McCann FitzGerald LLP trainees lead the way in exploring Generative AI in legal practice

Pictured from left to right: Patrick Jones, Paula Fearon, Maryia Amelyanchuk, Eada Hogan, Rory Purcell, David Leen, Alice Kearns and Maria Hayes.

The Think Tank, comprising five interactive workshops led by the Project Services Group, was designed to give McCann FitzGerald trainees - the July 2025 qualifiers - an opportunity to engage with GenAI technology firsthand. Over the course of the sessions, participants explored the capabilities and limitations of our GenAI platform, Harvey, gaining insights into how such GenAI tools can be integrated into legal workflows while maintaining ethical and professional standards.

The programme was structured to be trainee-driven, ensuring an honest and practical evaluation of GenAI’s role in legal practice. Key areas of focus included ethics, prompt training, interaction techniques for optimal results, and identifying and testing use cases where GenAI could enhance efficiency without compromising the development of junior solicitors.

The final session saw the trainees present their findings to a panel of senior leaders, including Managing Partner Stephen Holst, alongside Partners Josh Hogan and Fiona O’Beirne, Consultant, Peter Osborne and Head of Legal Professional Training at the firm, Emma Crowley. Their findings and recommendations will help inform McCann FitzGerald’s approach to integrating GenAI tools in a way that supports both client service and the professional growth of our trainees and junior lawyers.

Commenting on the initiative, Managing Partner Stephen Holst, said: “We are committed to fostering innovation while ensuring that technology enhances, rather than replaces, the critical thinking and expertise that define excellent legal practice. This Think Tank has been a fantastic opportunity for our trainees to engage with GenAI in a meaningful way, shaping how we, as a firm, harness its potential responsibly.”

The insights gained through this initiative will play a key role in shaping the firm’s future use of GenAI, reinforcing McCann FitzGerald’s position at the forefront of legal innovation.