From AI adoption to the rise of Legal Unicorns

On 13th May Bristol+BathLegalTech open the doors of the iconic Bristol City Hall for Edition 3 of WE R LegalTech.

The Programme

Our programme is designed for legal leaders in firms, chambers, corporate legal teams and beyond. Managing and Senior Partners, C-Suite Executives, Practice Group Heads and Partner Team Leaders, Heads of Technology and IT, Legal Operations and Engineers, Innovators, Entrepreneurs and Developers.

We will have multiple sessions designed specifically for small and medium sized firms who are navigating these challenging times without the benefits of teams of IT or legal operations specialists. If you are engaged with, interested in or trying to come to terms with how technology is changing the legal market this day for you.

The Themes

We have two big themes for 2026.

The first is focused on usable takeaways for all and explores how lawyers and firms can practically achieve Innovation, Transformation, Adoption and Protection utilising and responding to AI and other advanced technology.

Our second track zooms out for a look at the bigger picture and digs deep into the emerging new models for legal organisations that will dominate the 2030s: Into the age of Legal Unicorns? Most of us know the investor definition of a ‘Unicorn’ company as having a $1bn valuation. But beyond the big number, ‘Unicorns’ are also defined by how they defy traditional growth velocity, leverage paradigm-shifting innovation and rapidly dominate their chosen markets. When venture capitalist Aileen Lee popularised the term she deliberately emphasised that these companies feel like they have ‘magically’ achieved their unprecedented, accelerated success.

Why should you attend?

Today there are already 11 legal sector Unicorns – shining lights of the legaltech and AI boom including Harvey, Legora, Clio, Relativity and Everlaw. But none of those – so far – began life as Law Firms.

We are going to dive into the future of the law firm and legal service business, exploring what the next phase of legal market evolution holds and the likely dimensions and features of our own emerging ‘Unicorns’. That focus includes examining the new competitive advantages that LegalTech and AI can offer to smaller, more agile firms.

We are attempting something different with this conference that prioritises widespread participation. Our aim is to answer the most important questions you have about AI, legaltech and innovation in our market, even those questions that occur to you on the day!

Our venue is inspiring and impressive in its own right but was hand-picked for this mission. In the main Council Chamber the layout and audio is purpose-built for interaction and our sessions will take full advantage of that.

The Format

We have created a range of engaging formats to meet that objective (and prevent anyone getting bored) –

• Expert debates in THE CHAMBER
• Bold predictions and points of view in THE HUSTINGS
• Collaborative smaller workshops in the SELECT COMMITTEES
• Legal leaders facing the music at MPQs
• Vendors and experts given a short sweet opportunity to make the case at SPEAKERS’ CORNER
• Market-leading thought leaders outlining THE MANIFESTO
• and lots of entertaining and diverting content before, during and after the main event in THE FRINGE. Phew!

By registering to attend this event you agree to our standard Event Terms & Conditions of booking and refund policy.

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