Morning Keynote
Public Libraries: Providing the Vital Ingredients for a Democratic Society
Vickery Bowles, Toronto Public Library
Public libraries play a critical role in sustaining democracy and addressing equity in a time of widespread threats to democratic values and freedoms by invoking the strength of libraries as champions of equity, trusted sources of accurate information, and convenors for civic engagement. Toronto Public Library has been making this work a priority for a number of years. City Librarian, Vickery Bowles will provide an overview of Toronto Public Library’s work to provide the vital ingredients for a democratic society.
Vickery Bowles, Toronto Public Library
Public libraries play a critical role in sustaining democracy and addressing equity in a time of widespread threats to democratic values and freedoms by invoking the strength of libraries as champions of equity, trusted sources of accurate information, and convenors for civic engagement. Toronto Public Library has been making this work a priority for a number of years. City Librarian, Vickery Bowles will provide an overview of Toronto Public Library’s work to provide the vital ingredients for a democratic society.
Morning Concurrent Sessions
Artificial Intelligence Tools in Law Libraries & Firms
Candice Fong, Fasken LLP
Eve Leung, McMillan LLP
Leo Wang, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Moderator: TALL Education Committee
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly evolving and the tools utilizing this technology are becoming more available and accessible in step with these developments. Join our panelists as we discuss considerations for using A.I. tools in law libraries and firms, and what the implementation of these tools may look like in daily practice.
Candice Fong, Fasken LLP
Eve Leung, McMillan LLP
Leo Wang, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Moderator: TALL Education Committee
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly evolving and the tools utilizing this technology are becoming more available and accessible in step with these developments. Join our panelists as we discuss considerations for using A.I. tools in law libraries and firms, and what the implementation of these tools may look like in daily practice.
Applying AI: Revolutionizing Access to Justice?
Rohan Bhambhoria, OpenJustice.ai
Jordon Donich, Donich Law
David Liang, OpenJustice.ai
Moderator: Publisher Liaison Committee
Join the Publisher Liaison Committee for a panel discussion focusing on how AI impacts Access to Justice in the broader sense and whether the developments related to AI tools are positive or if we should be wary of them. The panel members have experience developing and using Access to Justice generative AI-based apps.
Rohan Bhambhoria, OpenJustice.ai
Jordon Donich, Donich Law
David Liang, OpenJustice.ai
Moderator: Publisher Liaison Committee
Join the Publisher Liaison Committee for a panel discussion focusing on how AI impacts Access to Justice in the broader sense and whether the developments related to AI tools are positive or if we should be wary of them. The panel members have experience developing and using Access to Justice generative AI-based apps.
Afternoon Keynote
A.I. and Disruptive Technology in Legal Services
Al Hounsell, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Presented by Al Hounsell, Director of Strategic Innovation & Legal Design at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, this session offers an examination of artificial intelligence's (AI) evolving role within legal services. Hounsell leverages his deep understanding of both legal traditions and technological advancements to navigate the complex terrain of AI in legal practices, striking a balance between enthusiasm for innovation and a realistic appraisal of AI's current capabilities and limitations.
The presentation sets the stage with historical examples of disruption, providing a context for
understanding AI's potential transformative impact on legal research, document management, and information retrieval—areas of keen interest to law librarians. Hounsell demystifies AI, distinguishing genuine technological breakthroughs from hype, and focuses on practical applications that are directly relevant to the work of law librarians.
Al Hounsell, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Presented by Al Hounsell, Director of Strategic Innovation & Legal Design at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, this session offers an examination of artificial intelligence's (AI) evolving role within legal services. Hounsell leverages his deep understanding of both legal traditions and technological advancements to navigate the complex terrain of AI in legal practices, striking a balance between enthusiasm for innovation and a realistic appraisal of AI's current capabilities and limitations.
The presentation sets the stage with historical examples of disruption, providing a context for
understanding AI's potential transformative impact on legal research, document management, and information retrieval—areas of keen interest to law librarians. Hounsell demystifies AI, distinguishing genuine technological breakthroughs from hype, and focuses on practical applications that are directly relevant to the work of law librarians.
