This episode of “The Geek in Review” explores MinterEllison’s strategic adoption of Microsoft Copilot, delving into the practical implications and challenges of implementing generative AI within the legal industry. Guests Amber O’Meara, Head of Innovation, and Tim Andrews, Director of IT Operations, discuss the firm’s multifaceted approach to generative AI, emphasizing its potential to enhance client experiences, boost productivity, and empower their legal professionals by automating mundane tasks and allowing them to focus on more complex legal work. This strategic vision, endorsed by the firm’s leadership, drove their decision to participate in the Copilot Early Access Program, providing valuable insights and shaping their implementation strategy.

One of the key takeaways is MinterEllison’s measured and strategic rollout of Copilot. Rather than a firm-wide deployment, they opted for a phased approach, prioritizing specific personas and departments that would benefit most from the technology. Initial challenges included data jurisdiction limitations, the inherent “fear factor” of adopting new technology, and user inertia stemming from unmet expectations. The firm addressed these obstacles through a comprehensive training program, incorporating a dedicated “Gen AI Time” initiative, collaborative sessions with Microsoft, and a “reverse mentoring” program for partners. This multifaceted approach, coupled with internal communication and a knowledge-sharing platform, fostered enthusiasm and addressed concerns, leading to impressive user satisfaction and reported time savings.

MinterEllison’s training program played a crucial role in the successful adoption of Copilot. Combining internally developed resources with vendor-provided training, the program addressed both the technical aspects of using Copilot and the art of prompt engineering. The firm’s innovative approach of dedicating fee-credited time for generative AI training proved highly effective, incentivizing participation and demonstrating leadership commitment. This investment in their people, combined with gamification elements like their internal “Mint Coin” cryptocurrency, fostered a competitive spirit and encouraged active engagement in the learning process.

The podcast highlights the importance of prompt engineering in maximizing the effectiveness of Copilot. While initial user expectations often fell short due to simplistic prompts, the training program emphasized the need for detailed and nuanced prompts to achieve optimal results. This understanding, coupled with the recognition that Copilot excels at content generation rather than computational tasks, significantly improved user satisfaction. The firm also acknowledges the importance of maintaining a “human in the loop” to validate outputs and mitigate potential inaccuracies or “hallucinations” generated by the AI. They anticipate the future ability to share custom prompts within the firm, further streamlining workflows and enhancing collaborative efforts.

Finally, the conversation touches on the broader impact of generative AI on the legal industry. MinterEllison envisions a future where AI tools are widely adopted, reshaping traditional law firm models and creating new roles focused on innovation and technology. They emphasize the importance of ongoing collaboration, both internally and within the legal community, to address client privacy concerns, share best practices, and navigate the evolving landscape of AI in law. The firm’s commitment to responsible AI usage, guided by their “Lighthouse Principles” and an AI steering committee, underscores their dedication to ethical implementation and client data security. They also see the potential for generative AI to contribute to access to justice initiatives and support social impact work, highlighting the transformative potential of these technologies beyond the traditional boundaries of legal practice.

 

Links:

Amber (Burgess) O’Meara | LinkedIn
Tim Andrews | LinkedIn
MinterEllison: Overview | LinkedIn
MinterEllison – MinterEllison

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Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 

Transcript

Continue Reading Inside MinterEllison: A Case Study in Copilot Adoption with Amber O’Meara and Tim Andrews

It is probably just an odd coincidence that the two top things that caught my eye were legal innovations out of Arizona, the same week when I am going to Arizona for a weekend getaway with my lovely wife. But is seems that the weather is not the only hot thing happening in The Grand Canyon State. Phoenix-based Fennemore is continuing its impressive growth and strategic goals of innovating the practice of law with its Project BlueWave of automation, AI, and AFAs. As well as Faegre Drinker (I’m still getting use to this newish name) relaunching their Design Lab in lovely Scottsdale, Arizona. Makes me think that I should get out to Arizona more often.

Another “hot” item this week is the announcement that both McDermott and Akin Gump added Directors of AI Innovation. Jeff Westcott has joined Akin to oversee the integration of AI into client services, while Christopher Cyrus has been appointed at McDermott to explore and implement cutting-edge AI solutions. Congrats to both.

And finally, the amazing collaboration between Stephanie Wilkins, Rhys Dipshan, Isha Marathe, and Cassandre Coyer gave us a fun and very useful glossary of AI terms on the law.com site. This is definitely worth reviewing and even I learned a few new words of the trade.

