OBA Law Practice Management / Sole, Small Firm & General Practice PROGRAM

One (of the many) lessons this past year has taught us, is that when faced with unprecedented uncertainty, the legal profession is nimble, adaptive, and embraces new technology seamlessly.   There is no limit to what your future may hold.  Many of these legal tech advancements are here to stay, others are not.  What tools should you be adding to your resources to remain nimble, efficient and forward thinking? How do you plan to reimagine your workplace? Stay up-to-date on the advancements in legal technology and prepare for the changing landscape that lies ahead.

TECHxpo’s format is reimagined.  Join us for a series of impactful sessions to help you build your tomorrow, conveniently from the comfort of your home or office. Sign up for the series, attend sessions live, or view as an archived video at your convenience. 

PROGRAM CHAIRS

Sukhi Hansra, Hansra Law
Stuart E. Rudner, Rudner Law

SESSION 1 - WORKSPACE REVOLUTION:  REMOTE, IN PERSON OR HYBRID
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
9:00 am – 10:15 am (ET)

The global pandemic accelerated the adoption of new technologies by law firms at lightning speed.  As we look towards returning to a new “normal”, what will our legal workplaces look like next year?  Will law firms and in-house legal departments be completely remote, return to all in-person or will it be a hybrid of both?   What technology and innovations should you be testing out or adopting now to better serve your clients and employees for your future work environment?  How can you lead distributed teams effectively? Distributed collaboration requires a different approach to managing and engaging your teams and workflow.  Learn whether hybrid office spaces are the way of the future.

Speakers:
Qoratia Parmanand, Shopify 
Sindy Peixoto, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Ryan Watkins, Whitten & Lublin PC 

SESSION 2:  A LAWYERS NEW BEST FRIEND: 10 WAYS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS SUPPORTING LAWYERS DEVELOP THRIVING PRACTICES
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
9:00 am – 10:15 am (ET)

Who wants to sit through another discussion about the way AI is disrupting the practice of law?  If you answered “Me”, you’ll want to skip this session. If you’d like to move beyond discussion and delve into how you can harness artificial intelligence in your practice today, then stick around for this session.  There are numerous new tools being developed designed to make you an even more effective lawyer. Our panel will discuss how modern lawyers and law firms are using AI to better serve clients here in Canada and around the world.

In this session you will learn:

• 10 practice tips on leveraging AI in your practice
• Legal and regulatory considerations
• Insights into AI tools you can use today 

Speakers:
Dr. Bita Amani, Spark LLP
Rajah Lehal, Cobalt Lawyers
Carole Piovesan, INQ Law

SESSION 3:  EXPAND YOUR LEGAL TOOLKIT: DEVELOPMENTS IN AUTOMATION & KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
9:00 am – 10:15 am (ET)

Whether you are a new associate or a seasoned practitioner, the legal technologies that you rely on continue to evolve and transform. This session will help you increase your productivity and ensure you are up-to-date on the latest trends in knowledge management tools, platforms and automation.

Speakers:
Monica N. Goyal, Caravel Law
Sukesh Kamra, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Carla Swansburg, Epiq

SESSION 4: LEVEL UP:  ASSESSING AND IMPLEMENTING NEW TECH IN YOUR PRACTICE
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
9:00 am – 10:15 am (ET)

Choosing legal tech solutions for your practice can be overwhelming. This session will give you an understanding the current legal tech landscape. You will learn how to create a roadmap for identifying and implementing strategies to streamline and innovate in your practice. Our panelists will share best practices for assessing various tech options and tips for rolling out new technology and training your team. You’ll also learn about a knowledge management and collaboration pricing tool - this tool sets your law firm up to maximize the success of its business operations under an alternative fee arrangement system. 

Speakers:
Friedrich Blase, OBA Innovator in Residence
Scott Leigh, AltFee (Vancouver)
Melanie Leonard, streamlined.legal
Dana L. Turner-Ryan, Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala LLP (Vancouver)

SESSION 5: MARKETING LEGAL SERVICES: THE NEW DEAL
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
9:00 am – 10:15 am (ET)

In this current climate, many lawyers and firms have needed to re-evaluate their strategies for marketing legal services and building referral networks. This interactive discussion will provide valuable insight for developing new digital and social media marketing strategies for legal services. You will also learn about lawyers’ and law firms’ obligations to have a privacy program to protect personal information, including compliance issues in relation to Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation, and tips to mitigate cyber-security risks and remote working.

Speakers:
Sandra Bekhor, Bekhor Management
Jared D. Correia, Red Cave Law Firm Consulting (U.S.A.)
Constantine Karboliotis, nNovation LLP (Ottawa) 
Emma Raimi-Zlatic, Clio