What happens when world-class technology policy meets the realities of the courtroom? Max Scott, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Strat Alliance Global and former global lead at Microsoft's Office of Responsible AI unpacks the gravity of deploying Artificial Intelligence in professional services with Law and Beyond Host, Chantal McNaught.

Rather than focusing on extreme sci-fi doomsday predictions, Max and Chantal discuss the real threats of this technology: Mediocrity, procurement FOMO, and solutions searching for a problem. This episode is a deep dive into the philosophy of human cognition, why lawyers are paid for judgment rather than prediction, and examine the landmark Australian case JNE42 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2025] edCFamC2G 1314, which sent shockwaves through the profession regarding AI-generated case law.

Whether you are experiencing AI anxiety or looking to strategically restructure your firm's business model beyond the billable hour, this conversation offers a clear, grounded, and ultimately reassuring roadmap for the expanding legal universe.

Key Takeaways:

• Procurement fallacy: Many law firms are procuring general-purpose AI models out of the Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), rather than buying tools that solve specific, contextually relevant business problems.
• Prediction vs judgment: Computer scientists still cannot fully define human intelligence. Generative AI excels at pattern mimicry (the stochastic parrot). But it lacks cognition and the cross-jurisdictional inference which constitutes true legal expertise and judgement.
• JNE24 wake-up call: AI-driven courtroom errors are on the rise globally. Legal professionals cannot delegate their ethical duties to technology; they have an active responsibility to verify that cited authorities are authentic, accurate, and contextually applicable.
• Billing disruption: Low-margin, high-volume legal work is primarily the territory of automation. Time-based billing models face continuous pressure, encouraging firms to redefine how they demonstrate and charge for human value.
• Geographic specialist: Instead of chasing massive general-purpose models, Australian firms should capitalise on localized data assets in sectors like mining, climate, and specialized litigation to build highly targeted, world-leading solutions.

Links and resources:

• Strat Alliance Global: StratAlliance Global — Govern, procure, and deploy AI
• Case law: JNE42 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2025] edCFamC2G 1314
• Connect with Max Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxwell-scott-63428643/
• Connect with Chantal McNaught on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmcnaught/
• Recruitment Trends and show supporter, Insource Recruitment: Insource : Recruitment Technology for Law Firms

Tim Kenney sat down with Alex Coupe, Global Head of Sales at LegalTechnologyHub.com, for a conversation unpacking one of the most overlooked dynamics in legal tech:

👉 how vendors sell

👉 how law firms buy

👉 and why so many technology projects struggle before implementation even begins

With experience spanning Practical Law, Thomson Reuters, and now LegalTechnologyHub.com, Alex brought a rare perspective from both sides of the table.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀:

↳ Great salespeople spend more time listening than pitching

↳ Buyers should approach legal tech with a clear use case — not just shiny features

↳ Procurement, security, and implementation expectations should be discussed early

↳ AI may accelerate legal tech rapidly, but workflow and integrations still matter deeply

↳ The best vendor relationships feel more like partnerships than transactions

One insight that stood out:

“Salespeople don’t sell. They solve problems.”

#PeopleInLegal #LegalTech #AIinLaw #GoToMarket #Sales #LegalInnovation #FutureOfLaw #LegalTechnologyHub #LegalIndustry

At LEGAL INNOVATION & TECH FEST, Roni Millard, Founder and Health & Wellness Consultant at The Wellbeing Edge, sat down with Simon Vollmer and Gerard Molloy from Jude to discuss what law firms are really grappling with as AI adoption accelerates.

And one challenge stood out:

Many firms are experiencing AI fatigue.

After experimenting with countless tools, they're now asking a bigger question: 👉 What does a long-term AI strategy actually look like?

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀:

↳ Small and mid-sized law firms remain underserved by much of the legal tech market

↳ Firms are struggling with multiple point solutions and disconnected workflows

↳ AI is changing the economics of the billable hour

↳ Law firms need visibility into where AI is creating value and cost

↳ The next challenge isn't just technology adoption — it's bringing the whole firm on the journey

As Jude continues expanding across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Singapore, and the US, their focus remains clear:

Meeting lawyers where they work and helping them do remarkable things.

#PeopleInLegal #LegalTech #AIinLaw #LegalInnovation #FutureOfLaw #LawFirms #LegalAI #PracticeManagement #LegalTechnology

🎙️ Technology should adapt to the firm. Not the other way around.

At LEGAL INNOVATION & TECH FEST, David Woolstencroft sat down with Donna Broadley, General Manager APAC at Xperate, to discuss a challenge many law firms face:

You invest in technology.

But it doesn't quite work the way your firm needs it to.

That's where customisation, integration, and legal tech expertise become critical.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀:

↳ The best solution isn't always replacing your tech stack

↳ Integrations can unlock significantly more value from existing systems

↳ Boutique and specialist firms often need solutions tailored to their workflows

↳ Legal tech vendors need development partners who understand legal practice

↳ Deep legal industry knowledge can prevent costly implementation mistakes

One thing that stood out:

Xperate describes itself as "Switzerland" — vendor agnostic and focused on helping firms find the right solution for their needs.

