Artificial Intelligence's Impact Across Domains

Throughout my time at CodeX, I was exposed to an intersection of diverse disciplines aimed at exploring the potential of Artificial Intelligence. It was during this time that I began to realize I stood in the midst of a technological explosion. Progress in both science and society has been catalyzed by historic moments in which new technologies have opened completely new windows into nature as well as ourselves. Take for instance the invention of the microscope. Its invention opened new windows into the world of microbes and materials, which in turn led to advancements in medicine and technology. Similarly, I found myself living through a historic moment whereby AI was opening new windows for a wide range of different industries and areas of research. AI was purported to serve as a catalyst, offering insights into intricate patterns in nature and the depths of human creativity. It seemed that everyone I encountered during my placement was motivated by all these developments to explore more fully the opportunities for AI to enhance human scientific understanding, creativity, and society.

Automation in Contractual Assessment

So where did the law lie in all of this? In today's legal and technological landscape, automating the assembly and analysis of complex legal documents has emerged as a topic of significant importance and intrigue. In the age of AI, this question of whether we can automate legal reasoning has become ever more pressing with the new avenues for automation that AI presents. And so, as part of my IP Intensive project, I set out to explore the process of automating contractual assessment.

For centuries, the legal profession has relied on traditional, language-based expressions to define agreements. From the moment we begin our legal careers, we are often taught to capture the dynamic nature of relationships between contracting parties through ordinary textual contracts. This conventional approach has instilled in us the idea that the framework of an agreement can only ever be articulated through written words on paper.

Exploring Computable Contracts and the Transformative Power of Computational Language

However, despite the longstanding association of agreements with legal documents, I have learned that an alternative means of representing contractual terms is indeed possible. During my placement, I was introduced to the idea of expressing the contractual relationship in computer code through what is called a computable contract. Essentially, a computable contract is the expression of the bargain in computational language (i.e., computer code) instead of written human language which is traditionally how we express it.

What’s exciting about this is that computational language could serve as structured language for expressing and processing complex contractual relationships. By writing contract terms as computer code, it becomes possible for a person and a machine to determine the compliance of any relevant set of circumstances with the terms and conditions of the contract. Importantly, in theory, this makes it possible to conduct contractual analysis in a purely mechanical way, thus enhancing efficiency and transparency. In a way, computational language allows us to harness centuries of precise science and systematic knowledge and apply it in a way that is practically helpful to people dealing with real-world legal questions and concerns. Computational contracts, serving as an alternative to conventional natural language contracts, demonstrate the transformative capabilities inherent in computational language.

Looking to the Future

As I conclude this chapter of my academic journey, I am grateful for the experiences and skills gained at my placement. The faculty and mentors at CodeX played a pivotal role in providing support and guidance, connecting me with experts who could answer my research questions and facilitating a rich learning experience. The strong foundation built has fueled my excitement for what is to come with respect to the automation of contract analysis. The opportunities that lie ahead for AI, computable contracts and the law are met with enthusiasm and a commitment to continued contribution. And so, I eagerly anticipate the legal profession's future amid these technological advancements.

Patricia Borja completed the Fall 2023 IP Intensive cohort

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I was placed with the BEST Lab through Osgoode’s . The Intensive Program is a great way to get practical hands-on experience in IP law and understand the needs of a variety of organizations.  

The BEST Lab is a unique workplace for a law student (see picture 1). At the incubator, I worked alongside the BEST Lab . This contrasts with a law firm where there is a buffer zone between lawyers and clients. In such environments, meetings between clients and lawyers are often done by appointment. 

Being embedded in the entrepreneurial space is an enriching and rewarding experience. The experience made me appreciate the types of problems the entrepreneurs encounter daily. It was interesting to see the entrepreneurs work through technical problems, make sales calls, or devise new business strategies while I worked alongside them on legal issues. 

My supervisor, , and program managers Maedeh and Dora made me feel like a valuable member of the team. I was responsible for creating startup-friendly educational materials that covered how to perform patent searches and how to apply for patents. With the entrepreneurs in mind, I tailored the resources to include discussions on raising start-up funds to cover patenting costs and taking advantage of the drawn-out patent timeline to test business ideas.   

I held regular office-hours to meet with entrepreneurs and provide legal information. Most of the companies at BEST Lab are early-stage startups that are building their products and services, meeting with potential customers, and conducting market research. Consequently, many of the entrepreneurs had legal questions about starting a business such as employer-employee contracts, shareholder agreements, and incorporation. Although these are legal issues about starting a business, such concerns still have facets of intellectual property. For instance, when hiring independent contractors, the startup must consider who owns the work product once the contract ends. 

