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qLegal launches new AI Talks competition

The project is part of qLegal’s Future of Law programme, and creates a space for students to engage with one of the most significant developments currently shaping the legal profession: artificial intelligence (“AI”).

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qLegal students with their AI Talks competition awards.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded across industries, it is raising complex questions around regulation, ethics, liability and the future role of lawyers. The AI Talks project was developed in response to these changes, with the aim of encouraging students to think critically about how emerging technologies are influencing both legal practice and wider society.

Working in pairs, students from qLegal’s January 2026 cohort delivered short TED-style talks, presenting original ideas on how AI is reshaping law and other sectors. The topics explored ranged from liability in the context of autonomous systems to the regulation of digital identities and synthetic bodies, as well as the ethical implications of AI as both a tool and a creator, and the possibility of fully AI-run law firms.

Alongside these discussions, students developed a range of professional skills that are increasingly important in practice. These included communicating complex ideas clearly, speaking with confidence, thinking creatively about emerging issues, collaborating effectively and engaging in an interdisciplinary way with new and evolving areas of law. The project encourages students to engage early with a changing legal landscape and develop into thoughtful, capable contributors to the future of the profession.

Attendees of the qLegal AI Talks Competition.A key strength of the initiative is its connection to industry. The competition was judged by Harry Borovick, General Counsel at Luminance and author of AI and the Law: A Practical Guide to Using Artificial Intelligence Safely. He opened the event with reflections on the future of law and AI, giving students a practical insight into how the field is evolving.

The students were mentored by volunteers at qLegal’s partner law firms and in-house teams, Paul Maalo, Hamuzah Mawanda, and Freya Hadrill from Wiggin LLP, Vanessa Liu and James Humphreys from CMS and Sophie Cole from ITRS. They helped ground students’ discussions in real-world developments and expectations.

Reflecting on the competition, Harry said: “AI is re-shaping society at a phenomenal pace, and it was great to see the qLegal students exploring the practical and ethical implications of this. As lawyers, we need to embrace the opportunities AI and legal tech are creating in our profession. qLegal's programmes encourage students to develop skills and curiosity ready for their future careers, and it was a pleasure to be involved in this new initiative.”

Congratulations to the winners, Alanoud Said M Alhureisen & @Hoi Man Cheng (Heidi) who discussed how liability is allocated when autonomous vehicles fail under UK law, evaluated whether existing legal frameworks are adequate, and considered how the law should evolve. Full details of all talks are available on qLegal’s LinkedIn page.

 

 

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