Law Technology Now

Law Technology Now's hosts discuss the mark the global pandemic will leave on law firms, legal education and the delivery of legal services.

While legions are hopeful for a return to normalcy as soon as possible, the pandemic's legacy will be felt for decades. The impact is already sure to prompt change from tech adoption to what defines an entity's business hub. Ralph Baxter, Daniel Rodriguez, and Dan Linna use their final episode as hosts of LTNow to discuss life before and during the pandemic, and what they predict is next in their respective fields of expertise. Linna references disruptive innovation theorist Clayton Christensen in considering a different way for law firms to think, plan and talk about technology. Instead of choosing between prioritizing disruptive tech vs operational innovation, Linna says firms need to balance both to keep pace with an evolving industry. Rodriguez reviews the pandemic's impact on law schools, already struggling with decreased enrollment, law school finances, and student debt. He discusses regulation of law schools, the shift to all online early in the pandemic, grading changes, and how remote and hybrid learning is creating opportunities for improving teaching during precious hours in person and via technology while remote. For law firms, Ralph Baxter expects the pandemic will have game-changing ramifications. Specifically, he believes the disruption shared globally created a gateway for change for an industry on the precipice of progress. Years of talking gave way to sudden action by necessity. Baxter predicts changes and improvements beyond travel and space, down to the fundamental concept of how the workplace hub is defined. A brick-and-mortar space was the hub of activity pre-pandemic. But the new hub is information and the technology that connects people and processes to that information. Ralph Baxter served as Chairman & CEO of Orrick for nearly a quarter-century and is a member of Intapp's board of directors. Daniel W. Linna Jr. has a joint appointment at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and McCormick School of Engineering as the Director of Law and Technology Initiatives and a Senior Lecturer. Former dean Daniel B. Rodriguez is the Harold Washington Professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Special thanks to our sponsors, Logikcull and Acumass.

Northwestern’s Jim Speta speaks with fellow law professor and host Dan Rodriguez about the suit against Facebook filed by the Federal Trade Commission and 48 state attorneys general. Speta, an internet law expert and interim dean of the law school, gives an overview of the case, and delves into the history of the FTC and Department of Justice that enables both entities to enforce antitrust laws. Speta and Rodriguez discuss whether the Biden administration will shift gears with the suit and whether breaking up the social media giant would benefit the three billion consumers who use the platform. Speta also shares his take on best possible outcomes and how they would protect consumer data and assure competitors have a fighting chance in the market. Jim Speta is interim dean and the Elizabeth Froehling Horner Professor of Law at Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law. Special thanks to our sponsors, Logikcull and Acumass.

Getting a job at a large firm and becoming a partner is vastly different than it was even in the 1990s. Where there once was a school-to-firm process and pipeline, Harvard Law’s David Wilkins tells host Ralph Baxter that hiring is dominated by lateral moves and recruiting of proven talent. Where young associates were given a long lead time to show their potential, metrics begin year one. And where achieving partnership was once akin to achieving tenure for professors, partners now have to prove their worth at every step. The current culture for partners, Wilkins says, is “What have you done for me lately?” Wilkins, who asked in his writing in 1996 and then in 2016 why there are so few Black lawyers in law firms, and Baxter, former chairman and CEO of Orrick, talk about the lack of substantial progress yet sincere intentions on the part of law firm leaders to achieve diversity. But both agree that having good intentions isn’t enough. Wilkins notes he will continue the conversation with his brother, Freshfields Partner Timothy A. Wilkins, during an Oct. 14 webinar, “Race, Sustainability, and Social Justice” hosted by Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession. Prof. David Wilkins is the faculty director of Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession.  Special thanks to our sponsors, Logikcull and Acumass.

