Less hearing about AI. More doing something about it.
Join Thomson Reuters and legal professionals from across Newcastle and the Hunter Region for a practical afternoon focused on moving from AI experimentation to responsible, real-world impact.
AI is already changing how legal work is researched, reviewed and delivered. You know that. What is harder is the next step: where to begin, which opportunities to prioritise and how to introduce AI without compromising quality, trust or professional responsibility.
This complimentary in-person event runs in two parts. A small-group strategy workshop for senior decision-makers who want to craft a plan for their law firm. Followed by an evening discussion for the wider legal community to hear how local firms are using AI right now, and see what is coming next. Attend the session most relevant to you, or register your interest in both.
Tuesday 8 September 2026
2:30 pm - 7 pm AEST
NUspace
University of Newcastle
Cnr of Hunter & Auckland St
Newcastle NSW 2300
Complimentary
What you'll learn
Where AI can create meaningful value across legal work and firm operations.
How to identify and prioritise practical AI use cases.
What responsible AI adoption requires across governance, policy, knowledge, data and change management.
How professional legal AI, including CoCounsel Legal, can support legal professionals.
Practical next steps for progressing from experimentation to wider adoption.
Why you can't miss this
AI adoption is accelerating, but the gap between experimentation and meaningful business impact remains significant.
The Thomson Reuters Future of Professionals Report 2026 found that 34% of professionals use AI tools their organisation has not sanctioned. It also found that 78% of corporate clients consider AI-enabled improvements in service quality very important or essential, while only 6% say most of their providers deliver them.
This event will help you:
- Understand what practical AI adoption looks like.
- Learn from peers facing similar decisions.
- Consider the risks of unstructured or unsupported AI use.
- Explore how professional legal AI can support trusted legal work.
- Leave with clearer actions for your firm, team or professional practice.
Who should attend
The afternoon workshop is designed for
Law firm leaders and owners, including partners, principals, managing partners, CEOs, law firm directors, solicitor directors and principal solicitors.
Practice, operations and innovation leaders, including general managers, practice managers and legal operations/innovation leads.
The evening event is designed for
The wider Newcastle and Hunter Region legal community, including anyone interested in how AI is changing legal work.
Choose how you take part
2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Boardroom X802, NUspace
For senior law firm decision-makers
Limited places available
Workshop
AI-enabled law firm roadmap: How to lead your firm
Firm leaders are under pressure to have a view on AI before they’ve had time to form one. The technology is moving faster than most firms can assess it, and the decisions carry real weight: what to prioritise, what to leave, and how to protect quality and client trust while you move.
This small-group workshop gives you the time to work those decisions through. With peers facing the same choices and Thomson Reuters facilitator Fiona McLay, you’ll look at where AI genuinely creates value for a firm like yours, and leave with a clearer plan for what to do next.
The workshop will cover
- Identifying priority opportunities for AI.
- Assessing organisational readiness.
- Governance, policy and professional responsibility.
- Knowledge, data and technology requirements.
- Leading people through change.
- Defining practical next steps.
Meet the workshop facilitator
Fiona McLay, Lead AI Client Advisor, Thomson Reuters
Fiona McLay is Lead AI Client Adviser at Thomson Reuters and a Newcastle local. She spends her days helping law firms and legal teams move from curiosity about AI to a clear plan they can act on, and has run hands-on strategy sessions and training for firms of every size, from top-tier and in-house teams to small and regional practices.
A former dispute resolution lawyer with 25 years across top-tier, boutique, NewLaw and in-house teams, Fiona understands how legal work really gets done and where AI genuinely helps rather than gets in the way. She has taught legal technology and workflow design at the College of Law, is the author of Tech-Enabled Lawyer, and is known as an approachable voice who helps lawyers get value from AI without the overwhelm.
Places are limited. The workshop is open relevant roles. Provide your expression of interest and we’ll come back confirming your spot.
4:30 pm - 7 pm
NUspaceUniversity of Newcastle
Network with the wider legal regional community
Evening event
Legal AI in practice: What's changing and what comes next
Join colleagues from across the region for a practical discussion about how AI is changing legal work and what this means for legal professionals, firms and legal teams.
The evening will explore
- Current developments in legal AI.
- Practical applications of CoCounsel Legal.
- Responsible and effective use of AI.
- The changing expectations of legal clients.
- Lessons from firms and legal teams adopting AI.
- The skills legal professionals will need as adoption grows.
Meet the panel
Fiona McLay, Lead AI Client Advisor, Thomson Reuters
Sarah Hammond, Partner, Moray & Agnew
Lauren Eade,
Principal, Davies Collison Cave
Sara Rayment Kot, Founder and Managing Partner, Inkling Legal Design & Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Newcastle
The discussion will be followed by networking and refreshments.
Register your interest
Places are limited for both sessions.
Please complete the form and select whether you would like to attend the afternoon workshop, the evening event or both.
Submitting the form is an expression of interest and does not confirm your place. Registrations will be reviewed, and successful participants will receive a separate calendar invitation confirming their attendance.