So, enjoy this week’s overview of news that I found interesting. Remember, you can track these stories with the AI Lawyer Talking Tech podcast (Spotify or Apple) which covers legal tech news and summarizes stories on a daily basis.

Fennemore Launches Project BlueWave and Lucent Law Collab
Fennemore has launched Project BlueWave, an innovative initiative aimed at transforming legal services through AI, automation, and alternative pricing models. The firm also announced its combination with Lucent Law, a technology-driven boutique firm, to enhance its capabilities in delivering efficient, client-focused legal solutions.

Faegre Drinker Relaunches Legal Design Lab in Scottsdale
Faegre Drinker has relaunched its Design Lab in Scottsdale, Arizona, enhancing its commitment to innovation in legal services through design thinking and visual communication. Originally established in partnership with Stanford University’s Legal Design Lab, the Scottsdale location aims to better support clients in solving complex legal challenges and developing effective trial strategies​.

The Artificial Intelligence Glossary
I usually don’t share articles behind a paywall, but this glossary of terms compiled by Stephanie Wilkins, Rhys Dipshan, Isha Marathe, and Cassandre Coyer is fantastic. There were a few terms that were new to me… like “cheapfake.” Great compilation by the law.com group.

LexisNexis Unveils Personalized AI Tool ‘Lexis Protégé’
LexisNexis continues to lead in AI-powered legal research with the introduction of Lexis Protégé. This new tool personalizes the legal research experience by offering tailored content recommendations based on the user’s specific needs, dramatically improving efficiency for legal professionals. The tool marks a significant advancement in integrating AI into legal workflows.

MyCase Announces Major AI and Accounting Enhancements
MyCase, a leading law practice management platform, introduced three significant updates this week, including the AI conversational interface MyCase IQ, enhancements to its accounting module, and an immigration add-on powered by Docketwise. These features streamline case management, offer enhanced accounting functionalities, and provide a comprehensive immigration case management solution, demonstrating MyCase’s commitment to legal tech innovation.

Linklaters Launches GenAI Training Programme
Global law firm Linklaters unveiled its GenAI Expert Training Programme, designed to deepen its lawyers’ understanding of generative AI (GenAI) and its applications in legal practice. This program, launched in collaboration with King’s College London, equips lawyers with practical skills in AI use cases and prompt engineering, marking a significant step in AI-driven legal education​.

The Evolution of Document Drafting: A Conversation with Jeff Pfeifer about LSA, Henchman and Lexis Generative AI Solutions
In a recent development in legal technology, LexisNexis has unveiled an enhanced document drafting solution by merging its Lexis Search Advantage (LSA) and Henchman products. This innovation, called Lexis Create DMS (formerly Henchman), provides lawyers with access to high-value exemplars during the drafting process. While LSA will continue to be supported, its features, including Intelligize classifiers, will be integrated into Lexis Create DMS in 2025. This combination will optimize document relevance and quality for drafting. Additionally, LexisNexis is expanding its AI capabilities, accessing 32 million litigation documents for argument drafting and enabling firms to use their own documents as grounding data for generative AI adoption.

Novaplex Launches Compare, Completing Legal Document Drafting Suite
UK-based legal tech provider Novaplex has launched Compare, a cutting-edge software designed to enhance legal document drafting by detecting nuanced changes across various document elements, such as comments, headers, and tables. After two years of development and collaboration with law firms, Compare completes Novaplex’s suite of drafting tools and addresses the high accuracy demands of law firms.

Akin Gump Hires New Director of AI Innovation
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has appointed Jeff Westcott as the Director of Practice Technology and AI Innovation. Westcott, who has extensive experience in AI and legal tech, will lead the firm’s efforts to leverage AI tools to enhance client services. Akin Gump has also expanded its technology transactions team in London, further solidifying its position in the legal tech sector.

McDermott Adds New Director of AI Innovation
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery has appointed Christopher Cyrus as its first Director of AI Innovation. Cyrus, a seasoned attorney and consultant, will lead the firm’s efforts to explore, adopt, and implement cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. The appointment underscores McDermott’s commitment to driving innovation through technology, as the firm believes AI will continue to disrupt and evolve the legal industry.

