AI and the Future of the Legal Profession

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the practice of law, transforming how legal work is performed, how law firms organize their services, and what skills the next generation of lawyers will need. In this conversation with Prof. Wolfgang Alschner, Kelly Elliott, Chief Operating Officer at McMillan LLP, will offer an inside perspective on how a leading Canadian business law firm is navigating this transformation. Drawing on McMillan’s experience integrating legal technology into its operations, the discussion will explore emerging use cases for generative AI and other AI tools in legal practice, their uptake among lawyers and particularly junior associates, and the ways these technologies are changing traditional workflows and professional development. The conversation will also examine the opportunities AI creates for improving efficiency, client service, and access to expertise, alongside the challenges it raises for quality control, confidentiality, training, and the evolving role of lawyers. 

About the speakers

Kelly Elliott is the Chief Operating Officer at McMillan LLP, where she provides daily leadership and management on operational matters, including the integration of legal technology.

in conversation with

Dr. Wolfgang Alschner is a Faculty member at the Centre for Law, Technology and Society, and a Full Professor within the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section at the University of Ottawa, with cross-appointment to the Faculty of Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. A pioneer in the use of data science and programming to study law, he holds the Hyman Soloway Chair in Business and Trade Law and is an Academic in Residence at McMillan.