Research Prof. Maura Grossman has long studied the effectiveness of machine learning and its implications for the delivery of legal services. She learned early on that machines were better than lawyers at many tasks, especially in the ediscovery process. But she recognized right away that to adopt and implement new technologies, lawyers needed to see proof that the new tools worked. In this episode, host Dan Linna talks to Grossman about what questions lawyers should be asking when evaluating tools purporting to use artificial intelligence to solve problems with legal services delivery. Grossman tells Linna that until there’s some sort of consumer consortium for AI, something like a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval or Consumer Reports for algorithms, lawyers will need to be smart about evaluating the tools entering the market. She and Linna discussed eight questions that should guide a lawyer’s evaluation of AI tools. Grossman says lawyers should be asking pointed questions about: The problem or pain point the tool is trying to solve How much data cleanup has to happen before the tool can be used What training needs to be done for the tool to be implemented Whether the tool has been validated On that last point, Grossman says the buyer doesn’t want to be a beta tester for the AI tool. Prof. Maura R. Grossman is the director of Women in Computer Science at the University of Waterloo and Principal at Maura Grossman Law. Special thanks to our sponsors, Logikcull and Acumass.

When the Utah Supreme Court started studying the access to justice gap, justices and bar leaders were alarmed to learn that 93% of those using adult courts in the state’s largest jurisdiction were showing up without legal assistance. Let that sink in: 93% were coming to court without a lawyer. It’s a figure host Ralph Baxter’s guests say is common across North America. With news still fresh of Utah’s groundbreaking order creating a regulatory sandbox to address the crisis involving the delivery of legal services, Baxter discusses the order’s rationale and significance with three key leaders behind Utah’s move: Economics and Law Professor Gillian Hadfield, Utah Justice Deno Himonas, and Utah Bar immediate Past President John Lund. There’s something wrong when the current legal model serves just ten to fifteen percent of the population, Hadfield tells Baxter. She says Utah’s approach is on solid ground because the bench and bar are cooperating to collect data that will inform its shifting legal regulatory framework. The four discuss how the model rules of professional conduct, developed for an older and dated model of law practice, are less about ethics and more about controlling business operations. Utah’s sandbox removes many of those barriers while keeping consumers protected. Hadfield and Lund also note that despite pushback on rule changes -- such as relaxing rules on non-lawyer ownership and creating licensing routes for paraprofessionals -- the remaking of the rules is bound to increase opportunities for lawyers. Finding ways to better serve that 80% to 90% who need but don’t have lawyers will open up the market, they tell Baxter. Gillian Hadfield is the inaugural Schwartz Reisman Chair in Technology and Society at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Deno Himonas is a justice of the Utah Supreme Court. John Lund is a Salt Lake City lawyer and immediate past president of the Utah Bar. Special thanks to our sponsors, Logikcull and Acumass.

Legal tech in the U.S. is pressing forward with data privacy playing catch up. In Europe, the trend is largely reversed. Host Dan Rodriguez and his guest, German lawyer and consultant Markus Hartung, talk through each approach’s pros and cons and address legal innovation’s status on both sides of the Atlantic. Hartung explains how, with good reason, Europeans are skeptical of embracing big data even with the promise of greater efficiency and modernization. At the same time, he says, there is too much confusion over the role of technology and the threat of technology. Notably, Hartung asserts that the impact of artificial intelligence is wholly overstated. “We look at software and AI in a completely irrational manner,” he says. German lawyer Markus Hartung is an advisor with the consultancy The Law Firm Companion. Special thanks to our sponsors, Logikcull and Acumass.

From early on, host Ralph Baxter knew co-founders Ian Nelson and Chris Wedgeworth were onto something when they developed a legal training model with proven educational techniques pioneered by Coursera, Khan Academy, and Duolingo. In this episode, Baxter talks to Nelson about the development of Hotshot and its practical uses by law schools and law firms. Since its early pilots more than eight years ago, Hotshot has developed a library of 200 topics in corporate practice and business acumen. Hotshot hires experienced lawyers to develop the substantive content for training and hires professional actors for the video presentations, which are generally delivered in short, easily digestible segments. Guest Sara Dana shares the perspective of Harvard Law, which gave early feedback about the product and has used Hotshot to provide students added learning resources since 2017. Morrison Foerster partner Rick Jenney shows how his firm has used Hotshot to train new lawyers and boost training resources for junior attorneys. Especially valuable is the ability to use the on-demand library to flip the classroom. Before a firm-led training, lawyers get video homework so everyone is on the same page. Jenney says this approach has improved in-firm training. Similarly, Dana notes that the students using Hotshot are familiar with video tutorials and have embraced the product because, like so much of what makes on-demand culture popular, “It’s really well done; it’s exactly what they need; they can access it when they need it.” Ian Nelson is co-founder of Hotshot. Sara Dana is the communication director for career services at Harvard Law School. Rick Jenney is a partner at Morrison and Foerster. Special thanks to our sponsors, Logikcull and Acumass.

