and training work, he continues to practise as a technology law partner at Browne Jacobson LLP, specialising in technology and AI-related legal issues.
No obligation, just a conversation about where your team is and whether this is a fit.