Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 30 MARCH 2026

Artificial Intelligence And The Practice Of Law: Real‑World Implications For The Profession And The Justice System

Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP
Contributor
Bennett Jones LLP

Bennett Jones LLP

Bennett Jones is one of Canada’s premier business law firms. With deep experience in complex...

View firm profile
Explore more from Bennett Jones LLP

Artificial intelligence tools are increasingly being used by members of the public to understand their rights and bring and defend lawsuits. Courts and regulators are thus confronting a difficult question...

CanadaTechnology
Benjamin Reingold
Benjamin Reingold
Makda Yohannes
Makda Yohannes
Stephen D. Burns
Stephen D. Burns
Author LinkedIn connections

Artificial intelligence tools are increasingly being used by members of the public to understand their rights and bring and defend lawsuits. Courts and regulators are thus confronting a difficult question: at what point does the public's use of AI result in the unauthorized practice of law, and what are the real‑world consequences when it does? Recent litigation in the United States highlights these risks and offers a potential path forward both of which are relevant to the Canadian legal landscape.

A Cautionary Tale: AI's Alleged Unauthorized Legal Practice

The risks of unregulated legal "assistance" were brought into sharp focus by a recent lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging that OpenAI engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. In that case, a US insurer alleges that a self‑represented litigant relied extensively on AI‑generated legal advice and drafting assistance to challenge a settled claim and inundate the court with

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Canada’s 2026 AI Strategy: What Businesses Need To Know

Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy marks a significant shift in federal AI policy, moving away from standalone legislation toward a comprehensive framework that emphasizes privacy reform, data sovereignty, and business adoption. The Strategy outlines six interconnected pillars designed to position Canada as a global AI leader while addressing regulatory gaps through existing legal frameworks and new policy tools.
CanadaTechnology
Aird & Berlis LLP
Aird & Berlis LLP
Article

Notice Concerning The Quota For Imports Of Chinese Electric Vehicles

The Government of Canada has introduced new rules governing the second allocation period for electric vehicle imports from China, increasing the available quota to 33,397 vehicles while maintaining strict permit requirements and a first-come, first-served allocation system. Global Affairs Canada signals potential intervention measures to ensure equitable access, particularly for original equipment manufacturers and new market entrants navigating this highly regulated import regime.
GlobalInternational Law
Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP
Article

Data Centre West 2026: Alberta's Digital Infrastructure Moment Has Arrived

Alberta's data centre sector has evolved from speculative interest into billions in committed investment, supported by a new regulatory framework and hyperscale commitments from Meta and AWS. However, grid capacity constraints, power procurement challenges, unresolved federal copyright issues affecting AI training workloads, and community concerns about environmental impacts present significant obstacles that require continued collaboration between industry, government, and regulators.
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP
Article

Canada's Response To Trump: Tariffs And Relief Measures

Following the Trump administration's imposition of 50% tariffs on Canadian exports worth C$27.6 billion, Prime Minister Carney has announced comprehensive countermeasures targeting American goods. The Canadian response includes dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on US products, alongside C$7.5 billion in support programs for affected workers and businesses. What relief measures and remission frameworks are available to Canadian importers navigating this escalating trade dispute?
CanadaInternational Law
Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP
Article

Ontario Court Bifurcates Class Action As Practical Approach To Onerous Discovery Demands

An Ontario court granted a motion to bifurcate liability and damages stages in a class action alleging $500 million in hidden fees, finding that extensive documentary production requests were disproportionate and not relevant to determining liability. The decision addresses proportionality concerns in class actions where defendants face onerous discovery demands spanning millions of transactions over a decade.
CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP
Article

Canada Launches Responsible Data Centre Development Principles: What Clients Need To Know

Canada has introduced a new national framework setting expectations for data centre infrastructure development, with 42 major industry signatories including Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and NVIDIA. The Principles establish five core requirements covering local benefits, electricity cost allocation, environmental impacts, transparency and strategic value, though their practical implementation will depend heavily on provincial and municipal policy decisions.
CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP
Article

OPC Issues New PIPEDA Guidance On Assessing Third-Party Service Providers

Canada's privacy regulator has released new draft guidance establishing comprehensive due diligence standards for organizations evaluating third-party service providers under PIPEDA. The framework introduces eleven best practices covering everything from data flow mapping and AI training data sourcing to vendor lock-in risks and ongoing monitoring obligations, signaling heightened expectations for privacy accountability in vendor relationships.
CanadaPrivacy
Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP
Article

Prediction Markets In Canada: A Category-by-Category Regulatory Framework

Canadian regulators have established a category-by-category framework for prediction markets, permitting certain economic and financial event contracts through securities dealers while directing sports and entertainment contracts outside that regime. This emerging approach creates distinct regulatory pathways depending on contract structure and underlying event type, raising critical questions about classification, market integrity, and compliance for platforms, dealers, and financial institutions navigatin
CanadaFinance and Banking
Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP
Article

Government Of Canada Reduces The Scope Of The Project List Under The Impact Assessment Act

The Government of Canada has amended the Physical Activities Regulations, removing certain intraprovincial energy projects and facilities regulated by the Canada Energy Regulator from the federal Impact Assessment Act's Project List. This regulatory change eliminates automatic federal oversight for fossil fuel-fired power plants and specific oil sands facilities, while transferring assessment responsibilities for interprovincial pipelines and transmission lines to the Canada Energy Regulator, potentially re
CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Bennett Jones LLP
Bennett Jones LLP