Wednesday, 24 February 2027
Professional Skills
1.00pm to 2.00pm AI Assisted Legal Research and Drafting
As generative AI moves from novelty to daily practice, the question for legal professionals is no longer whether to use it for legal research and drafting, but how to use it without quietly eroding the judgment that competent professional practice requires. Drawing on frontline experience across private practice firms and in-house teams, explore how you can use AI-assisted research and drafting to sharpen your analysis rather than outsource it.
You will work through where AI genuinely accelerates the work, where it introduces unnecessary risk, and how to deliberately keep the lawyer, not a machine accountable for the output
- Understand the practical impact of AI on legal research and drafting
- Identify opportunities to enhance efficiency while managing associated risks
- A usable method for research and drafting, not just a list of tools
Presented by Fiona McLay, Lead AI Client Adviser, Thomson Reuters
Chair:
Patrick Fair, Principal, Patrick Fair Associates
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Presenters
Patrick Fair, Principal, Patrick Fair and AssociatesPatrick Fair is the principal of Patrick Fair Associates, an Adjunct Professor at the School of Information Technology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment at Deakin University, Chair of the Communications Security Reference Panel at the Australian Telecommunications Alliance, Fellow of the Australian Information Security Association, a Director of Crimestoppers NSW and Chair of the Crime Stoppers NSW Technology Enabled Crime Committee.
Fiona McLay, Legal Ai Client Adviser, Thomson Reuters
Fiona has spent the past 25 years as a dispute resolution lawyer working across the legal industry in top tier, mid-tier, small firm, a NewLaw firm and in-house. She has an insider’s view as to how firms across the industry are actually using (or not using) tech. Long hours, inefficient processes and constant pressure to do more with less drove her to find ways to use tech to work more efficiently. With no budget, no IT support and (possibly because of) no innovation committee, she discovered how powerful a tech-enabled lawyer could be in litigation up against a much better resourced opponent. And with a significantly reduced risk of paper cuts. She regularly presents to lawyers on how to adopt new ways of working. She is the author of Tech Enabled Lawyer: to making the most out of the tools you have and spotting the tech you need.
This seminar is part of a series
AI Ethics, Professional Skills & Practice Management Lunch Series
Secure your core CPD points in the easiest possible way: over lunch, online, across three practical one-hour sessions. In just three Wednesdays, you will earn 3 CPD units across Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Practice Management & Business Skills and Professional Skills while tackling one of the most urgent issues reshaping legal practice: AI. As artificial intelligence changes how lawyers research, draft, advise, manage risk and protect client information, this focused lunch series gives you the practical guidance you need to use AI responsibly, confidently and professionally and without losing valuable billable time.
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD units including:
1 unit in Ethics & Professional Responsibility
1 unit in Practice Management & Business Skills
1 unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
View series listing
