As part of the Canadian Bar Association’s legal conference this summer, MaRS’ LegalX cluster will be launching an event showcasing the future of legal tech.
“The CBA is delighted to announce a partnership with one of Canada’s leading legal innovation clusters that will allow us to offer our members a unique opportunity to see firsthand some of the newest technologies, services, and developments that are directly impacting the changing practice of law,” said CBA president Janet Fuhrer.
Legal tech startups will attend the conference and and showcase their products to groups of investors as well as attending legal professionals. Startups will be provided with feedback that will give them a better understanding of a lawyer’s pain points.
The partnership is part of a year-long initiative that will have both organizations sharing insights with their members, operating events showcasing legal innovations, and developing other means of supporting legal innovation in Canada. For its part, the CBA said that the move is part of a commitment to encourage lawyers to adopt disruptive technology, which was outlined in its 2014 report on the future of legal tech.
“Through our partnership with LegalX, we are addressing the specific recommendations that call for us to encourage and stimulate innovation,” said Fred Headon, chair of the CBA’s Legal Futures initiative. “It also showcases innovators, which we hope will inspire our members to embrace new ways of practising, as we must all do our part in providing Canadians with the vibrant and relevant legal profession they expect and deserve.”