For entrepreneurs who were closer to patenting their invention I provided information on the patent process as well as funding sources such as and to cover initial costs. I also connected entrepreneurs with my supervising lawyer who could offer guidance and next steps for their ventures. 

Some of my most memorable experiences at the BEST Lab was discussing with entrepreneurs to learn more about their businesses and seeing where I could add value as a legal intern. I acted as a sounding board to entrepreneurs who would pitch their ideas or discuss business strategies. Since I don’t have a background in entrepreneurship or business, I could offer insights with fresh eyes and ask questions. I would also flag any legal issues that could come up.  

My placement would not have been an enriching experience without the people who make the BEST Lab. First, I want to thank Professor D’Agostino, Professor Vaver and Joseph Turcotte for securing placements and providing experiential education for law students. Second, I want to thank my BEST Lab supervisor Professor Terry Sachlos, as well as my off-site supervising lawyers Reshika Dhir and James Hinton for a wonderful experience. I also want to thank Maedeh, Dora and Professor Andrew Maxwell for making the BEST Lab a great place to work. Finally, I want to thank the entrepreneurs at the BEST Lab. It was a pleasure learning from everyone while also helping with intellectual property and corporate legal issues.  

Neeraj Gupta completed the IP Intensive cohort in Fall 2023

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When I was first assigned to The Globe and Mail (“The Globe”) for a ten-week internship placement through Osgoode’s Intellectual Property and Technology Intensive, I assumed that this role would be copyright-centric. Copyright is critical in driving not just the news publishing industry, but the publishing industry at large. As Canada’s foremost news media company, I imagined the legal team at The Globe would consistently grapple with copyright issues, notably copyright infringement, litigation, and ownership issues. However, working with its three-person in-house counsel team taught me that, while intellectual property is still a critical aspect of The Globe’s business, the legal implications of digital news publishing go far beyond copyright. 

Regulatory compliance stood out as an overarching theme within my practical and research work. A major difficulty for national organizations like The Globe is ensuring its practices and operations align with all provincial and territorial legislation. This can be especially complicated when conducting business in Quebec, whose consumer protection and privacy legislation are significantly more stringent compared to other provincial and territorial counterparts. There are lawyers in private practice dedicated solely to Quebec compliance, so it can be a challenge for in-house counsel to navigate these difficult schemes, especially when this involves navigating all provincial and territorial regimes. This was my first exposure to compliance within a national organization, as most of my law school studies focused on either federal legislation, notably intellectual property legislation, or Ontario-based legislation. 

As someone with a strong interest in intellectual property, I wanted significant exposure to copyright work. The Globe monitors the use of its copyrighted material online, and I helped draft notices of copyright infringement to Web pages reproducing The Globe’s content without authorization. My research work also focused on the copyright implications of generative artificial intelligence (AI), a rapidly emerging field that has the potential to revolutionize the publishing industry, including areas like content creation and advertising. The Globe provides to its content providers on acceptable uses of AI in its publishing, including that AI programs such as ChatGPT should be used as a tool in the same way that Wikipedia is used, given that ChatGPT’s success rate is still below 100%. AI programs cannot produce writing for publication, as this could alter whether copyright subsists in the work. With the everchanging landscape of AI and a likely intervention from Parliament on the copyright issues surrounding generative AI, it will be interesting to see its impact on the digital publishing industry, and particularly The Globe, in the coming years. 

After spending the past two summers at an intellectual property boutique firm, I looked forward to seeing the practical application of the law within a business, and especially within an esteemed business like The Globe. The Globe’s business structure afforded me the unique opportunity to work with both the Legal and Procurement teams, providing a unique blend of business and legal perspectives. Working under the supervision of John Forshaw, Legal Counsel, I also collaborated with Sophia Javed, Associate General Counsel and Richa Gupta, Senior Sourcing and Contract Analyst. Alongside Richa and the rest of the Procurement team, my focus was contract management, whether it was contract drafting, renewals, or terminations. Wrongly, I assumed contract management would fall exclusively to the Legal team. Contracts are traditionally considered to be the seminal legal document, though it is the operational aspects of contracts (e.g., price, term, services, etc.) which matter most to a business. It is the role of the business team to curate such purpose-driven contracts, and, while the Legal team may be involved in drafting and will likely review the final document, the business team drives contract management. 

