[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VxCsdSVGWzEA16-JzTWxADmIxDzAcHuW/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100090609942785485941&rtpof=true&sd=true](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VxCsdSVGWzEA16-JzTWxADmIxDzAcHuW/preview?usp=sharing&ouid=100090609942785485941&rtpof=true&sd=true)
Imagine this: A pilot, thousands of feet above the ground, suddenly forced to fly solo after years of relying on autopilot—only to realize their manual skills have quietly faded away. After a series of fatal air crashes involving pilot error in response to incorrect autopilot signals, the FAA saw the danger and acted, mandating hands-on training to keep pilots sharp and ready for the unexpected.
Now, legal practice is heading for the same turbulence. As AI becomes the new autopilot for lawyers, essential skills risk fading into the background—unnoticed, until it’s too late. Junior lawyers drafting with AI, associates researching with a click—what happens when the tech stumbles, and human judgment is the only thing standing between success and disaster?
Unlike aviation, law firms haven’t built a safety net. There’s no structured training to keep legal instincts sharp in an AI-driven world. Most are racing to adopt the latest tools, but few are asking: Are we still ready to take control when it matters most?
This talk is your wake-up call. Discover what the legal profession must learn from aviation’s hard-won lessons. Because in the high-stakes world of law, “the AI usually handles this” is not a recovery plan.
Are your current and future lawyers ready to fly without autopilot?
Alistair Wye is the Director of Innovation & AI at White & Case, leading the firm’s global strategy for legal technology and AI adoption. With 14 years’ experience across law, legaltech, and innovation, he collaborates with senior leadership to accelerate AI integration and deliver measurable client impact firmwide. Previously, Alistair led innovation at Latham & Watkins and was Global Head of Presales for RAVN, driving AI product strategy and market expansion. Prior to working in AI, tech and innovation, Alistair was a leveraged finance lawyer at Latham & Watkins. He holds an Executive MBA from Cambridge, was named a “Best & Brightest” EMBA 2024 by Poets & Quants. Alistair is a recognized thought leader, speaker, and mentor in legaltech.