Whether it's AML, document automation, custom portals, or connecting disconnected systems, the goal remains the same:

Make technology work smarter for the people using it.

#PeopleInLegal #LegalTech #LegalInnovation #AML #LawFirms #LegalOperations #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfLaw #LegalTechnology

David Woolstencroft sat down with Yule and Iolanthe, co-founders of LexNova Guild, to unpack the thinking behind Communitas '26.

And it's unlike anything we've seen in the legal industry.

Built around collaboration, community, and doing law differently, LexNova Guild brings together experienced lawyers who believe the future isn't about competing harder.

It's about working better together.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀:

↳ Collaboration can create better outcomes for lawyers and clients

↳ Technology can remove the friction of working together

↳ Lawyers don't need to build every capability in-house

↳ Community matters, especially for independent practitioners

↳ The future of law may be more cooperative than competitive

From thought-provoking speakers to a masked masquerade ball, Communitas '26 is challenging what a legal event can be.

Not another conference.

A movement.

#PeopleInLegal #Communitas26 #LexNovaGuild #LegalInnovation #FutureOfLaw #LegalCommunity #LawFirmLeadership #LegalTech #Collaboration

Tim Kenney sat down with Luke Abagi, Head of Product at Mary Technology, for a deep conversation on litigation AI, “𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀” and why trust is becoming one of the most important layers in legal AI.

The name “Mary” actually comes from one of the founder’s relatives:

a ruthlessly efficient barrister known for cutting through complexity.

And that became the mission.

Build technology that helps legal teams navigate overwhelming volumes of information faster — without removing legal judgment.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀:

↳ Litigation teams spend enormous time navigating “fact chaos” across massive document sets

↳ AI in litigation isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about surfacing critical insights faster

↳ Verification, citations, and review layers are becoming essential in legal AI workflows

↳ The biggest risk in AI may be “cognitive surrender” — blindly trusting confident outputs

↳ The future of legal AI may depend less on automation… and more on trust

One insight that stood out:

“𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.”

#PeopleInLegal #LegalTech #AIinLaw #Litigation #LegalInnovation #FutureOfLaw #LegalAI #MaryTechnology #eDiscovery

🎙️ “The future of law is a profession-wide problem.”

At LEGAL INNOVATION & TECH FEST, Roni Millard, Founder and Health & Wellness Consultant at The Wellbeing Edge, sat down with Alison Laird, Director of the Centre for Legal Innovation, to unpack one of the biggest questions facing the legal industry:

👉 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?

Alison shared insights from CLI’s upcoming 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 — an independent industry-wide initiative designed to better understand how legal teams, law firms, students, and the broader profession are navigating rapid change.

One challenge stood out clearly:

The expectations on modern lawyers are evolving faster than the profession itself.

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀:

↳ In-house legal teams are continuing to bring more work internally

↳ Law firms are under pressure to rethink how they deliver value

↳ Employers increasingly want “tech-enabled” lawyers from day one

↳ The gap between education and industry expectations is becoming more visible

↳ Solving the future skills challenge requires collaboration across the entire profession

CLI is currently inviting participation in its independent 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆, bringing together perspectives from across the profession.

The more perspectives involved, the more valuable the insights become.

📌 Learn more about the Future of Law Report and participate here:
https://surveys.matternz.com/s3/col0004-cli-innovationsurvey-2026

To explore more from the Centre for Legal Innovation:
https://cli.collaw.com/

#PeopleInLegal #LegalInnovation #FutureOfLaw #LegalTech #LawFirms #InHouseCounsel #LegalEducation #AIinLaw #CentreForLegalInnovation

🎙️ “𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.

At LEGAL INNOVATION & TECH FEST, Roni Millard, Founder and Health & Wellness Consultant at The Wellbeing Edge sat down with Adam Norman Jenkins, co-founder of ISaidUSaid.com, fresh off winning the 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, to discuss how AI and sentiment analytics are being used to tackle one of the most emotionally confronting areas of law.And this wasn’t another “AI will write your brief” conversation.

This was about:

→ 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

→ 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮

→ 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱

→ 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺

💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘀:

↳ Family lawyers are facing enormous emotional and psychological strain

↳ Reviewing years of messages, emails, videos, and recordings manually is mathematically impossible

↳ AI sentiment analytics can identify patterns of financial abuse, coercion, escalation, and conflict across huge data sets

↳ Faster identification of high-risk matters could improve intervention outcomes and client safety

↳ Data-driven evidence may help reduce emotional escalation and improve clarity in family law matters

One insight that stood out:

“Data has no character.”

Adam spoke candidly about the emotional weight of building technology in this space, the impact on family lawyers, and the bigger vision behind ISaidUSaid:Not just improving efficiency.But helping fix a system under enormous pressure.

#PeopleInLegal #LegalTech #AIinLaw #FamilyLaw #DomesticViolence #LegalInnovation #LegalAI #FutureOfLaw #SentimentAnalytics