Lawyers are entering 2026 facing a landscape defined by rapid technological adoption, tightening regulatory frameworks, and a renewed focus on the human element of legal practice. To navigate this evolving environment successfully, practitioners must look beyond traditional black-letter law and cultivate a diverse toolkit of future-ready skills. To help you maintain your competitive edge this year, we have identified the top legal trends and essential skills you need to watch in 2026.
Reflecting on your year is a powerful and rewarding exercise that can help you set new career goals for the coming year. But where to start? Here are 6 questions to help you start planning your next step in your legal career progression.
We’re delighted to share that LawCPD Co-Founder Sarah Mateljan has been recognised as AI Leader of the Year – SME at the 2025 Australian AI Awards. This award celebrates leaders who are using artificial intelligence to drive meaningful innovation within small and medium-sized enterprises. It recognises those who not only apply AI in practical, responsible ways but also demonstrate measurable impact in their field.
Leading change in legal education
Under Sarah’s leadership, LawCPD has reimagined how lawyers learn and fulfil their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements. Her focus has always been on making learning more flexible, engaging, and accessible for all lawyers, regardless of their practice location.
Over the years, this vision has shaped LawCPD into one of Australia’s leading online learning providers for the legal profession. Key milestones include:
Launching Australia’s first fully online, interactive CPD platform for lawyers.
Introducing groundbreaking AI-powered features within courses, as well as free skill-building AI roleplays to personalise learning experiences and make CPD more efficient.
Continuing to deliver high-quality courses that help lawyers meet their annual CPD requirements anytime, anywhere.
A recognition of purpose and progress
The Australian AI Awards highlight innovation that creates real value. For LawCPD, this recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to developing smarter tools that help lawyers learn more effectively and manage their compliance with confidence.
Sarah’s award underscores the important role AI can play in professional education to enhance and leverage human expertise. Her leadership continues to shape how technology supports lifelong learning across the legal profession.
What this means for our community
For LawCPD members, this achievement is part of a bigger story: our continued investment in tools and courses that are both practical and forward-thinking.
You can expect to see more innovations designed to help you:
Learn in ways that fit your schedule and practice area.
Looking for last-minute ways to meet the CPD deadline? Discover practical solutions to get compliant quickly and stay on track with your professional development.
Looking for last-minute ways to meet the CPD deadline? Discover practical solutions to get compliant quickly and stay on track with your professional development.
Explore the key skills shaping the legal profession in 2025. From AI ethics to workplace wellbeing, discover the trends that will define the future of law and how they impact your practice today.
You are probably already aware that there are some specific work-related expenses you can claim as a lawyer. But are you sure you are claiming everything you are entitled to in order to - hopefully - receive some cash back?
Social media is now being increasingly used by lawyers and firms for business development and networking purposes, but some ethical risks can undermine the benefits and opportunities these new communication channels offer.
Thriving as a lawyer requires more than legal acumen alone. Discover five essential CPD courses tailored to lawyers of all levels, designed to equip you with indispensable skills for career advancement.
