ABA Journal: Legal Rebels

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The ABA Journal Legal Rebels Podcast features men and women who are remaking the legal profession and highlights the pioneers who are changing the way law is practiced and setting the standards that will guide the profession in the future.

Legal Talk Network


    • May 14, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 26m AVG DURATION
    • 118 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from ABA Journal: Legal Rebels

    To buy or not to buy? For Cleary Gottlieb, acquiring an AI company was a no-brainer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 39:27


    Law firms acquire or merge with one another all the time. But when it comes to technology companies, firms usually keep it in-house or enter into a partnership with an outside vendor. They rarely go ahead and just buy a tech company. So when Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton announced in March that it had acquired artificial intelligence products developers Springbok AI, it made headlines.

    Generative AI can help overworked immigration lawyers navigate these tumultuous times

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 40:13


    "May you live in interesting times." For immigration lawyers, that old proverb is now a reality. Ever since the start of the second Trump administration, immigration lawyers have been busier than ever, and they have plenty on their plates.

    This year's historic ABA Techshow will be bigger than ever

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 33:58


    For one thing, it marks the 40th annual iteration of the show. For another, it promises to be the biggest of all time—emanating for the first time from the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. Techshow co-chair Stephen Embry talks to the ABA Journal's Victor Li about what to expect from this year's show.

    Should we expect new regulations on data privacy and consumer protection?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 41:02


    It's a well-worn saying that the law always lags behind technology. It makes sense. We all remember the old song about how a bill becomes a law and how long the whole process can take. By the time you get to the verse about a president signing something into law, technology has either evolved into something even more cutting edge or become obsolete—replaced by a newer, shinier toy.

    What's the forecast for generative AI in 2025?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 38:13


    If last year was when generative artificial intelligence went mainstream, could this year be the one when it gets even bigger? Will we see more people, law firms, companies and government agencies adopt, use or integrate it into their day-to-day activities? Will we see more rules and regulations from states or the federal government regarding its use? What about law schools and generative AI? Will we see more start to teach it? And will lawyers finally learn more about what to do, or not to do, when it comes to using it?

    2024 in Review: Generative AI dominated legal tech

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 43:33


    More money is flowing into legal tech than ever before, as several gigantic deals dominated the headlines and enlarged quite a few bank accounts. And the push for regulatory reform extended to attorney admissions—between a demand for an online bar exam and an exploration of alternative pathways to licensure, one of the longtime pillars of the legal profession could be ready to make way. That's just a few of the topics that will be covered in this special year-in-review episode of the Legal Rebels Podcast.

    What generative AI means for the future of predictive analytics

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 39:27


    Lawyers, especially litigators, like to say they never ask a question that they don't already know the answer to. But there's plenty of unknowns out there—especially when it comes to how a case might turn out or how much it will cost. Predictive judicial and law firm analytics take some of that guesswork out of the equation.

    What Filevine's new AI tool could mean for the future of depositions

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 30:39


    The generative artificial intelligence tool is not just designed to transcribe depositions. It looks for inconsistencies. It suggests questions to ask. It analyzes the transcript in real time to see whether there are issues that have to be cleared up or areas of weakness to address. In other words, it's like having another attorney in the room—only one who's capable of digesting large amounts of data and analyzing it quickly.

    What does the future hold for licensed paraprofessionals?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 41:20


    Much has been made of the gigantic access-to-justice gap in this country. One possible way to help bridge the gap is to expand the pool of people eligible to practice law. Of course, that raises age-old concerns about unauthorized practice of law.

    Tests into and out of law schools—what's changing and why

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 38:25


    The LSAT is facing competition from the JD-Next exam, and many states are reconsidering their licensing methods as the bar exam as we've known it sunsets in 2028. Kellye Testy, the executive director and CEO of the Association of American Law Schools, talks with the ABA Journal's Julianne Hill about why those changes are happening now and what it means for law schools and students.

    How generative AI can help you market your legal practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 33:25


    There has been a lot of talk and concern about generative AI tools and how they are changing the legal industry. A major worry for many lawyers is that these tools could replace them or make them redundant. But what about the potential of generative AI to help lawyers generate business, market themselves more effectively, and make more money?  On this month's episode of the Legal Rebels Podcast, Gyi Tsakalakis, founder of AttorneySync and EPL Digital and digital marketing expert, talks about how generative AI can help lawyers generate business and market themselves.

    Can generative AI tools make it easier for lawyers to offer pro bono services?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 53:06


    A commonly cited solution to helping bridge the access-to-justice canyon is for lawyers to provide more pro bono work. In that regard, have generative artificial intelligence tools made it easier for lawyers to provide pro bono services?

    Will generative AI (finally) spell the end of the billable hour?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 26:22


    It seems like every time that there's a major disruption or event that threatens to upend the legal industry, it spells doom for the billable hour. But that could be more out of hope than anything else. The billable hour survived the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, despite many people thinking—or maybe wishing—that it wouldn't.

