In this instalment of Tech Innovate, Lawyers Weekly – in partnership with JurisTechne, Relativity, Go Parachute and Thomson Reuters – explored how AI is transforming legal practice, from reshaping research and decision-making to evaluating trusted solutions and embedding AI into everyday workflows, the future of technology-enabled firms, practical adoption strategies, and how organisations can harness AI responsibly to drive value, efficiency and competitive advantage.

In our session with JurisTechne (titled 'Rewiring the law firm: how AI and legal analytics are reshaping the way lawyers research, reason, and practise and what a technology-native firm looks like'), we unpacked how AI and legal analytics are reshaping the modern law firm, moving beyond automation to influence how lawyers research, reason and deliver advice, as well as the rise of technology-native practices, the role of algorithmic law, and how AI can enhance, rather than replace, professional judgment. Attendees gained insights into responsible adoption, ethical considerations, access to advanced capabilities for smaller firms, and how collaboration, competition and legal practice may evolve over the next three to five years.

In our second session, with Relativity (titled 'AI Trust in Practice: How Legal Teams Evaluate What Works'), we explored how legal teams are moving beyond AI experimentation to make strategic, evidence-based decisions about adoption, as well as how to evaluate AI solutions, measure ROI, and build long-term AI strategies that balance innovation with governance, security and risk. Attendees gained practical insights into where AI is delivering the greatest impact across legal workflows, key considerations for selecting future-ready solutions, and the emerging trends shaping legal AI over the next 12–24 months.

In our third session, with Go Parachute (titled 'AI as the operating system for mid-market law firms – closing the gap between enterprise tools and the firms that need them most'), we examined how AI is transforming mid-market law firms by embedding intelligence across everyday legal workflows, from drafting and research to billing and document management. We also examined why many firms remain underserved by existing AI solutions, how to distinguish consumer AI from purpose-built legal platforms, and the importance of security, governance and integrations. Attendees gained practical guidance on implementing successful AI pilots, measuring ROI, and preparing their firms for the next phase of AI-driven legal practice.

In our fourth session with Thomson Reuters, titled 'Verified or Vulnerable: What "fiduciary-grade" means for AI in legal research', we examined what it takes for AI to meet the standards required for serious, fiduciary legal work. With courts increasingly scrutinising AI-generated material and sanctioning lawyers over hallucinated citations, the session explored why transparency, verifiable reasoning, authoritative sources and robust safeguards must be non-negotiable in legal research. Drawing on insights from Thomson Reuters' Fiona McLay and James Jarvis, and using Westlaw Advantage as a practical example, attendees learned how to assess whether legal AI outputs can withstand scrutiny, identify the risks posed by hallucinations and opaque reasoning, and apply a practical benchmark for evaluating whether an AI tool is truly fit for professional legal practice.

The livestream provided insights into the risks, opportunities and actionable steps lawyers, firms and teams could take with the new financial year in full swing.

To learn more about the livestream, visit the event page.