Beyond AI: Bridging the gap between technology and law

This year’s Legal Innovation Conference (LIC) aims to explore and demystify the modern and emerging technologies poised to change the legal profession. 

“We’re thrilled about the lineup of speakers and the wealth of knowledge they bring,” says Jagat Bath, an organizer for the event and a student at the U of A Faculty of Law. 

At the LIC, attendees will learn about the skills they may need to develop to prepare for the future legal profession, Bath says. Additionally, the conference fosters networking opportunities with industry leaders, innovators, and peers, allowing students and attendees to build relationships that could shape their future careers.

According to Bath, while the LIC focuses on the legal field, it is open — and should indeed be useful — to people outside of law. “The discussions, insights, and ideas shared at the conference are applicable across industries, and attendees from all backgrounds will walk away with valuable knowledge,” Bath says. 

Last year, the LIC dug into generative AI and its implications for the future of law. This year, the conference is taking a broader approach. According to Bath, it will delve into disruptions that may not be immediately recognized, like the rise of remote work in the legal industry, emerging technologies, and new tools. 

Topics this year include automation in client support, contract writing, and how increased access to legal knowledge among lay people can impact real estate transactions, business agreements, wills and other areas. Other topics will discuss how law firms examine, adapt and lead in the face of technological change, and how tech innovations outside of the legal sector can impact the field. 

“Disruption isn’t limited to generative AI and especially doesn’t need to be responsive only to the hottest trend,” says Martin Rudolf, a first-year Faculty of Law student and one of the event’s organizers. “As a client services business, the law also rewards active participation in disrupting and steering our practices to best cater to our clients’ needs.”

One of the speakers this year is Brett Colvin, ‘15 JD, founder and CEO of Goodlawyer, a Calgary-based company that connects businesses with experienced legal professionals. 

The Faculty of Law grad will discuss how the platform he founded came to be, and how it has evolved since its inception. He will also discuss how legal innovation drives positive change for lawyers, clients and communities. 

“By exploring alternatives to big firms and new service models, many can find career paths that better align with their goals — and I hope they feel inspired to develop a more entrepreneurial mindset,” Colvin says. 

“I hope my experience shows that with the right mix of passion and perseverance, you can help shape our industry’s future.”

Organized by the University of Alberta’s Law and Business Association, the LIC is free and open to everyone. It runs from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. on March 7 at the Lister Conference Centre, and features three individual speaker sessions, a keynote and two key panels. For more information, visit the conference’s website. Those interested in attending can register online.