AI in Legal Practice: Takeaways from the CBA SSGP Section Executive Annual Conference in Calgary

On March 28, 2026, I joined the Canadian Bar Association Sole and Small General Practice (SSGP) Section Executive Annual Conference in Calgary — held in hybrid format, with executive members joining both in person and remotely.

What I Shared on AI in Legal Practice

I had the opportunity to share some thoughts on AI in legal practice, focusing on three questions that sole and small firm lawyers are actively wrestling with:

1. Where Canadian courts currently stand on AI disclosure. Practice directions from the Federal Court, the Ontario Superior Court, and several provincial courts now require certifications on AI-assisted submissions. The ground is still shifting — but there is already meaningful precedent on candour, competence, and the duty to verify.
2. What sole and small firm lawyers actually need. Large firms have in-house AI committees. Solos do not. What solos need is plain-language practical guidance: which tools are safe to use on privileged material, how to structure a client-consent clause, when to disclose AI use in pleadings, and how to audit outputs.
3. Why a model AI usage policy would make a real difference. A CBA-endorsed template — editable, jurisdiction-aware, and aligned with Law Society expectations — would save thousands of hours of duplicated work across the country.

Those suggestions have since been passed along to CBA National for consideration.

Strengthening Cross-Border Ties with the ABA

I also look forward to strengthening our ties with the American Bar Association. I sit on the CBA SSGP’s ABA Liaison Committee, and there is meaningful work to be done on both sides of the border as AI regulation, cross-border practice rules, and technology-adoption standards continue to evolve.

Grateful for a thoughtful group of colleagues in Calgary. More to come.

Adapted from a post originally published on LinkedIn. Read the original post on LinkedIn →

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