The conference, which took place on Thursday 8 October at Law Society House, brought together in-house lawyers from leading organisations across Northern Ireland for an afternoon of discussion, insight and networking, with this year’s programme focused on ‘The In-House Lawyer in the Age of AI’.

The event featured a programme of expert discussions exploring the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities arising from the increasing use of AI within legal teams and businesses.

More than 100 in-house legal professionals attended the conference, hearing from speakers including Sean McGinley, chair, In-House Lawyers Group Northern Ireland and senior In-House Counsel, BT; Ruth Murphy, head of legal at Google Ireland; The Honourable Mr Justice Michael Humphreys, Judge of the High Court of Northern Ireland; Gordon Wade, senior legal counsel and data protection officer, ZoomInfo; John Keers BL, director, Centre for Legal Technology, Ulster University; Sarah McConnell, associate general counsel, products and regulation, Thales Cyber Security Products; Laura Davey, corporate general counsel at Kainos; Claire McNally, assistant director of corporate services & finance at Mid Ulster District Council; and Cary Thompson, legal counsel at Survitec.

The conference provided a platform for in-house lawyers to share experiences and consider how AI is changing the role of legal teams, with discussions covering:

• Whether AI could replace the in-house lawyer and how technology is changing the day-to-day role of legal counsel.
• The opportunities and challenges presented by AI for in-house legal teams.
• Managing the risks, ethical considerations and accountability associated with the use of AI.
• The evolving role of the in-house lawyer as businesses increasingly adopt new technologies.

A key theme emerging from the discussions was that AI should be viewed as a tool to support legal professionals, rather than a substitute for professional judgment. While technology is rapidly changing how legal work is performed, speakers highlighted that the role of the in-house lawyer in managing risk, advising the business, exercising professional judgment and ensuring accountability remains critical.

The discussion therefore focused less on whether AI will replace in-house lawyers and more on how legal teams can harness its benefits while maintaining appropriate governance, oversight and human accountability.

Delegates were also given a front row seat to the future of artificial intelligence through a live interview with Tilly Norwood, the AI-generated virtual personality developed by London-based technology company Particle 6. Designed to showcase the rapidly evolving capabilities of autonomous AI, Tilly demonstrated real-time interaction and dynamic responses to attendees, bringing the conference theme to life in a practical and engaging way.

The conference comes at a time of significant change for in-house legal teams, as organisations increasingly consider how AI can be used to improve efficiency and support decision-making, while navigating emerging questions around governance, data protection, ethics, accountability and risk.

Sean McGinley, chair of IHLGNI and senior commercial Lawyer at BT Group, commented: “It was fantastic to bring together so many members of Northern Ireland’s in-house legal community for an afternoon of thought-provoking discussion and networking. AI is already having a significant impact on the way legal teams operate, and the conversations at this year’s conference highlighted both the opportunities it presents and the importance of ensuring that in-house lawyers remain at the heart of how this technology is adopted and governed. We are grateful to DWF for its continued support of the In-House Lawyers Group and for helping to create a space where our members can share experiences, learn from one another and engage with the issues shaping the future of our profession.”

Julie-Ann McCaffrey, director at DWF, added: “We were delighted to once again organise the In-House Lawyers Group conference and bring together such a diverse range of voices to explore what AI means for the in-house legal profession. Throughout the conference, speakers and delegates examined how AI is reshaping legal service delivery, while addressing the practical, ethical and governance challenges that accompany its adoption. We are proud to support the IHLGNI in its work to strengthen the in-house community in Northern Ireland and to provide a platform for informed discussion on the future of the legal profession.”