Lawyers who leverage artificial intelligence to strengthen client relationships rather than compete against the emerging technology will thrive, the Honourable Victor Dominello told the 2026 Queensland Law Society Symposium.
The former New South Wales Minister and current Future Government Institute CEO’s keynote address on Friday helped launch the biggest Symposium in QLS history, following formal opening remarks from Attorney‑General Deb Frecklington and QLS President Peter Jolly.
With AI a dominant theme at the event and across the broader legal sector, Mr Dominello told attendees that the technology would not replace lawyers but rather reshape legal practice around the pillars of trust, accountability and client care.
Building strong ethical foundations into the use of AI was the starting point lawyers required to stand out as trusted advisors.
“You think about all the processes that you’re engaging with that have an impact on your client. And think about, are you locking down their data? Are you giving them choice? Are you disclosing that you’re using AI?,” he said.
Mr Dominello said the profession’s existing ethical boundaries and professional standards would carry it into the future.
“We’re trying to provide trusted services, ethical services. That is in our DNA. So, I think that is our superpower moving forward,” he said.
Mr Dominello warned that lawyers who ignore AI risk becoming uncompetitive as clients gravitate toward faster, more efficient and higher‑quality services.
“People will go to a service that is a better service, a more efficient service, a higher quality service,” he said.
“So if you’re doing things in a manual, archaic way, and I can go to somebody that’s using AI, telling me they’re using AI, telling me the results of using AI, and they can do it faster, cheaper, and more effectively, it’s a choice.”
He said the shift was already occurring in other professions dealing with rapid information growth, warning the law would be no different.
Firms relying on a “vertical” model of practice, where a single transaction is followed by silence, would not survive in an environment where clients expect ongoing guidance.
“Today, someone comes in for a will or a conveyance, and that’s it, you never contact them again. But with AI, you can offer continuous value.”
Mr Dominello said AI would enable firms to anticipate client needs, deliver timely reminders and build life‑long relationships in a “solicitor for life” ideal.
“There could be a series of prompts to say, well, have you thought about this? … ‘You’re now of age. Now’s the time where you should be thinking about a will.’”
Opening Symposium, QLS President Peter Jolly said the theme of the 2026 iteration, interconnected, reflected how contemporary legal practice was increasingly shaped by overlapping disciplines, evolving professional roles, and the integration of technological and human capabilities.
He paid tribute to regional and remote practitioners who travelled to Brisbane for the event, noting that their experiences, challenges and opportunities “enrich this event and remind us of the diversity and reach of the legal community”.
Mr Jolly also acknowledged the younger members of the profession, adding “your insights deepen our interconnectedness across generations, strengthening how we understand each other and how we work together”.
With 37 sessions and more than 80 presenters across the day, the Symposium program ranged from practical workshops to case law updates. Sessions exploring AI proved especially popular, as foreshadowed by Mr Jolly.
“The program includes a strong focus on Generative AI, a clear example of the increasingly interconnected relationship between technology and legal practice,” he said.
“Lawyers are now required to make informed decisions about rapidly evolving tools, often without clear guidance.”
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