Snowflake Raises $2.3 Billion in Convertible Senior Notes Offering
AI data cloud company Snowflake has completed a $2.3 billion offering of convertible senior notes, which includes $1.15 billion due in 2027 and 2029, respectively. The company, which provides AI-driven data solutions, will use this capital to enhance its cloud infrastructure and expand its market presence in AI data management.

This week, we welcome back Serena Wellen, Vice President of Product Management at LexisNexis Legal and Professional, to discuss the newly launched Lexis Protégé tool. This advanced AI assistant is designed to enhance legal professionals’ workflows by personalizing responses based on individual user profiles, including practice areas, jurisdictions, and document management systems. Wellen emphasizes that the future of AI lies in personalization, enabling Protégé to understand user habits and preferences, thereby improving its utility in legal settings.

Serena elaborates on how Protégé collects user data and integrates with existing document management systems (DMS). The setup process includes heavy lifting from LexisNexis, ensuring that the AI understands user roles and permissions, and can access relevant documents seamlessly. She stresses the importance of transparency and user control in the personalization process, allowing users to opt in or out of certain features as they see fit. This approach ensures that the use of Protégé aligns with the unique needs of individual law firms and practitioners.

Integration with Microsoft 365 applications like Word and Outlook is another significant feature of Protégé. Wellen explains that legal professionals spend a considerable amount of their time in Microsoft tools, and the AI’s ability to enhance productivity within these familiar environments is crucial. With features such as smart drafting tools, automated legal requests, and contextual awareness of user actions, Protégé aims to streamline workflows and reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks. The seamless connection between Protégé and Microsoft applications represents a shift toward more efficient legal research and document drafting processes.

Serena also addresses the pressing concerns of security, privacy, and data protection in AI applications. LexisNexis prioritizes the security of customer data by utilizing advanced encryption and private cloud infrastructures. Importantly, she clarifies that customer data is not used to train their models, maintaining confidentiality and trust. By ensuring that users have control over their data and how it is used, LexisNexis aims to alleviate fears surrounding the adoption of AI technology in the legal sector.

Finally, she shares insights on future developments for Protégé, including the incorporation of voice commands and horizon scanning features, which will further enhance legal research capabilities. As AI continues to evolve, Wellen envisions a future where legal professionals can engage with technology in more intuitive ways, allowing them to focus on the complexities of their work without being bogged down by manual processes. Overall, the conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI in the legal industry, underscoring LexisNexis’s commitment to supporting legal professionals with innovative, personalized tools.

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Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 

Transcript

Continue Reading Unveiling Lexis Protégé’s Personalized AI Revolution With Serena Wellen

This week featured a “Proud Parent” moment for myself as I watched my son, Dean, go to his first legal technology conference in Chicago. Dean was a Relativity Scholar this year and has been working on learning the ropes in e-discovery for the past few months. It is exciting to watch as a new generation starts their journey into the legal tech community.

Yesterday, Marlene Gebauer and I presented our wrap-up of the Harbor LINKS 2024 program in front of over 130 of our law librarian colleagues. It is always a pleasure (and somewhat a comfort) to talk with our peers at other firms to find out what they have been working on the past year (hint: it was AI), and how we all find ourselves having similar struggles, and successes. If you haven’t attended a LINKS online conference before, I highly recommend it.

As for the legal tech news this week, just when you thought everyone in the legal information field had already entered the GenAI arena, Wolters Kluwer jumps in with their new VitalLaw AI research platform, and PwC reminds us that outside the US, the Big-Four have a pretty strong legal and legal AI presence. PwC is bringing GenAI tools to legal in the Middle East, showing that these tools aren’t just something playing a pivotal role in the English-speaking countries, and Western Europe market.

I was also a little surprised to see two companies I really like, joining together. Elevate’s acquisition of Redgrave Data is going to be an interesting dynamic to watch as Elevate looks to expand client offerings in AI and legal data analytics.

So, enjoy this week’s overview of news that I found interesting. Remember, you can track these stories with the AI Lawyer Talking Tech podcast (Spotify or Apple) which covers legal tech news and summarizes stories on a daily basis.

Wolters Kluwer Introduces New GenAI Functionality to VitalLaw Legal Research Platform
Wolters Kluwer has integrated Generative AI capabilities into its VitalLaw legal research platform, enhancing its offerings with features such as 360 Feedback and Interactive Document Summarization. These new functionalities allow users to generate summaries, checklists, and key points directly through chat with VitalLaw content. This integration is designed to improve productivity and streamline workflows for legal professionals, reinforcing Wolters Kluwer’s position in the competitive legal tech market​.