This placement with The Globe’s in-house Legal Team was an invaluable experience, providing me with practical skills and knowledge that will extend into my future private practice position. I want to thank my supervisors at The Globe, John, Sophia and Richa, who encouraged me and provided guidance on all the questions I had about work or their professional lives, making this experience even more worthwhile. A sincere gratitude is also owed to Professor D’Agostino, Professor Vaver, and Joseph Turcotte for their commitment to the IP Intensive, as this experience was a true highlight of my law school career.  

Katie Graham is an Associate at Cassels (as of September 2025). This article was submitted as a requirement for Prof. Pina D’Agostino’s IP Intensive Program.��

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Starting my internship 

The first business law group, copyright group, and media law group meetings were a pivotal moment that introduced me to the network of lawyers at CBC, instilling a sense of camaraderie and underscoring the collaborative essence of this in-house practice at a broadcasting giant. 

The onboarding activities emphasized the significance of ethics and compliance, particularly by noting the internal journalistic practices and standards at CBC. Vetting content was by far the most captivating experience, providing a dive into the legal aspects of content creation and practical insights into fair dealing and licensing. I was surprised to learn that the licensing process isn’t entirely handled by lawyers, but rather the business & rights department. This allowed me to understand the division of responsibilities between legal and business departments at large corporations.  

Mentorship Matters 

Working in an in-house environment surrounded by many female lawyers has been an enriching and rewarding experience. Not only did I feel supported, but I also felt inspired by the intelligent and client-focused diverse lawyers at CBC. I had the unique opportunity to be a mentee for a different lawyer each week, which gave me the most valuable insight I gained from my internship – the realization that there is no singular “right” path to your goals. Each of my mentors had a unique journey that led them to their current position, and this realization was particularly significant for me considering the competitive and traditional nature of law school. It was a reminder that success and a meaningful contribution using my legal education is not a linear trajectory, which has brought a sense of liberation and flexibility to my mindset.  

The weekly rotations provided a distinctive experience that I haven’t had before in my summer student roles. The mentor-mentee relationship often extended beyond initial assignments as I got to understand their approaches to routine matters coming to their desk, litigation, handling disputes, and understanding public interest aspects such as freedom of the press and the open court principle.  

The rotations allowed me to see how each lawyer adapted to the matters they encounter. Moreover, these rotations served as an exceptional networking opportunity, allowing me to establish connections with the professionals in the industry I aspire to join.  

Beyond the Desk 

Dynamic experiences unfolded as I attended the "opening of the courts" ceremony, a Generative AI seminar, and observed submissions at the Ontario Court of Appeal. A "field trip" to an in-person screening of a documentary needing to be vetted highlighted the crucial role lawyers play in preventing claims of copyright infringement, defamation, and privacy that can arise against journalists.  

Research Adventures 

The week I worked extensively on Generative AI-related research showcased the evolving landscape of copyright issues in the digital age; and informed my research paper topic. From fair dealing and defamation to copyright issues related to AI, each research assignment presented an opportunity to sharpen my legal skills. Creating a practical resource on fair dealing and fair use for non-lawyers, researching the permitted acts exemption in the Copyright Act, and interpreting words in the Canada Free Trade Agreement was particularly stimulating, revealing gaps in the legislation that have practical implications.  

Culmination 

The last week was both emotional and rewarding. Giving presentations to the legal team showcased the supportive environment that fostered my confidence to present in front of a room full of experienced lawyers. In conclusion, my internship at CBC has been marked by learning, networking, and personal growth. I would like to openly thank everyone who allowed me to observe them, sit-in on their meetings, and assist them with research. I hope I made a positive lasting impression at CBC. I leave not only with practical legal skills, but also a great appreciation for the role of lawyers in bringing meaningful journalism and other pieces to the public.  

Acknowledgments 

Thank you to Professors D’Agostino and Vaver, and Joseph Turcotte for putting together an incredible intensive program – this one is special at Osgoode. Thank you to all the guest speakers at the IP Intensive Seminars, you have been vital to the broadening lens of IP students. Special thank you to Dan Ciraco, Kat Germani, Dustin Milligan, Sean Moreman, Jennifer Chow, Nico Elliott, Eve St-Laurent, Laurence Chartier-Lefrancois, Danielle Stone, Marie-Pierre Duguay Gosselin, Caroline St-Pierre, Jordan Belanger, Andrea Chamoun, Roxana Necsulescu, Marie-Claude Ferland, and Celena Choumkhammany for volunteering your time and extending kindness to me (and being icons). 

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