Even before the global pandemic, Michigan courts were moving more quickly than many others to modernize. Michigan Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack talks with host Dan Linna about accelerating the state’s plans to offer online hearings, online dispute resolution, and to continue efforts to establish e-filing statewide. Not everything is going smoothly, but McCormack notes some judges are almost current on their dockets. And importantly, she believes that many temporary quick fixes will lead to permanent changes that improve access to justice statewide and increase public trust in the judicial branch. Bridget Mary McCormack was named chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court in January 2019. Special thanks to our sponsors, Logikcull and Acumass.

Host Dan Rodriguez welcomes Jeff Kelly to discuss his experience with complex litigation and why he chose it as his professional focus. Jeff explains how his practice has been impacted by COVID-19 and what skills he’s refined and utilized to resolve problems arising from this pandemic. He also shares ways he leverages all 24 hours in his day in order to catch up to his more senior colleagues as well as finding and leveraging legal technology to improve his practice. Additionally, hear what it’s like for Jeff to be working as the chair of a law reform commission in North Carolina and what he’s been working on. Jeff Kelly is a complex litigation attorney at Shanahan Law Group, PLLC. Special thanks to our sponsors, Logikcull and Acumass.

Law Technology Now welcomes Gillian Hadfield to the show to talk with host Ralph Baxter about the idea of reinventing the law. She starts off by explaining how she became interested in changing the way law works through personal experience and then touches on access to our justice system and how it doesn’t give the ordinary person the legal resources they need. Gillian discusses how reinventing the law will necessitate thinking big, embracing diversity, and being responsive to feedback, not to mention the considerable financial investment needed to implement new solutions. She also explains why the legal industry lacks innovation and what we should do to help expand our knowledge. Gillian Hadfield is the inaugural Schwartz Reisman Chair in Technology and Society, Professor of Law, and Professor of Strategic Management. Special thanks to our sponsors, Logikcull and Acumass. Sources: Rules for a Flat World

What’s going on in the legal industry during COVID-19? Host Dan Rodriguez welcomes returning guest Mark Cohen of LegalMosaic to talk about the changes the pandemic has brought to the legal industry. They discuss how the traditionally tech-averse legal community has begun adopting new tools, such as Zoom, and how, for young lawyers and law students, learning business skills beyond the traditional scope of legal practice can be valuable. At the end of the episode, Mark speaks to the current cultural climate by driving home the importance of diversity and how legal professionals can contribute to making the community better through inclusion. Mark A. Cohen is the CEO of LegalMosaic, a legal business consulting company. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote, Logikcull and Acumass.

Tune into this episode with Dan Linna and Catherine Krow as they discuss her company Digitory Legal, a cost analytics platform that brings data-driven pricing and cost prediction to law, and also explains why data is important for litigators to understand. Catherine breaks down how to predict costs, review data correctly, and acquire it for her practice. She also explains what law firms should do to provide the best quality value and services to their clients. She also discusses how data is being used to evaluate and improve diversity and inclusion efforts. She ends by letting our listeners know where she believes data will go in the legal industry and how those new developments will impact law firms and their clients.   Catherine Krow is the founder of Digitory Legal.   Thanks to Acumass for sponsoring this episode.

In this Law Technology Now episode with host Ralph Baxter, Ralph welcomes Heidi Gardner to talk about her research into collaboration and her work furthering the concept of Smart Collaboration. Heidi defines the meaning of Smart Collaboration, and gives her thoughts on the impacts COVID-19 is having on collaboration throughout the industry. She also discusses her time at Harvard Law School, how she developed a passion for studying collaboration, and why she's devoted her career to improving how we work together. Heidi Gardner is the distinguished fellow & lecturer on law at Harvard Law School. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote and Logikcull.

Law Technology Now host Dan Linna welcomes Laura Nirider to the show to talk about her wrongful conviction work with a focus on social media. Laura discusses her work as Co-director at Northwestern’s ‘Center on Wrongful Convictions’, her regulator appearances on ‘Making a Murderer’ with Steven Drizin, and how vital it is to use social media to get more people discussing justice and the rule of law. They also talk about how law schools should train their students to use social media effectively in their practices Laura Nirider is a clinical assistant professor of law and co-director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote and Logikcull.

