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AI and tech in focus at practice summit

The Law Society will host its annual two-day legal-education event for trainee solicitors in Blackhall Place this week (8-9 January). 

Structured as an interactive, conference-style event, the Future of Legal Practice Summit is a module on the PPC ‘Law as Business – Managing a Legal Practice’ course. 

This year’s event will explore how artificial intelligence (AI), emerging legal technologies, and new models of legal-service delivery are reshaping the profession and the business of running modern law firms.

As part of the summit, the trainee representative group PPC Connect will host a dedicated AI-themed conference stream in the Green Hall on Friday 9 January. 

This trainee-led track will spotlight emerging issues at the intersection of AI and legal practice, featuring expert presentations that provide attendees with a practical and future-oriented perspective on how AI is reshaping legal work. 

Four sessions online 

Having made two sessions available to the wider profession to watch online in 2025, the Law Society will make four sessions available in 2026: 

1) The legal profession today and into the future (8 January, 12.55-1.40pm).

The speakers are: 

• Mark Garrett (Director General, Law Society), and
• Sarah McNulty (Law Society Younger Members Committee). 

2) The law firm of the future: evolution or revolution (8 January, 3-3.45pm).

Speakers: 

• Niamh Coyne (Law Society),
• Tara Doyle (partner, Matheson), and
• Ronan Hynes (partner, MHP Sellors). 

3) Practical tools for immediate impact: legaltech for Irish firms (9 January, 11.15am–12pm).

Speakers: 

• Isabella Hughes (co-founder, Simple Probate), and
• Gavin Sheridan (co-founder and CEO, Vizlegal). 

4) The future of rural firms and smaller practices (9 January, 1.15-2pm).

Speakers: 

• Rosemarie Loftus (President of the Law Society and partner, Bourke, Carrigg & Loftus),
• Sonia McEntee (principal, Sonia McEntee Solicitors), and
• Ursula Cadden (Ursula Cadden Solicitors). 

Solicitors can book a place at one or more of the sessions above on the Law Society website.