    The future of DEI programs in the legal industry

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 35:06


    The lack of diversity when it comes to race, gender, sexuality, disability and social class within the legal profession is nothing new. However, the last decade has marked a gradual increase in diversity across all fields.

    Could automated transcription tools replace human court reporters?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 37:47


    Transcription technology has existed for a while now, but its accuracy has never been that high. Now, artificial intelligence could make automated transcription even more accurate. As the tech becomes better and better, is it possible that it could eventually replace human court reporters?

    Fall in love with legal technology at this year's ABA Techshow

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 36:04


    What better way to spend Valentine's Day than with your favorite lawyers, legal professionals, technologists and thought leaders who will be on hand to teach lucky conference goers about all the latest trends and developments in the field of legal technology?

    Want to clear a criminal record? This lawyer has an app for that

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 35:57


    The impact for people clearing their criminal records can be life-changing, leading to long-term employment and financial security. And research shows that it also helps prevent recidivism. But the path to expungement is not always easy, requiring people with criminal records to navigate an unfamiliar, costly and drawn-out process. That's where lawyer Noella Sudbury comes in.

    What were the top legal tech stories of 2023?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 46:00


    As 2023 draws to a close, the Legal Rebels Podcast looks at the top stories in legal technology for the year. Between the explosion in popularity of ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence tools, the continued use of virtual or hybrid working arrangements and the underwhelming mergers and acquisitions market, it was certainly an eventful year.

    How this lawyer uses TikTok to skewer law firm culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 34:47


    Legal professionals are not immune to the pull of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube Shorts. Some are even using short-form videos to inform clients about their law practice; build their business or brand; or shed light on the culture of BigLaw, crafting short-form video content giving an insider look at the profession. Among them is Alex Su, a former lawyer and head of community development at Ironclad, a contract management software company.

    How generative AI is already changing contract review

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 39:16


    One of the areas that has already felt the effects of ChatGPT and other large language models is contracts. Users can now use these AI-enhanced tools to help them quickly draft, analyze and review contracts. All you have to do is type in what you want, and the tech does the rest. Of course, it isn't that simple. The technology is still in its infancy, and there are limits to what it can do.

    What is the future of remote working in the law firm world?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 29:37


    Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home and communicating and collaborating via real-time communication tools has become the norm for many law firms and offices. The benefits of such arrangements are obvious. However, some firms, including several of the largest in the country, have begged to differ. Citing a need to maintain or preserve office culture and strengthen personal connections, these firms are now mandating at least four days in the office per week.

    Changing the culture at law firms to promote wellness and mental well-being

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 35:00


    For decades, lawyers who worked in BigLaw could expect some version of the following: Work long hours, including nights and weekends, with minimal free time, giving up almost all semblances of a social life. The reward: money and a potential partnership. And if you didn't like it, there was the door. And if you were having mental health or wellness issues, then suck it up and deal with it.

    How GPT and other large language models could change e-discovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 43:54


    When technologically assisted review first started gaining traction in e-discovery in the 2010s, many of the same superlatives assigned to ChatGPT were used to describe this groundbreaking new process that purported to review documents faster and more accurately than humans. Lawyers would get hours and hours of time back, and clients would save tons of money.

    What could AI regulation in the US look like?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 26:04


    In the United States, there has been very little movement toward establishing a regulatory framework at the federal level for artificial intelligence. Why is that? ChatGPT, the large language model released by OpenAI, is one of several such tools that have revolutionized the legal industry in a short amount of time, igniting debates about whether artificial intelligence has to be regulated—and by whom. The European Union recently took the first step toward passing the AI Act, whereby regulation would increase in proportion with the potential threat to privacy and safety that an AI system poses. China has also drafted rules to regulate AI.

    Pre/Dicta takes a radically different approach to predictive analytics than others

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 30:37


    There are plenty of judicial analytics and litigation prediction tools on the market. They may have differences in execution and focus, but the general rule of thumb is that they look at a judge's past rulings and opinions to predict how that judge might rule on a similar motion or case in the future. For instance, you can look up how a particular judge on prior motions to dismiss on certain employment discrimination cases to get an idea how they might rule on a similar one currently pending in their courtroom. That knowledge can be important for lawyers.

    What the Silicon Valley Bank failure means for our financial institutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2023 39:17


    Many of us still get a chill running down our spines when we hear about bank failures and bailouts. After all, it was less than 15 years ago when we went through one of the worst economic disasters in history, and institutions such as Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers Inc., American International Group Inc. and others became famous for the wrong reasons. The Great Recession took years to recover from, and some of its effects can still be felt to this day.

    How Casetext utilized the latest GPT technology to create an AI legal assistant

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 36:56


    In November, when OpenAI unleashed the newest, most advanced version of its chatbot, ChatGPT, it immediately captured the imagination. So far, it's been a hit. Casetext launched CoCounsel earlier this month, and it functions as a legal assistant, helping users draft all sorts of legal documents. Users can utilize CoCounsel to help draft briefs, compose research memos, draw up contracts and analyze them, and write correspondence—all by typing their questions or requests into a prompt.