How should law firms react during these turbulent times? Law Technology Now host Ralph Baxter sits down with Mitch Zuklie, CEO of Orrick, to discuss how attorneys can lead and manage their law firms during a pandemic. Mitch explains how it’s important to pay attention to how you respond internally as well as the impact your clients will face while delivering services to them that are relevant to the crisis. He suggests law firms should develop plans and be prepared for uncertain times, but not to overlook the opportunities these moments provide, like permitting your firm to accelerate client relations and prioritize innovation. Times like these are tough to deal with, but Mitch reminds listeners that when the market is back up, there will still be work for everyone. Mitch Zuklie is the chairman and CEO of Orrick. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote and Logikcull.

Margaret Hagan joins host Ralph Baxter in this episode of Law Technology Now to talk about what design is doing for the legal industry and what it is like being the lab director at the Stanford's Legal Design Lab. They discuss how Margaret got involved with the Stanford Law School's Center on the Legal Profession, her free online book ‘Law By Design’ and its uses cartoons, and how design can apply to legal professionals. She also talks about Stanford's Legal Design Lab, how it came to be, and the lab's mission. Margaret Hagan is the director of the Legal Design Lab and a lecturer at Stanford Institute of Design (the d.school). Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote and Logikcull.

Have you ever considered creating a legal technology application for your practice? Law Technology Now host Dan Linna sits down with Marc Lauritsen and Quinten Steenhuis to talk about evaluating legal tech applications and their article ‘Substantive Legal Software Quality: A Gathering Storm.’ They discuss what prompted them to write their article, how we can assess the quality of legal applications, and how to create a baseline by evaluating the work lawyers currently perform. Additionally, Marc and Quinten give our listeners tips on how we can get more people engaged in the conversation and provide best practices for lawyers to improve the apps they create. They end the episode by encouraging law schools to get their law students more engaged and exposed to the growing role of technology in legal work. Marc Lauritsen, president of Capstone Practice Systems, is a lawyer and educator with over twenty years of pioneering leadership in advanced legal software. Quinten Steenhuis is a senior housing attorney, systems administrator, and developer at Greater Boston Legal Services. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote and Logikcull.

On January 1, 2020, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, informally known as the CCPA, went into effect. Considered one of the most significant pieces of privacy legislation in the United States, many questions exist as to how this law will affect businesses and consumers within California and beyond. Law Technology Now host Dan Rodriguez speaks with attorneys James Snyder and Timothy Blood about this impactful new legislative act. Together they examine the CCPAs origins, its reach beyond the boundaries of California, what it and Europe’s GDPR mean for technology companies, and what penalties can arise from violations. James Snyder is senior counsel with Klinedinst PC. Timothy Blood is the managing partner at Blood Hurst & O’Reardon LLP. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote and Logikcull.

As a leading tech company, Google has, through its services and products, well earned its reputation as an innovator. But how does that extend beyond tech and into its legal department. Ralph Baxter sits down with Mary O’Carroll, Google’s director of Legal Operations, to discuss her work with Google, the factors leading to more corporations bringing on legal operations positions, and, through her presidency at CLOC, how Mary and her peers are working to develop and define the legal operations role throughout the industry. Mary O’Carroll is the director of Legal Operations at Google and the president of the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (“CLOC”). Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote and Logikcull.

On December 13, 2019, Fastcase and Ross Intelligence, two innovative and leading companies in the legal research space, announced a new partnership. By sharing their respective technology tools and data, these two companies are aiming to facilitate rapid innovation to better serve their customers. On his first episode as co-host of Law Technology Now, Dan Rodriguez sits down with Fastcase’s Ed Walters and Ross Intelligence’s Andrew Arruda to discuss what this new partnership means for their respective companies and customers, how technology will continue to give attorneys better access to the information they need, and how the innovations they are pursuing can increase access to justice. Ed Walters is CEO and co-founder of Fastcase. Andrew Arruda is chief executive officer and co-founder of ROSS Intelligence. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote and Logikcull.