Law Company Elevate Acquires Redgrave Data
Elevate, a prominent law company, has acquired Redgrave Data, an AI-focused data consulting firm. This acquisition enables Elevate to expand its legal tech offerings, particularly in AI, technology-assisted review (TAR), and legal data. The move aligns with Elevate’s strategic goals of tackling complex legal issues and enhancing client services​.

PwC Middle East Launches Region’s First Legal GenAI Offering
PwC Legal Middle East has introduced the region’s first Legal Generative AI (GenAI) offering as part of its ongoing investment in technology. The new offering is designed to transform legal workflows and processes by leveraging alliances with OpenAI, Harvey, and ContractPodAi. PwC Legal Middle East will provide comprehensive services from concept to implementation, helping organizations harness GenAI to enhance legal and governance advisory services. This move marks a significant advancement in the adoption of AI technology within the legal industry in the Middle East​.

Luminance Expands to Dallas Amid Rising Demand for AI Solutions
Legal AI pioneer Luminance has opened a new office in Dallas, Texas, marking its second U.S. base. This expansion, fueled by recent funding, is a response to the growing demand for its AI-driven legal solutions among major corporate clients like AB InBev and LG Chem​

CB Insights Predicts Surge in Legal AI M&A Activity
Recent reports from CB Insights indicate that the legal AI market may experience a surge in mergers and acquisitions. Key developments include Elevate’s acquisition of Redgrave Data and potential M&A activities involving companies like EvenUp and Luminance, which have both secured substantial funding. This trend suggests an increasing consolidation in the legal AI space as companies seek to expand their technological capabilities and market reach​.

Jus Mundi Secures $22 Million in Series B Funding for Legal Research Advancements
Jus Mundi, a global legal AI company, has raised €20 million ($22 million) in a Series B funding round led by Acton Capital and True Global Ventures. The funding will support the development of Jus AI, a research and productivity assistant designed for global legal professionals. Jus AI aims to transform legal workflows by improving access to Jus Mundi’s extensive law and arbitration database, significantly enhancing productivity in legal research, analysis, and drafting​.

New California AI Transparency Law to Impact Legal Tech Providers
California has enacted the California AI Transparency Act, requiring providers of generative AI systems to implement both latent and manifest disclosures in AI-generated content. This groundbreaking law mandates that AI providers include specific details, such as the provider’s name and system version, within the AI-generated material, effective January 1, 2026. This move aims to promote transparency and accountability in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, impacting all legal tech companies operating within or providing services to California.

FTC Sanctions Against DoNotPay Highlight Broader Issues in Legal AI Adoption
The FTC recently imposed sanctions on DoNotPay for offering legal AI services without delivering on promises. While the FTC focused on DoNotPay’s actions, there is a broader issue: limited access to justice and the lack of AI adoption in the legal field. The article suggests that allowing those who are not licensed attorneys to invest in and own legal businesses, and encouraging the use of AI, could improve access to affordable legal services. By embracing AI and liberalizing the legal market, law firms could leverage technology to scale their services and offer them at more accessible prices, potentially expanding access to justice.

Google Files EU Antitrust Complaint Over Microsoft’s Cloud Practices
Google has filed an antitrust complaint against Microsoft in the EU, alleging unfair practices in the cloud computing market. The complaint centers around Microsoft’s restrictions on its Azure cloud services and the penalties imposed on customers attempting to switch providers. This dispute highlights the competitive tensions in the cloud services market and could have significant implications for legal tech providers operating in this space.

Clio Announces the 2024 Integration Award Winners
Clio has recognized outstanding innovation in its App Directory with the announcement of the 2024 Integration Award winners. This year saw a significant rise in AI-driven applications, reflecting the increasing demand for solutions that enhance legal workflows. Tempello won the Best New App award, Proof took home the Best Practice of Law App award, and Case Status was honored in the Best Business of Law App category. These awards highlight the transformative impact these tools have on the legal profession, showcasing the industry’s most innovative applications that are driving meaningful change.

 

This week, we sit down with Ted Theodoropoulos, CEO of InfoDash and host of the Legal Innovation Spotlight podcast. Ted brings over 25 years of experience in legal technology and has been instrumental in developing platforms that enhance collaboration and knowledge management in law firms. During the conversation, Ted shares the origins of InfoDash, the challenges of transitioning law firms to cloud-based systems, and the role of generative AI in both legal practice and business operations. The episode offers valuable insights for those interested in how technology is reshaping the legal industry.

