Law Professor wins award for legal scholarship

Dr. Gideon Christian has been named the 2026 Distinguished Service Award recipient for Service to Legal Scholarship. Presented jointly by CBA Alberta and the Law Society of Alberta, the Distinguished Service Awards are the province’s most prestigious honours for the legal profession.

In reflecting on the recognition, Christian said, "Personally, this recognition reminds me of why I joined academia: to prepare future lawyers for the profession they will join, and to help build a more just, equitable, and forward-looking legal system. I am deeply grateful to the CBA Alberta and the Law Society of Alberta for this honour, and especially grateful to my former student who nominated me. Their confidence in my work makes this award particularly meaningful."

Christian’s research focuses on the role of artificial intelligence in the legal system and he noted that AI adoption in the legal profession is now inevitable, making his work more important than ever. 

"My work emphasizes that the profession has a crucial responsibility to ensure that AI technologies are used responsibly so that technological innovation strengthens, not weakens, our justice system," he said. "The integration of AI into legal profession is one of the most significant transformations the legal profession has ever faced. I’m grateful to contribute scholarship and education that help the profession navigate this moment responsibly. And I’m proud that UCalgary Law is at the forefront of shaping how our profession adapts to this critical change."