Over his career, Steven Brill has had a major impact on both the practice of law and the public’s perception of law. His monthly magazine The American Lawyer changed the ways lawyers and law firms approach the business of practicing law through its journalism and features like the Am Law 100. Through Court TV, the cable TV network he founded in the 90’s, Brill helped to provide greater transparency and insight into legal proceedings for the general public. Law Technology Now host Ralph Baxter sits down with Steven Brill to discuss his career, the motivations that brought him to the companies he’s started, and his take on future developments in the law. Steven Brill is the founder of The American Lawyer and Court TV, an attorney, an author, and a journalist. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote and Logikcull.

Lawyers have the power to do a lot of good for their clients, but oftentimes too much of their efforts go into time draining projects like filling out forms. Obstacles like these not only can be a nuisance for attorneys, but a barrier to legal services for those with the greatest need. To explore this subject and more, Dan Linna welcomes Dorna Moini, founder and CEO of Documate. Together they cover the path that led Dorna to starting her company, the impact she’s striving to make with her company, and why software tools like hers can make a huge difference for those in need of legal assistance and for those able to provide it. Dorna Moini is the founder and CEO of the document automation platform Documate. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote and Logikcull.

Law Technology Now host Ralph Baxter sits down with Professor Richard Susskind OBE, one of the foremost experts and advocates for the implementation of technology with legal services delivery. They discuss Richard’s latest book, Online Courts and the Future of Justice, the limited or nonexistent access to justice problem for most of the world, and how the adoption of AI and online courts might look, might alleviate the pain points, and could change the practice of law altogether. Professor Richard Susskind OBE is an author, speaker, and independent adviser to major professional firms and to national governments. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

Host Dan Linna welcomes Dan Rodriguez to the team as the newest co-host of the Law Technology Now podcast. They discuss Dan Rodriguez’s work within the legal education sphere, including his drive towards innovation and his efforts to facilitate connections between legal education and the broader legal community before turning the conversation more broadly to the future of legal innovation, the need for regulatory changes, improving access to justice, the fear of robot lawyers, and the impediments that the industry has to overcome to facilitate meaningful change. Dan Rodriguez is a professor and former dean at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and is the former host of the Planet Lex: The Northwestern Pritzker School of Law podcast. Dan is also the chair of the ABA Center for Innovation. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

Even though they may be a small part of large corporations, legal departments play a vital role in supporting business objectives and guarding the company’s reputation. With many years of experience in general counsel roles, Jeff Carr offers a wealth of knowledge on best practices for modern legal departments. Jeff joins Law Technology Now host Dan Linna to discuss strategies for building innovative systems to support the cultural, financial, and service delivery goals of your legal department. Jeffrey Carr recently retired from his role as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Univar Inc. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

In this edition of Law Technology Now, Ralph Baxter hosts an in-depth conversation with President Judy Perry Martinez on the many ongoing projects at the American Bar Association. The ABA is committed to improving the practice of law through collaboration and innovation. Ralph and Judy discuss the many issues of concern at the ABA, including the efforts of the Commission on the Future of Legal Services, current recommendations for improving access to justice, projects at the ABA Center for Innovation, voter rights, law student debt, and more! Judy Perry Martinez of Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn in New Orleans is president of the American Bar Association. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking the judicial system isn’t ripe for disruption. Law Technology Now host Dan Linna is joined by Shannon Salter, the Chair of the Civil Resolution Tribunal in British Columbia, to discuss the impacts and benefits of the Online Dispute Resolution system they’ve rolled out and the broader implications of rethinking how claims get resolved. Together they explore why the CRT’s rollout of this system has been successful, why we can’t just throw technology at the problem without rethinking the culture, and how the idea of Online Dispute Resolution is gaining support in more jurisdictions. Shannon Salter is the Chair of the Civil Resolution Tribunal, Canada’s first online tribunal resolving small claims and condominium disputes. She is also an adjunct professor at the UBC Allard School of Law, teaching administrative law and legal ethics and professional regulation. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