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
Unveiling the future: exploring the impact of AI in Canadian Legal Research
Alan Votary, LexisNexis Canada
Embark on a journey into the future of legal research at the Toronto Law Librarians conference this fall. With the recent launch of Lexis+ AI in Canada, we stand on the brink of a new era in legal technology—one defined by innovation, insight, and transformative possibilities.
Armed with significant usage data from our Generative AI product in Canada and the United States, we are excited to share fascinating insights, patterns, and emerging trends that we noticed are already shaping the future of legal research.
During this session, we will delve deep into the real-world impact of AI on Canadian legal research. From harnessing AI to uncover hidden insights to optimizing workflows and beyond, we will showcase the tangible benefits and potential pitfalls of AI integration in Canadian legal practice.
Whether you're a seasoned legal professional or a curious newcomer, this session promises to deliver fresh perspectives and actionable insights that will redefine the way you approach legal research in Canada. Join us as we unravel the mysteries of AI in the Canadian legal domain and chart a course towards a more efficient, insightful, and innovative future.
Alan Votary, LexisNexis Canada
Embark on a journey into the future of legal research at the Toronto Law Librarians conference this fall. With the recent launch of Lexis+ AI in Canada, we stand on the brink of a new era in legal technology—one defined by innovation, insight, and transformative possibilities.
Armed with significant usage data from our Generative AI product in Canada and the United States, we are excited to share fascinating insights, patterns, and emerging trends that we noticed are already shaping the future of legal research.
During this session, we will delve deep into the real-world impact of AI on Canadian legal research. From harnessing AI to uncover hidden insights to optimizing workflows and beyond, we will showcase the tangible benefits and potential pitfalls of AI integration in Canadian legal practice.
Whether you're a seasoned legal professional or a curious newcomer, this session promises to deliver fresh perspectives and actionable insights that will redefine the way you approach legal research in Canada. Join us as we unravel the mysteries of AI in the Canadian legal domain and chart a course towards a more efficient, insightful, and innovative future.
GenAI Change Management - It’s Not a Solution Until it’s Adopted
Allan Akizuki, Thomson Reuters
As legal professionals and organizations become more familiar with Generative AI legal tech solutions, so does their willingness to review, test and implement them. However, without proper change management, even the most advanced AI tools can fail to deliver their promised benefits, as users may resist adoption, lack adequate training, or feel overwhelmed by the new technology. Law library professionals are well positioned to lead the change management requirements for generative AI due to their deep understanding of legal research processes, their expertise in managing information resources, and their role as trusted advisors within legal organizations. In this session, we’ll review the real-world challenges when adopting AI such as:
Allan Akizuki, Thomson Reuters
As legal professionals and organizations become more familiar with Generative AI legal tech solutions, so does their willingness to review, test and implement them. However, without proper change management, even the most advanced AI tools can fail to deliver their promised benefits, as users may resist adoption, lack adequate training, or feel overwhelmed by the new technology. Law library professionals are well positioned to lead the change management requirements for generative AI due to their deep understanding of legal research processes, their expertise in managing information resources, and their role as trusted advisors within legal organizations. In this session, we’ll review the real-world challenges when adopting AI such as:
- Resistance to Change
- Data Privacy and Security Concerns
- Integration with Existing Workflows
- Initial Learning Curve
- Unrealistic Expectations
Lightning Talks
Reference Librarians: Are we Terriers, Retrievers or Pointers and Will Generative AI Turn Us into Retired Greyhounds
Nairne Holtz, WeirFoulds LLP
How we research and answer legal questions can vary quite a bit depending on the culture and structure of the institutions where we work. In some institutions, law librarians may simply point to resources or gather information without understanding it. Similarly, generative AI collects rather than synthesizes knowledge and can do so faster and sometimes more effectively. This talk will look at how we research legal questions and my own approach and tips on how to obtain effusive praise and atta-girls (or atta-boys or atta-theys). I will also discuss how we can approach generative AI as an opportunity rather than a threat, so we don’t end up as retired Greyhounds.
