Navigating the AI Ethics Minefield

Overview

Part of the Front Foot Forward webinar series exploring legal workplace trends driving the future. Held on Wednesday 18 March 2026, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm AEDT, streamed via Streamyard on LinkedIn Live.

The session explored how in-house legal teams can navigate the ethical and professional obligation challenges of using AI.

Panellists

• Oliver Tod — Director, TILT Legal
• Jeannie Patterson — Professor of Consumer Protection and Technology Law, Director of the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics, University of Melbourne
• Anna Jaffe — Head of Regulatory Affairs & Responsible Technology, Atlassian
• Niels Wouters — Senior Research Manager, Envato

Host / Facilitator: David Curtain — Director, Front Foot

Topics Covered

• Key AI ethics issues for in-house lawyers: confidentiality, privilege, transparency, supervision
• Ethical/professional risks when using AI for in-house legal work
• Setting up GenAI workspaces that minimise data breach risk
• Tasks that should be off-limits to AI, even if technically capable
• What to demand from AI vendors and internal tech teams
• Safe use rules and making them stick in busy environments
• Confidentiality and data leakage — practical steps to reduce risk
• In-house legal tasks best suited to AI within ethical standards
• The future ethical and professional obligation landscape for legal teams using AI

Oliver's Questions

Oliver was asked to speak to the following:

1. Top 3 ethical/professional obligation concerns legal teams raise
2. How to develop and implement effective controls to manage those concerns
3. Practical steps to reduce confidentiality and data leakage risk when using AI
4. Which in-house legal tasks are best suited to AI within acceptable ethical standards

Notes

The session was recorded and streamed live via LinkedIn. The audience comprised lawyers and legal operations professionals, mainly from in-house teams. David noted a strong signup response ahead of the event.