Commonwealth Law Connect 2026
Agenda
We invite you to stay for the morning or come and go as you please to any sessions of interest.
8.45am - 8.55am
Arrival and registration
8.55am - 9.00am
Welcome and housekeeping
Glenn Caligaris
9.00am - 10.00am
Evidence 101
Evidence is at the heart of effective legal practice, yet many practitioners only encounter evidentiary issues intermittently and may not always have the opportunity to revisit the fundamentals. In this practical session, Vince Brennan, Barrister at Deane Chambers, will provide a refresher on the key principles of evidence that are vital to understand, whether managing litigation, conducting investigations, responding to administrative reviews, or preparing matters for external counsel.
The session will explore common challenges, including relevance, hearsay, privilege, documentary evidence, witness statements and the treatment of electronic records. Using practical examples and recent developments, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how evidentiary principles operate in practice and how to avoid common pitfalls that can undermine a matter before it reaches a hearing.
Vince Brennan
10.00am - 10.25am
Morning tea break
10.25am - 11.25am
Vicarious Liability
[INSERT SESSION DESCRIPTION]
Jack Craig
11.25am - 12.25pm
Panel discussion | Building future-ready legal teams: Managing and mentoring lawyers in the age of AI
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in legal practice, government legal teams are grappling with an important question: how can AI be used to improve efficiency and service delivery while continuing to develop the next generation of lawyers?
Bringing together perspectives from legal practice, technology and leadership, this panel discussion will explore how AI is reshaping how legal work is performed and what it means for the training, supervision and development of lawyers. Reflecting on traditional pathways into legal practice and emerging AI-enabled ways of working, the panel will consider how junior lawyers can continue to build effective judgement, critical thinking and professional skills.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how legal leaders can balance technology innovation with capability-building, ensuring AI enhances the longevity and strength of their teams without compromising the development of professional judgement and expertise.
Key discussion themes include:
- Building judgement, critical thinking and professional expertise in junior lawyers
- Evolving models of supervision, mentoring and upskilling
- Governance, risk and ethical considerations in government legal practice
- Ensuring AI enhances, rather than replaces, the development of core legal skills.
Robyna May | Jacob Bartels | Athena Cains
12.25pm - 12.30pm
Closing remarks
Glenn Caligaris