Law Technology Now host Ralph Baxter welcomes Bill Henderson to discuss his career and current work as co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Law Practice (IFLP). Bill shares highlights from his professional journey from blue collar worker to law professor and legal researcher and writer and then discusses the motivation behind the founding of IFLP. In today’s quickly changing legal landscape, IFLP facilitates programs and internships that help both law students and practicing lawyers develop skills that complement traditional legal education. Bill Henderson is a professor and Stephen F. Burns Chair if the Profession at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, editor of Legal Evolution, and co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Law Practice.  Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

In this edition of Law Technology Now, host Ralph Baxter talks with a panel of guests from London-based law firm Bird & Bird about the implications of Brexit for US businesses operating in the United Kingdom. They begin by offering listeners an overview of Brexit basics and discuss what may happen if no deal is made before the UK’s withdrawal. Ralph then drills down on four time-sensitive issues: immigration law and new work requirements for EU nationals, changes in privacy law and GDPR, fundamental changes to trade laws and practices, and export control rules related to software exports. Each panelist offers recommendations for US companies regarding these key issues. Panelists: Roger Bickerstaff is a partner at Bird & Bird and a leading technology lawyer and advisor on tech infrastructure and outsourcing projects. Yuichi Sekine is head of Bird & Bird’s business immigration team in the UK and a member of Bird & Bird's international HR services group. Elizabeth Upton is legal director of Bird & Bird’s privacy and data protection practice in the UK. Richard Eccles is a partner at Bird & Bird advising on competition law (EU and UK), telecommunications regulation, and trade and customs matters. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

In this edition of Law Technology Now, Dan Linna welcomes Ralph Baxter, who joins Dan as a new host of the podcast. Dan and Ralph take a deep dive into trends and changes in the legal industry and consider the outlook of the profession. They also discuss Ralph’s career as the longtime Chair and CEO of the Orrick law firm, his run for Congress in West Virginia, and his continuing efforts to bring innovative business strategies and technology to legal services. Ralph Baxter advises legal technology companies, law firms, corporate legal departments, and law schools, to help modernize the way legal services are delivered. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

What exactly is proactive law and how do lawyers use it? Law Technology Now host Dan Linna talks to Helena Haapio and George Siedel about how proactive law’s principles help lawyers practice both preventive and promotive law. They outline how this future-oriented approach uses legal knowledge to create value, strengthen relationships, and manage risks. To help listeners better understand, Helena and George give real-world examples illustrating its benefits and give strategies for bringing proactive law principles into any law firm or business. Check out Helena and George’s two co-authored books: Proactive Law for Managers: A Hidden Source of Competitive Advantage A Short Guide to Contract Risk Helena Haapio is a lawyer, contract innovator at Lexpert Ltd, and a pioneer of the proactive approach where contracts and the law are seen as enablers rather than obstacles. George Siedel is the Williamson Family Professor of Business Administration and the Thurnau Professor of Business Law at the University of Michigan. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

In this edition of Law Technology Now, host Sean LaRoque-Doherty talks to Judge Andrew Peck about his post-retirement career shift from the judiciary to private practice. Judge Peck discusses how he moved into his new role as senior counsel at DLA Piper in New York City. Together, they examine how some of his former rulings on eDiscovery affect his practice on the other side of the bench as senior Counsel at DLA Piper in New York, and how, through his wealth of experience, he works to develop better practices through mentoring and training of young lawyers. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

State regulations for lawyers are meant to serve two main purposes: protecting the public and increasing access to justice. But with an estimated 50-80% of Americans unable to obtain legal help when needed, many regulations are in the crosshairs for reform. Dan Linna welcomes Jayne Reardon to discuss current trends toward updating regulations for legal-services delivery. Jayne describes some of the changes proposed in California, Utah, Arizona, and other states and offers insight into the drivers behind new recommendations. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

How can firms define and measure their innovative efforts? In this edition of Law Technology Now, host Dan Linna talks with Lucy Dillon and Nick Long of Reed Smith LLP about how to practice law with modern tools and in-depth metrics. They discuss how they approach new projects within their firm’s innovation program and stress the importance of listening to clients’ needs. They touch on how Reed Smith’s Summer Technology Associate Program works to equip new lawyers with tech skills needed to practice modern law and also discuss possible changes in technology regulations for lawyers. Lucy Dillon is chief knowledge officer at Reed Smith LLP. Nick Long is senior director of legal operation at Reed Smith LLP and director at Gravity Stack LLC. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

