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13 March 2023

New Generative AI in Legal Practice Initiative Launched

Published on 13 March 2023
Law and technology Education Legal trends Ethics

In response to the explosive global impact of AI applications like ChatGPT within recent months, the Centre for Legal Innovation (CLI), in collaboration with the College of Law, has launched its Generative AI in Legal Practice Initiative.

As the world reacts to, engages with, and resists this new technology, the reality is it is here to stay. So the real question is: how does the legal system work with this new technology and not against it? The purpose of the new CLI Generative AI in Legal Practice Initiative is to help answer this question by creating a platform for local and global discussions, discourse, and debate on the application of generative AI in all facets of legal practice.

“Generative AI will reinvent and not just innovate legal practice. It’s important for everyone in the legal ecosystem to engage in the conversations and the solutions,” Terri Mottershead, Executive Director at the Centre for Legal Innovation, says. “We’re providing that platform and the opportunity with the Initiative. This is going to be all about connecting people, encouraging experience sharing, and collaborating on practical solutions.”

Kicking off in March, the CLI initiative will begin with 14 roundtables involving over 300 lawyers (private, corporate and government), allied legal professionals, legal educators (academics, pracademics and clinicians), law students, access to justice professionals, and regulators, across the legal ecosystem.

“There will be a focus on where generative AI is showing up in legal practice and why it matters. We’ll be asking these types of questions of all stakeholders in our ecosystem, including students, to gather insights and generate constructive discussions,” Terri Mottershead explains.

In July, the CLI will release a white paper identifying key takeaways from the roundtables. This will be made available to the public with feedback actively encouraged to grow this important discourse. The next step will be to take the generative AI in legal practice conversation global with the free Generative AI in Legal Practice Summit to be held on the 24 - 25 of October.

“The CLI, in collaboration with the College of Law, will be holding a free two-day summit in October engaging global presenters and panellists to look at the comparative progress made here in Australia and world-wide on the topic of generative AI in the legal industry,” Terri Mottershead says. “There will be a tonne of output from the Summit – on-demand videos, podcasts, blogs, articles - the list goes on! For those who want to get involved, we are keen to hear from you, the more collaboration the better.”

Participants who register can suggest topics, contribute to the summit or recommend someone else who would be relevant to attend. To register for updates and for more information head to this survey link here.

To support the initiative, the CLI has also launched a Research Fellowship in Emerging Technologies for Australian residents who can work as independent contractors. Those interested can complete an EOI here before 5pm AEST on 31 March.