Changes in technology, the emergence of alternative service providers and an increasingly globalized legal market has changed the legal environment in Alberta and in fact, around the world. As these changes continue to shape the future of the delivery of legal services, law and the lawyers who practise it, accessible and affordable legal services continue to be an unmet need for the public.

The Innovation Sandbox allows the Law Society to support innovators in testing new ideas and models for the delivery of legal services in a controlled environment, with the Law Society providing both guidance and oversight.

The concept of the Innovation Sandbox is widely used in the financial services sector and is growing in popularity in legal services. Utah, British Columbia, Ontario and the United Kingdom are four noteworthy jurisdictions that have launched innovation sandboxes for the delivery of legal services. Other jurisdictions in Canada and the United States are examining the concept and are at various stages of implementation.

For more information on the Innovation Sandbox and FAQs, visit our About the Innovation Sandbox page.

Participating in the Innovation Sandbox

Proposals for the Innovation Sandbox can come from lawyers and law firms in Alberta but can also come from non-lawyers and entities that are not law firms. The intent of the Innovation Sandbox is to assist those who are interested in developing innovative delivery models for legal services that can potentially benefit the public – whether in the form of efficiency, accessibility, affordability, or more. Legal services, in this context, are defined as  the means, tools and processes by which legal work product is transmitted to a client. It contemplates legal, technological, process/project management and business issues and expertise.

The Innovation Sandbox is intended to be exploratory and innovative.  Any legal function could be involved, and any entity can apply – lawyers, non-lawyers, not-for-profits and for-profit corporations, just to name a few.

To review the eligibility criteria, click here.