The legal industry is not immune from the basic economic trends affecting every other business. Firms must get better, faster, and more efficient to keep up with modern demands for legal services. Stephen Poor of Seyfarth Shaw LLC joins Law Technology Now’s Dan Linna to discuss how implementing beneficial thinking methodologies can help law firms ingrain innovation into their culture. They explain the process firms should go through when choosing the methodology that best suits their needs, and Stephen particularly recommends Six Sigma, Lean, and Design Thinking. Together, they highlight ways the most innovative firms exhibit natural resilience in the face of industry changes. Later, they discuss how technology solutions create more value for clients and allow lawyers to practice with greater efficiency and accuracy. Stephen Poor is chair emeritus at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

Kisha Brown’s goals are twofold—empowering communities with access to justice and enriching the practice of law for attorneys of color. Kisha joins Monica Bay and Sean La Roque-Doherty to discuss the challenges minorities face in the legal system. She describes what led her to develop Justis Connection, a platform for connecting lawyers of color to new clients, and together they explore how new legal technology is increasing access to justice for all. Kisha A. Brown is CEO and founder of Justis Connection. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

Some think the word ‘innovation’ has become a meaningless buzzword, but Dan Linna and David Curle believe its meaning simply needs to be more clearly defined. In this episode, they discuss the scope of current innovation practices in different areas of the legal industry. Together, they survey trends in the legal space and give their take on the most effective and profitable ways firms can pursue innovation. Later, they discuss the landscape of data-driven practice, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics—outlining trends and talking about the tremendous opportunities for growth in these areas of the industry. David Curle is the director of enterprise content in the technology & innovation platform at Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute. Special thanks to our sponsors, Headnote.

Sometimes innovation is born in someone's garage. Other times, it takes the resources of a huge multinational law firm. Baker McKenzie senior associate Danielle Benecke joins Law Technology Now host Dan Linna to discuss the innovation strategy Baker McKenzie employs to evaluate and address legal and tech issues today and anticipate those of the coming years. They also cover the impact AI will have on the legal practice, what law students should think about when choosing a firm, and how working with clients instead of just for them can lead to powerful insights. Danielle Benecke is a senior associate in Baker McKenzie’s IP and Technology practices. Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters and Headnote.

Law firms have a reputation for being slow to adapt, but clients operate in a world of rapid change. As the gap between expectations and practice threatens to widen, law firms are being pushed to develop ways to catch up with their clientele. In this Law Technology Now, host Dan Linna talks with Wendy Butler Curtis, Chief Innovation Officer at Orrick and the Financial Times 2018 Most Innovative Lawyer of the Year. Wendy discusses the work she and her team are doing at Orrick, the role of data driven decision making in a legal practice, and how law firms are failing to keep up with the expectations of their clients. Wendy Butler Curtis is the Chief Innovation Officer at Orrick.

Too many lawyers have cumbersome business processes that could be automated to save time. In this episode of Law Technology Now, hosts Sean La Roque-Doherty and Monica Bay talk to Ryan Steadman and Alex Babin of Zero about how lawyers can streamline daily operations with AI. Ryan and Alex talk about their background and what led them to develop AI email management. They emphasize the importance of having a deep understanding of legal business processes and describe how firm morale gets a boost when mundane tasks are handed over to AI. Alex Babin is the founder and CEO of Zero, a company that applies artificial intelligence and smart automation to the most pressing operational challenges of the legal industry. Ryan Steadman is the chief revenue officer for Zero, leading vision and ensuring a world-class customer experience. Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters.

In this episode of Law Technology Now, host Dan Linna discusses The American Lawyer 2019 Am Law 100 data with Gina Passarella and Nick Bruch. They dig into the survey data and give an overview of how various firms ranked—discussing their insights on new trends, looking at what drove growth, and talking about how this data can be strategically applied in law firms. They follow this with comments on their expectations for the Am Law 200 and how it may differ from 100 data. To close, Gina and Nick give their predictions for trends they expect to see in the future and talk about how the legal marketplace is affected by tech innovations. Gina Passarella is editor-in-chief of The American Lawyer and Global Legal Brands at ALM Media. Nicholas Bruch is the director of Legal Market Intelligence at ALM Media. Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters.

