CL Talk

Luca Citton and Marti Phillips on the hiring shift AI is forcing on law firms

Jul 03, 2026

What should law firms be hiring for in an era when AI can handle the work that once defined a junior associate's first years? In this episode of CL Talk, Tim Wilbur sits down with Luca Citton, president of Boughton Law in Vancouver and board chair of Meritas, and Marti Phillips, who leads the legal technology program at the global firm network, to explore how legal talent strategy needs to change – and why most firms are still behind.  Citton introduces the concept of "lawyer fluidity" – a lawyer's ability to move between legal work, business, technology, and client relationships – and explains why Boughton Law has already shifted its recruitment criteria and rebuilt its mentorship program around it. He also reflects on what law schools are still failing to teach, and shares the moment a ChatGPT demonstration at a Meritas annual meeting changed how he thought about hiring entirely.  Phillips brings a global view from her work across Meritas member firms, offering a frank assessment of where the profession stands and what the firms actually getting this right have in common. Her advice to managing partners who feel overwhelmed: start by taking a breath.