2026 Michael Mills InnovAction Award Winner Announced

We’re proud to announce People’s Law School, based in Vancouver, BC, as the 2026 Michael Mills InnovAction Awards Winner. Their winning initiative, Beagle+, is a Gen Ai chatbot that delivers free, anonymous, plain-language legal information to help people effectively deal with the legal problems of daily life. By combining responsible AI, lived-experience design, and jurisdiction-specific legal accuracy, People’s Law School is making trusted legal information accessible to everyone, and we are thrilled to present them with this award. Executive Director Patricia Byrne, BA, JD, MBA will accept the award and $10K USD prize at the Futures Conference Honors Gala on Monday, June 29. 

First Keynote Speaker Announced

Visionary. Trailblazer. Global authority on the future of legal services. 

We are honored to welcome Professor Richard Susskind CBE KC (Hon) as our featured keynote speaker for the 2026 Futures Conference. No name is more synonymous with the future of law than Richard Susskind’s. For over four decades, he has shaped how the legal world thinks about transformation, technology, and tomorrow. His insights into artificial intelligence, online courts, and the evolution of professional services have influenced governments, judiciaries, and legal organizations across the globe. Click here for more information about Richard and his impressive credentials.  

Second Keynote Speaker Announced

The 2026 College of Law Practice Management Futures Conference welcomes 7x Emmy-winning comedy writer and comedian Beth Sherman as its second keynote speaker. Her engaging session will highlight how humor and storytelling can elevate leadership, offering attendees practical strategies for building trust, communicating effectively, and leading with empathy and authenticity Click here for more information about Beth.

Futures Forum 

The Last Professional Partnership: Private Equity and the Future of Law Firms

Click here for speaker bios. The video is available here. (The written Recap that highlights the key ideas, emerging trends, and practical insights from the session will be available soon. When published, it will be located under the Publications tab above.)  

For generations, the partnership model has defined how law firms operate, grow, and govern themselves. As private equity reshapes industries from healthcare to consulting, a new question is emerging: could outside capital play a role in the future of law firms? While U.S. regulations have largely kept investors at the door, interest in the legal sector is growing and new models are beginning to test the boundaries. This panel explored what private equity could mean for law firms, their clients, and the future structure of the profession.

• The landscape: how private equity currently intersects with legal services and where the regulatory limits stand
• The opportunity: what outside capital could unlock for law firms, clients, and innovation in the sector
• The risks: potential tensions around governance, incentives, and professional responsibilities
• Lessons from other markets: what global experiments with alternative ownership models reveal
• Where we go next: how law firm ownership, leadership, and growth strategies might evolve in the years ahead

Black-Tie Gala is Back: A Night to Honor Excellence

Kick off the conference with a night of recognition and connection. Join us Monday, June 29, 2026, for an elegant evening at the "Robert," atop the Museum of Arts & Design at Columbus Circle. This stunning venue—with floor-to-ceiling views of Central Park—sets the scene for honoring the profession’s brightest innovators and newest inductees into the College. The evening includes:

• Formal Induction of the 2026 Class of College Fellows
• Presentation of the Michael Mills InnovAction Award
• Cocktail Reception with Seated Dinner and Entertainment
• Meaningful Connections with Legal Innovation Leaders

Registered attendees and their ticketed guests are invited to attend. Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so you'll want to register early for the 2026 Annual Meeting and Futures Conference! 

In Memoriam

The College Fellows In Memoriam pages capture College Fellows’ personal memories of their friends and colleagues, and remembrances of their contributions to the profession. If you would like to contribute a message or memory to the In Memoriam pages, please write the College Administrator.

Charles McCallum, 1939-2026

Taswell Papier, 1961-2026