In this session, Smokeball CEO, Hunter Steele, will share his insights into the future of the legal industry and the impact that he believes technology will have on the practice of law over the next year. Hunter will also provide a deep dive into the overarching vision behind Smokeball, and unveil a collection of brand new product features that Smokeball is set to introduce in the near future.

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In this session, join Vik Sundar, Managing Director, Clear Law, as he shares his expert insights and real-life examples of how testamentary trusts can be used to protect beneficiaries' inheritances from family court claims.

Key Takeaways:

• How testamentary trusts can act as a shield, protecting inheritances from the family court
• The family court’s power to intervene in asset division and why even well-structured trusts aren’t always immune
• How you can draft trusts to safeguard assets in today's ever changing legal world.

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This isn’t just about protecting wealth - t’s about understanding the intersection of law, family, and legacy, and ensuring that what your clients pass on is truly protected.

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Brett McGrath, Immediate Past President, Law Society of New South Wales, will explore the latest developments and multi-faceted implications of artificial intelligence on the state’s legal profession. Using practice notes, Law Society guidance to the profession, and what happens when things go wrong, this session will address how lawyers can balance their duties to clients and the courts while navigating regulatory and ethical challenges around AI. It will also examine how today's lawyers can effectively harness technology to improve access to justice.

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The legal profession is changing, and leaders must adapt to support increasingly diverse teams. This panel explores how small firms can embrace cultural, generational, neurodiverse, and intersectional differences to strengthen performance and client outcomes. Learn practical ways to lead with inclusion, harness diverse perspectives, and create workplaces where modern expectations and strategic advantage align.

Key Takeaways:

· Practical strategies for fostering a culture that values diverse perspectives.

· Learn how diverse teams enhance decision-making, innovation, and client outcomes.

· Insights on managing cultural, generational and neurodiverse differences with empathy and effectiveness.

The traditional four-step process in property settlements evaluates assets, contributions, needs, and equity - but does it truly serve families? What if this framework could do more than divide - what if it could foster healing and even rebuild trust?

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In this presentation, Pepe will reimagine the 4-steps through a justice-centred lens, challenging adversarial norms and empowering family lawyers to guide their clients toward fairer, more sustainable outcomes. For those ready to move beyond their legal comfort zones, Pepe will offer fresh tools and perspectives, challenging attendees to create solutions grounded in humanity and equity.

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Tranche 2 AML regulations are reshaping compliance obligations for law firms. This panel explores practical strategies to navigate the new requirements, manage risk, and integrate effective processes across your practice. Learn how to stay ahead of regulatory changes, safeguard client relationships, and leverage technology to streamline compliance while maintaining operational efficiency and confidence.

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Key Takeaways:

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• Understand the new AML obligations and their impact on law firm operations.
• Learn practical strategies to manage compliance risk effectively
• Discover ways to use technology to simplify AML compliance and improve efficiency.

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Wondering if investing in social media content is worth the effort? Iolanthe Gabrie, Director of Ruby Assembly, presents "Make Them Remember You: Social Media Best Practice Essentials for Lawyers". This entertaining session explores digital hygiene, brand design, and content creation strategies for legal professionals on social media platforms. Expect big energy and frank insights from this unique professional services marketer and the author of 100 Days of Brave. 

Key Takeaways:

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•    Establish a strong digital presence as your practice's virtual shopfront and better understand legitimacy in the social space        

•    Create meaningful content tailored to various experience levels, considering resource allocation and ethical considerations

•    Develop a unique brand identity that resonates with your target audiences and supports database growth

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In an increasingly consumer-driven Australian legal market and with Gen AI providing the opportunity to produce services more quickly, traditional hourly billing models are facing pressure from clients in favour of fixed-fee or value-based pricing models. During this session, Melissa Lyon, Executive Director & Experience Designer, Hive Legal, will introduce value-based pricing as an alternative model.

Key Takeaways:

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•    How to define value         

•    How to communicate value to clients

•    The wide-ranging benefits of ‘value’ versus ‘time’

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Australian legal firms are frequently encouraged to adopt new technology in a bid to drive productivity while future proofing the business. While technology does present a wealth of productivity benefits, many firms fail to see these benefits due to a range of common implementation mistakes. In this session, hear from Fiona McLay, Author, The Tech Enabled Lawyer, about the five crucial mistakes to be wary of when implementing new technology in your firm.

Key Takeaways:

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• Key questions to ask before adopting new technology
• How to implement an adoption strategy that sets you up for success
• How to quantify the impact of your new technology

Are you ready to take your conveyancing practice from good to great? In this session, hear from Laura Vickers, Principal Lawyer & Director, Nest Legal, who will explore how modern tools like online intake forms, smart precedents, and automated workflows can streamline your processes, enhance accuracy, and save valuable time.  You’ll also learn about how tools like generative AI can support you through key stages of your matters.

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Key Takeaways:

• How to implement online intake forms for efficient client onboarding.
• Using smart precedents and workflows to streamlines processes
• How generative AI can help with tasks such as drafting special conditions, client correspondence, marketing and proofreading

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In this session, hear from Kim Wiegand, Director, Client Growth and Innovation, Ashurst, about how you can create exceptional client experiences that set your law firm apart. This session explores strategies for designing client journeys that build trust, foster loyalty, and drive referrals. Whether you’re aiming to improve retention or elevate your reputation, this session will provide actionable insights tailored for small Australian law firms.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the drivers of an outstanding client experience.

• Techniques for mapping and improving the client journey.

• Strategies to enhance client communication and trust.

• Value of technology to support your team to deliver a seamless client experience.

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Join Adele Holye, Smokeball’s Chief Product Officer, for an interactive session that will showcase Smokeball’s exciting product road map. In this session, you’ll receive a live showcase of some of Smokeball’s newest and soon to be released features, as well as insights into our long-term product vision and updates you can expect in the not-too-distant future.

Key Takeaways:

·  Live demonstrations of recently released features you may not be using

·  A roadmap update detailing feature releases you can expect to see soon

·  Learn more about Smokeball’s longer term product vision

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