Table of contents:
Comprehensive Coverage of AI in Legal Practice
Key Conference Topics:
Panel Discussion Insights
Philip Young's Key Insights
Expert Panel Composition
Addressing Practical Implementation Challenges
SRA's Leadership in Legal Innovation
The Future of Legal Technology
Garfield AI's Regulatory Experience
Looking Forward
Garfield AI CEO Joins SRA Innovation 2025 Panel on AI in Legal Practice
Philip Young joined Eimear McCann of TrialView, Gary Gallen of rradar, and SRA's Liz Rosser and Olivier Roth on the Innovation 2025 conference panel in Leeds, discussing AI governance, practical implementation, and the future of technology in legal services.
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SRA Innovation 2025: Legal AI Pioneer Shares Practical Insights on Technology Implementation
Leeds, 10 June 2025 – Philip Young, CEO and co-founder of Garfield AI, participated in a distinguished panel discussion at the SRA Innovation 2025 conference, addressing the practical challenges and opportunities of implementing AI in legal practice. The event brought together leading voices in legal technology to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the profession.
Comprehensive Coverage of AI in Legal Practice
The SRA Innovation 2025 conference focused on seven critical areas affecting the legal profession's technological transformation:
Key Conference Topics:
- Tech and AI Impact - How emerging technologies are changing business practices and creating new trends
- Maximising Existing Technology - Practical guidance on understanding the technology landscape and selecting appropriate solutions
- AI in Law Firm Settings - Real-world applications and benefits for legal practices
- First-Hand Experience - Practical insights from firms actively using technology, including opportunities and challenges
- Upskilling Workforce - Preparing legal professionals for technological advancement
- AI Governance - Ensuring proper supervision and governance frameworks
- Regulatory Changes - Anticipating future regulatory developments
Panel Discussion Insights
The panel discussion, available to view at this YouTube link, featured diverse perspectives from practitioners who have successfully implemented AI solutions in their legal practices.
Philip Young's Key Insights
During the panel, Young shared his unique journey from City litigation lawyer to legal tech entrepreneur, offering practical insights for firms considering AI adoption:
The Human Story Behind Legal Innovation Philip explained how Garfield AI was inspired by his brother-in-law Andy, a Sheffield plumber who struggled with unpaid debts. "Small businesses don't have the time to chase their debts and they find the court process daunting", Philip noted, highlighting the access to justice gap that motivated the platform's creation.
Regulatory Excellence from Day One Philip detailed the "very thorough eight-month process" with the SRA, emphasising how his background in professional discipline informed their approach. With the benefit of Philip's prior experience working in professional discipline law Garfield was built with regulatory compliance "firmly in mind from day one", he explained. The SRA "asked us every possible question that if I'd been in their shoes I would have asked myself."
Lawyer-Led Design Philosophy A strong advocate for lawyer-led legal tech development, Philip argued that "law tech products are usually better when they are built by teams that are led by lawyers because we understand how lawyers think, what they need, how they operate." This principle guided Garfield's design to be accessible for small law firms without resources to build their own AI tools.
The Future Legal Workforce Contrary to fears about AI replacing lawyers, Philip predicted there will be more lawyers, not fewer, as AI makes currently uneconomical work viable. He advocated for training lawyers in psychology and emotional intelligence, not just process, and foresaw the emergence of new roles like "legal engineers" and data scientists in law firms.
Preserving Human Judgment Philip took a principled stance on the limits of AI in justice, expressing personal opposition to AI judges, especially for low-value hearings. "Humans have got to be represented ultimately in court by humans and have got to be judged by a human", he stated, "because sometimes as lawyers we forget that people come to court not just for an outcome but also for things like vindication."
Expert Panel Composition
The panel brought together leading innovators in legal technology:
- Philip Young - CEO and co-founder of Garfield AI, the world's first SRA-regulated AI litigation platform
- Eimear McCann - Commercial Director at TrialView, bringing expertise in digital evidence presentation and virtual hearing technology
- Gary Gallen - Founder of rradar, pioneering subscription-based legal services and technology-enabled legal support
- Liz Rosser - SRA representative, bringing regulatory perspective on innovation and technology adoption
- Olivier Roth - SRA representative, contributing insights on regulatory frameworks for legal technology
This combination of expertise provided comprehensive perspectives on AI implementation, from automated litigation processes to digital courtroom technology and innovative service delivery models.
Addressing Practical Implementation Challenges
The discussion provided attendees with actionable insights into:
- Technology Selection - How to evaluate and choose AI solutions that align with firm needs and capabilities
- Governance Frameworks - Establishing proper oversight and compliance measures for AI implementation
- Workforce Development - Strategies for training staff and adapting to technological change
- Regulatory Compliance - Understanding current requirements and preparing for future changes
- Risk Management - Identifying and mitigating potential challenges in AI adoption
SRA's Leadership in Legal Innovation
The SRA Innovation 2025 conference demonstrates the regulator's proactive approach to technological advancement in the legal sector. As the first regulator to authorise an AI-powered legal platform, the SRA continues to lead discussions on responsible innovation in legal services.
This event builds on the SRA's track record of supporting innovation whilst maintaining professional standards and consumer protection. The comprehensive agenda reflects the regulator's understanding that successful AI implementation requires attention to technical, governance, and human factors.
The Future of Legal Technology
The conference addressed the evolving landscape of legal technology, recognising that AI adoption is no longer a question of "if" but "how" for most legal practices. Discussions focused on practical implementation strategies that balance innovation with professional responsibility.
Garfield AI's Regulatory Experience
As the world's first SRA-regulated AI litigation platform, Garfield AI brings unique insights to discussions about AI governance and regulatory compliance. The company's experience navigating the authorisation process provides valuable lessons for other legal technology providers and law firms considering AI implementation.
Looking Forward
The SRA Innovation 2025 conference represents an important milestone in the legal profession's technological evolution. By bringing together regulators, practitioners, and technology providers, events like this facilitate the responsible development and adoption of AI in legal services.
For more information about the SRA Innovation 2025 conference, visit www.sra.org.uk/innovation-2025.
About Garfield AI
Garfield AI is the world's first SRA-regulated AI litigation platform, helping SMEs recover unpaid debts through automated small claims processes. Visit garfield.digital to learn more about the platform that's transforming access to justice.
Media Contact:
Philip Young - philip@garfield.digital
Daniel Long - dan@garfield.digital
About the Author
Hugo Rawling
Legal Engineer
