As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the practice of law, one Canadian innovator is determined to ensure no lawyer is left behind. Colin Lachance, principal consultant at PGYA and co-founder of LawQi, is leading an ambitious effort to make AI education accessible, affordable, and practical for every lawyer — from solo practitioners to large firms.
In a recent episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, Lachance discussed his journey from small-town Winnipeg to becoming a leading voice in legal AI education. A former CEO of CanLII, Lachance has spent his career breaking down barriers to access — from democratizing legal information to rethinking how lawyers learn emerging technologies.
“Law firms are entering a period of heavy transformational change,” Lachance told LawDroid Manifesto’s Tom Martin. “This isn’t technology learning anymore — it’s about helping lawyers recognize the need for transformation.”
Born out of his time as innovator-in-residence at the Ontario Bar Association, LawQi uses an AI-powered “digital twin” to help lawyers learn about AI by interacting with it directly. The platform, powered by Anthropic’s Claude model, walks users through everything from basic prompt crafting to more advanced “vibe coding,” offering a safe, hands-on learning environment.
The model behind LawQi is as radical as its mission: bar associations can deploy it for as little as $1 per member per year, giving even the smallest county bars access to comprehensive AI training.
Lachance’s approach stems from a career spent working “at arm’s length from an engineer.” Before founding PGYA (Please Govern Yourself Accordingly), he led CanLII, Canada’s most-used legal research platform, and launched the Legal Innovation Data Institute (LIDI) to make legal data available for AI experimentation.
Unlike passive webinars that often fail to deliver real skills, LawQi emphasizes doing over watching. “Every webinar gets two results,” said Lachance. “A handful of attendees pay to listen — but few walk away with practical skills, and most bar members never attend.”
By contrast, LawQi’s interactive model lets lawyers practice AI use in real time, closing the skills gap that’s left many struggling to keep up. Lachance’s three professional roles — consultant, educator, and part-time practicing attorney — help him stay connected to the realities of everyday law practice.
For Lachance, the mission goes beyond technology adoption. It’s about transformation through understanding. “Buying an app won’t protect firms for the next 12 months,” he said. “What will protect them is knowing how to think critically about what AI can and can’t do.”
As the legal profession confronts an era of rapid technological change, LawQi’s hands-on, scalable approach could prove critical in equipping lawyers with the skills — and confidence — to thrive.