    What to expect from ABA Techshow 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 32:28


    One of the biggest and longest-running legal technology shows in the country, the ABA Techshow, is right around the corner. From March 1 to 4, thousands of lawyers, legal professionals and vendors will descend upon Chicago to talk about technology.

    Should lawyers embrace or fear ChatGPT?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 36:15


    For some academics, researching, writing, editing and publishing a scholarly piece of work can take months, if not years, of painstaking effort, diligent commitment and rage-inducing frustration. In December, Andrew Perlman, the dean of the Suffolk University Law School, authored one in less time than it takes to watch an episode of the Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon.

    Why this BigLaw firm recently started a legal ops division

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 31:19


    Legal operations handle a lot of the business and technological stuff that many lawyers either aren't trained to handle or don't want to deal with. All so lawyers can focus on practicing law and representing their clients to the best of their abilities.

    It's a long road ahead for driverless cars, says Fastcase executive

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2022 32:57


    There hasn't been much progress when it comes to driverless cars. Most major car manufacturers have sunk hundreds of billions into developing and testing driverless cars; yet the finish line seems to be nowhere in sight. So what happened?

    How lawyers can unlock the potential of the metaverse

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2022 31:05


    The metaverse is all the rage these days. Users can enter a virtual world where they can interact with people from all parts of the physical world, play games, engage in commerce and do a lot of other things. Some law firms have also seen the potential.

    Legal Chatbots: What can and can't they do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 27:56


    Programmed to communicate as if they were living, breathing people, AI chatbots function by asking you a series of questions and providing you with your available options. Lawyers, law firms and courts have even gotten into the act.

    Why this BigLaw Firm Adopted a Permanent Work-from-Anywhere Policy for its Lawyers and Staff

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 20:06


    Thanks to nearly two-years of COVID-19-related shutdowns and sheltering-in-place orders, working from home has become the new normal. Face-to-face interactions have been replaced by meeting on real-time videoconferencing platforms such as Zoom, FaceTime or Microsoft Teams, while cloud-based collaborative programs have become absolutely vital if any work is to be done.

    How technology can improve immigration policy and practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 27:22


    Immigration is an area of law that lends itself well to technological innovations. It is in that intersection in which immigration lawyer Greg Siskind does his work.

    Taking on unauthorized practice of law regulations to expand access to justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 22:40


    Are you struggling with debt? Do you have collectors breathing down your neck, threatening to repossess your property and filing lawsuits against you in court? For many Americans facing this dilemma, their options are fairly limited.

    EmotionTrac analyzes facial expressions in real time to help lawyers pick juries, market themselves

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 22:06


    Facial recognition software is becoming a greater part of our everyday lives. But the technology is controversial and not without its critics. Questions about its accuracy—especially relating to recognizing minority faces—remain. Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications and Smokeball.

    TurnSignl app seeks to provide real-time legal assistance and de-escalation of tension during traffic stops

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 19:45


    Like many Americans, Jazz Hampton and two of his friends, Andre Creighton and Mychal Frelix, watched in horror as two fellow Minnesotans, Philando Castile and George Floyd, were killed by police officers following what seemed to be routine traffic stops. If only there had been a way to de-escalate those situations while protecting the rights of the person detained, as well as the law enforcement officer involved. So they came up with one. Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications and Smokeball.

    With alternative dispute rising in popularity, this platform aims to help mediators and arbitrators

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 32:42


    As a young personal injury litigator in Georgia, Gino Brogdon Jr. says he was accustomed to using different technology tools to manage his practice. But when Brogdon began working as a mediator, he realized that there were limited tech options to assist him in the alternative dispute resolution realm. Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications and Smokeball.

    How a social justice innovation lab is developing new types of legal services

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 30:08


    The Innovation for Justice lab launched at the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law in 2018 with the goal of designing, building and testing new solutions to addressing the justice gap impacting millions of Americans. Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications and Smokeball.

    How this contracts platform uses AI to help users manage and analyze key documents

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2022 33:17


    Evisort co-founder Jake Sussman says when the company began developing its contract management and analysis platform, its goal was to use artificial intelligence as a last resort. But it soon became clear that AI was the only way to solve the contract challenges that Evisort wanted to help users tackle. Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications and Smokeball.

    How an e-discovery platform has evolved to meet the new challenges facing clients

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2021 31:40


    AJ Shankar, the founder and CEO of e-discovery platform Everlaw, likes to say his company's technology is designed to help clients find needles in a haystack. But he notes that the haystacks that law firms and corporate in-house teams have to confront have grown in size and complexity in recent years. This has prompted cloud-based Everlaw to enhance and broaden its e-discovery offerings. Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications and Smokeball.

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