Nairne Holtz, WeirFoulds LLP
How we research and answer legal questions can vary quite a bit depending on the culture and structure of the institutions where we work. In some institutions, law librarians may simply point to resources or gather information without understanding it. Similarly, generative AI collects rather than synthesizes knowledge and can do so faster and sometimes more effectively. This talk will look at how we research legal questions and my own approach and tips on how to obtain effusive praise and atta-girls (or atta-boys or atta-theys). I will also discuss how we can approach generative AI as an opportunity rather than a threat, so we don’t end up as retired Greyhounds.
Powerful BI: Implementing a Power BI Dashboard for Law Libraries
Cecilia Rose, Stikeman Elliott LLP
Power BI is a powerful Microsoft tool that allows users to visualize and interact with business intelligence data. Law libraries can make good use of Power BI to gauge metrics related to library usage. At Stikeman, we wanted an efficient way of looking at our data using more data points. We teamed up to build a Power BI dashboard that would encompass an array of vendor statistics, as well as our own tracking data, to give us a one-stop-shop for all our data needs. One of the advantages of the dashboard was that we were able to quickly and efficiently review usage of software products, titles, and reference interactions, without having to build charts manually. We were also able to see our data broken down by department, role or office. Our lightning talk will describe our challenges and outcomes related to this project. We plan to continue building on our Power BI knowledge and recognize that we have only seen the tip of the iceberg as far as what Power BI can do.
Cecilia Rose, Stikeman Elliott LLP
Power BI is a powerful Microsoft tool that allows users to visualize and interact with business intelligence data. Law libraries can make good use of Power BI to gauge metrics related to library usage. At Stikeman, we wanted an efficient way of looking at our data using more data points. We teamed up to build a Power BI dashboard that would encompass an array of vendor statistics, as well as our own tracking data, to give us a one-stop-shop for all our data needs. One of the advantages of the dashboard was that we were able to quickly and efficiently review usage of software products, titles, and reference interactions, without having to build charts manually. We were also able to see our data broken down by department, role or office. Our lightning talk will describe our challenges and outcomes related to this project. We plan to continue building on our Power BI knowledge and recognize that we have only seen the tip of the iceberg as far as what Power BI can do.
Making your documents more accessible
Alexandra Kwan, Bora Laskin
This talk will cover a few considerations to help reduce barriers in accessing information.
Alexandra Kwan, Bora Laskin
This talk will cover a few considerations to help reduce barriers in accessing information.
Great Library's Research Guide for Self-Represented Litigants
Leah Strudwick, Law Society of Ontario
The library of the Law Society of Ontario (also known as the Great Library) provides resources to self-represented litigants in the form of access to law books, a curated research guide, and blog posts containing research tips and links to helping organizations. In this short talk, I will discuss each (with a focus on the research guide), and how they might be leveraged by academic and government law libraries.
The goal of this session is to deepen the conversation among different types of law librarians on the scope of legal information the public may utilize and how to find it. The practical knowledge shared in this session will promote access to information by helping to close the knowledge gap between self-represented litigants and traditional representatives in court.
Leah Strudwick, Law Society of Ontario
The library of the Law Society of Ontario (also known as the Great Library) provides resources to self-represented litigants in the form of access to law books, a curated research guide, and blog posts containing research tips and links to helping organizations. In this short talk, I will discuss each (with a focus on the research guide), and how they might be leveraged by academic and government law libraries.
The goal of this session is to deepen the conversation among different types of law librarians on the scope of legal information the public may utilize and how to find it. The practical knowledge shared in this session will promote access to information by helping to close the knowledge gap between self-represented litigants and traditional representatives in court.
Library as Technology Hub: Training on the Unconventional
Devin New, Ontario Legislative Library
Want to collaborate with other departments in your organization? Want to build a library of training video content? Want to get outside of your library comfort zone? Host a regular training series! This session will speak to the successes and learnings from two years of hosting the iDivision Training Series. This training program at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario covered technology tools and information management best practices, with some library content thrown in, to familiarize staff and clients with the powerful tools at their disposal.
Devin New, Ontario Legislative Library
Want to collaborate with other departments in your organization? Want to build a library of training video content? Want to get outside of your library comfort zone? Host a regular training series! This session will speak to the successes and learnings from two years of hosting the iDivision Training Series. This training program at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario covered technology tools and information management best practices, with some library content thrown in, to familiarize staff and clients with the powerful tools at their disposal.
