Jennifer Connell has spent her career helping shape solutions that support Canada’s property ecosystem. As Product Director, Legal Solutions at Teranet, she now leads the strategy behind products that help legal professionals navigate real estate transactions with greater efficiency, confidence, and trust.
In this edition of Leadership Connect, Jennifer shares what she’s learned since stepping into the role, where she sees the biggest opportunities for legal technology, and why balancing innovation with trust will define the future of the industry.
Tell us about your role at Teranet and what your responsibilities as Product Director, Legal Solutions involve
As Product Director, Legal Solutions, I lead the strategy and direction for products that support legal professionals in real estate and related transactions. My role involves understanding the needs of lawyers, law clerks, lenders, and other stakeholders, and translating those needs into product priorities that improve efficiency, compliance, and the overall transaction experience.
A big part of my responsibility is balancing customer needs, business goals, regulatory requirements, and technology capabilities. I work closely with cross-functional teams across product, technology, sales, operations, legal, and customer support to ensure we are building solutions that create meaningful value for the legal community.
Transitions often bring new opportunities to learn and grow. What has been the biggest learning experience since stepping into your role leading Legal Solutions?
One of the biggest learning experiences has been gaining a deeper appreciation for how interconnected the legal transaction ecosystem is. Every product decision can impact multiple stakeholders — lawyers, clerks, lenders, government partners, and consumers — so it is important to look at challenges from several perspectives before determining the right path forward.
I have also learned the importance of listening closely to customers and internal teams. The best insights often come from those who are closest to the work, and those perspectives are critical in helping us identify where we can simplify processes, reduce friction, and deliver better outcomes.
Teranet continues to invest in solutions that help legal professionals work more efficiently. What are some of the biggest opportunities you see for technology to improve the legal transaction experience?
There is a significant opportunity to reduce manual effort and duplication across legal transactions. Many legal professionals still spend a considerable amount of time moving between systems, re-entering information, validating details, and managing administrative steps. Technology can help by creating more integrated, intuitive, and automated workflows.
I also see opportunities around better data visibility, guided workflows, and stronger digital collaboration between parties. When technology makes it easier to access the right information at the right time, it helps reduce risk, improve turnaround times, and allow legal professionals to focus more on higher-value work for their clients.
What's one opportunity—or challenge—that you think will shape the future of legal technology?
One of the biggest opportunities — and challenges — will be balancing innovation with trust. Legal technology is moving quickly, especially with automation, data-driven insights, and emerging AI capabilities. These tools have the potential to transform how legal work gets done, but they need to be implemented in a way that is secure, reliable, transparent, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
The future of legal technology will be shaped by solutions that make work easier while still maintaining the confidence of legal professionals and the clients they serve.
Finally, what is one leadership lesson that has had the biggest impact on your career?
One leadership lesson that has had a lasting impact on me is the importance of creating clarity. Teams do their best work when they understand the goal, why it matters, and how their contributions connect to the bigger picture.
I have learned that leadership is not about having all the answers — it is about asking the right questions, listening carefully, removing obstacles, and helping people move forward with confidence. When people feel informed, supported, and trusted, they are able to do great work.
At Teranet, we’re proud to have leaders like Jennifer who are helping drive innovation across the property ecosystem. By listening to customers, embracing new technologies, and keeping trust at the centre of every decision, she’s helping build the future of legal solutions.
