Webinar
The Future of Legal Practice: AI that Amplifies your Firm
Dr Anne Fitzgerald from the University of New England joins LegalScout to explore how purpose built AI grounded in Australian legal context and housed within Australian infrastructure can amplify legal teams rather than replace them. Covering AI governance, data sovereignty, and practical implementation strategies for SME law firms.
“The question for Australian legal practice is not whether to use AI it's which AI to trust. The answer lies in understanding where your data goes and who controls the model.”
In this session, Dr Anne Fitzgerald joins LegalScout to address the practical and governance dimensions of AI adoption for Australian law firms. The conversation covers the legal framework for responsible AI use, the data sovereignty considerations that should inform vendor selection, and what amplification rather than replacement looks like in practice.
What's covered
The session explores AI governance frameworks particularly ISO 42001:2023 and their relevance to legal practice. Dr Fitzgerald discusses the Privacy Act implications of using AI for legal work, the specific risks of cross border data disclosure under APP 8, and the infrastructure requirements that genuine data sovereignty demands.
About the presenter
Dr Anne Fitzgerald is a Professor of Law at the University of New England, specialising in intellectual property law, technology law, and AI governance. She has advised government, industry, and academic bodies on legal frameworks for emerging technologies, and is a recognised authority on data protection and AI regulation in the Australian context.
Large Firms Have AI. Here's How SME Law Firms Fight Back.
Small to medium enterprise (SME) law firms are currently caught in a squeeze. Client expectations are rising, with demands for faster and more cost-effective services, yet the market is flooded with fragmented “point solutions” that often add more complexity than they solve. Many firms find themselves struggling to maintain high-quality outputs while managing an ever-increasing workload without the massive headcount of their larger competitors.
The risk of falling behind is real. Large firms are already deploying multi-tool AI stacks, potentially leaving SMEs at a competitive disadvantage. Furthermore, using general-purpose tools like ChatGPT presents significant risks, as sensitive firm data can leave your control and be used to train external models. Without a purpose-built solution, your firm faces the constant threat of “confident hallucinations” where AI provides incorrect information that looks surprisingly professional.
This is where legal AI specifically designed for the profession becomes a game changer. Unlike general tools, LegalScout provides a sovereign, Australian-hosted environment where your data never leaves the firm. It is grounded in your actual documents, ensuring that every answer is backed by a verifiable source.
During our LegalScout demo for the University of New England, we showcased how agentic AI moves beyond simple chat interfaces. While traditional AI just answers questions, agentic systems plan and execute multi-step workflows. One attendee noted that this technology allows junior lawyers to transition from being overloaded to becoming highly productive contributors by automating the first-pass drafting and contract reviews that used to take hours.
If you missed the session, you can still experience a demo for legal AI tailored to your needs. We are offering SME firms a chance to see how legal technology for SME practices can level the playing field. Our platform includes built-in human-in-the-loop architecture, meaning a lawyer is always in control while the AI flags low-confidence outputs for your review.
Don’t let your firm be left behind in this crowded market. The window for adoption is open, and the costs of sophisticated AI have dropped tenfold in just two years.
"A Meaningful Difference in the Way Lawyers Work" — Dr Anne Fitzgerald, UNE School of Law
"Recently, I was pleased to host a presentation by LegalScout to the students in the Technology and the Law unit I run at the School of Law, University of New England. The LegalScout team presented an innovative and practical solution that clearly has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the way lawyers work. What stood out most was not only the strength of the product but the genuine commitment behind its development. LegalScout reflects a thoughtful understanding of the legal profession and a clear focus on improving efficiency, accessibility, and day-to-day practice."
Dr Anne Fitzgerald JSD (Columbia), LLM (Columbia), LLM (UCL), LLB(Hons) (Tas)