In this episode of Law Technology Now from Legalweek 2019, host Dan Linna speaks to Casey Flaherty about what it means to be the director of legal project management and if the community has been successful. They discuss relationships inside a law firm and whether attorneys should be coached and mentored to improve the community. They also talk about if project management helps solve proper allocation in work and diversity with law firms. Casey Flaherty is the director of legal project management at Baker McKenzie. Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters.

LegalMation has taught AI to speak legalese — how can lawyers use this in litigation processes? In this episode of Law Technology Now from Legalweek 2019, host Dan Linna talks to James Lee and Thomas Suh, co-founders of LegalMation, about how artificial intelligence can transform the practice of law. Their AI tackles the tedious tasks of litigation to free up attorneys for higher level work. They discuss the continuing growth of the system in more complicated areas of the law for innumerable applications in the legal industry. Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters.

Sometimes new legal solutions can be developed by reframing the way lawyers look at a problem. In this episode of Law Technology Now, host Dan Linna talks to Katie DeBord about how her role as chief innovation officer at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner helps the firm stay aggressively relevant in solving problems for their clients. They talk about how her multidisciplinary innovation team works to provide resources and training to lawyers to help them improve their legal service delivery. Coupling innovative technology with legal expertise brings law practice to a higher, more competitive level. Kathryn DeBord is Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s (BCLP) global chief innovation officer and co-leader of Cantilever, BCLP’s legal operations consulting group. Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters.

Legal Week New York is just around the corner and we want to know everything that’s going on. In this episode of Law Technology Now, host Sean La Roque-Doherty and Monica Bay welcome guest Zach Warren, to talk about what Legaltech News will be focusing on at the show, what’s different about this years Legaltech and if Legal Week has improved in the last couple years. Additionally, they talk about what technologies they are excited to see on the exhibit hall floor. Zach Warren is the editor-in-chief of Legaltech News.

Do we have to change the way we think about transformation and innovation in law firms? On Law Technology Now, co-hosts Monica Bay and Sean La Roque-Doherty are joined by TJ Johnson, to discuss what technology projects law firms are implementing today, whether or not law firms are generally successful with new technology, and how firms can dress their non-lawyers for success. TJ Johnson is the practice development lead - professional services for Olenick, global leaders in software quality engineering and vice president of conference and events for the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) . Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters.

Microsoft’s Trusted Advisor Forum was designed to ask this question: Do clients need to actively engage with their law firms to drive innovation in legal service delivery? In this episode of Law Technology Now, host Dan Linna talks to Jason Barnwell about the Trusted Advisor Forum and how his team at Microsoft is working to build the practice of the future. They discuss the many aspects of Jason’s role and give insight into how innovation, diversity, and use of technology in the processes of law can lead us into the future. Jason Barnwell is assistant general counsel, legal business, operations, and strategy at Microsoft Corporation. Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters.

With technology consistently on the rise, the hiring of lawyers online has become a big part of the legal industry. On Law Technology Now, host Monica Bay and co-host Sean La Roque-Doherty are joined by Raad Ahmed to discuss the growing platform of hiring attorneys online, assisting small business owners with attorney hiring, and take a look at LawTrades as a marketplace, a platform, and a network. Raad Ahmed is founder and chief executive officer at Law Trades, the fastest growing platform for hiring top-notch lawyers online. Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters.

In this episode of Law Technology Now, new host Dan Linna talks to Connie Brenton about her experience as a legal innovation expert who integrates technology into Corporate Legal Departments. They discuss the benefits of having a multidisciplinary team, creating a culture that accepts mistakes as opportunities to improve, and the different aspects of data-driven lawyering. She also shares advice for successful collaboration between legal departments and law firms. Connie Brenton is chief of staff and sr. director of Legal Operations at NetApp and the CEO of the Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC). Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters.

Real change in the industry will happen with commitment and discipline, not just good ideas. In this episode of Law Technology Now, host Monica Bay talks to Dan Linna about how lawyers should think about technology and innovation. He shares his experience demystifying technology for students and what lawyers should think about when they approach the idea of innovation. Daniel W. Linna Jr. is a visiting professor of law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. His teaching and research focus on innovation and technology. Special thanks to our sponsor, Thomson Reuters.