Ted begins by explaining the journey of InfoDash, which evolved from a consulting firm called Acrowire, focused on building bespoke intranets and extranets for law firms. Recognizing the need for more innovative, cloud-based solutions, Ted and his team relaunched as InfoDash in 2022, just as law firms were moving en masse to Microsoft 365 and grappling with the shift to hybrid and remote work. This transition, Ted explains, has been challenging for firms accustomed to on-premises servers, a concept he refers to as “server huggers.” However, he points out that the cloud offers undeniable advantages, especially for firms looking to adopt AI-driven tools in the future.

The conversation then turns to the role of generative AI in the legal industry. Ted and the hosts discuss how AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot have generated excitement, but also disappointment, as their capabilities have yet to fully meet the specific needs of law firms. While generative AI shows promise in tasks like summarization and drafting, Ted cautions that the technology is not a “silver bullet.” He emphasizes the importance of oversight, particularly given the risks associated with hallucinations in AI-generated content. However, he believes that AI’s potential is vast, especially in the business side of law, where firms can automate administrative tasks without the regulatory hurdles that affect client work.

Knowledge management (KM) and innovation within law firms is another key topic of discussion. Ted notes that while KM has been a longstanding function in many firms, it often varies in scope and effectiveness. He highlights the recent rise of “innovation” roles in firms but warns that some of these are more about appearances than actual advancements—a phenomenon he dubs “innovation theater.” Ted argues that for firms to truly innovate, they must be willing to take risks and accept failure as part of the process. He calls for a more standardized approach to KM and innovation roles but acknowledges that cultural differences between firms make this difficult to achieve.

The episode concludes with a look toward the future of legal technology. Ted advises firms to adopt a cautious, incremental approach when implementing new technologies, such as AI. He warns against making large, reactionary investments based on the fear of missing out and encourages firms to start with small pilot programs that can be scaled as they yield results. By focusing on business of law use cases first, firms can gain early wins and build confidence in their technology strategies, avoiding the pitfalls of overpromising and underdelivering.

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

 

Transcript

Continue Reading From Innovation Theater to Real Change with InfoDash’s Ted Theodoropoulos

It’s that time of year when not only has Summer decided to make one last appearance, but so have legal conferences. Legal Value Network’s LVNx, Legal Technology Hub, Legal Marketing Association’s Northeast Region, i.WILL + SIM, Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, just to name the ones that are on my LinkedIn feed this morning. It seems that conference season continues year-round. Hopefully, everyone is having fun, reconnecting with colleagues, and are learning what’s new in the industry (and not just with AI.)

It also seems to be the week of acquisitions in the legal technology and AI world. There were acquisitions in learning platforms (BARBRI/SkillBurst), data analytics and CRM (Nexl/Databall), and foundational AI tools (Workday/Evisort). In this market, a handful of acquisition announcements may just be the norm for this environment of technology advancements.

Speaking of acquisitions, Bob Ambrogi also ran a four-part series on the Shrinking Ownership of Law Practice Management. Bob wonders how small the market can get, and what the long-term implications are for the marketplace. Great series, and worth checking out.

Of course, OpenAI’s launch of o1 “Strawberry” brings the AI Agents process (which we’ve covered for months now) into the mainstream. As foundational LLMs may have reached their individual thresholds for the time being, AI Agents are bringing in some advancements until some genius in a garage figures out how to make the next leap in LLM technology.

So, enjoy the last bit of hot weather, and cool conferences. Remember, you can track these stories with the AI Lawyer Talking Tech podcast (Spotify or Apple) which covers legal tech news and summarizes stories on a daily basis.

The Shrinking Ownership of Law Practice Management
The four-part series on LawNext explores the increasing consolidation in the law practice management technology market, which is now dominated by just six ownership groups. It traces the evolution from a diverse marketplace to a more consolidated one due to numerous acquisitions over the past six years. This trend has both positive and negative implications for consumers, such as increased resources for development but reduced competition. The series concludes by examining future development opportunities and the potential impact on pricing and innovation in the sector​.

BARBRI Acquires SkillBurst Interactive, Expands Legal Training Offerings
BARBRI, a prominent legal education provider, has acquired SkillBurst Interactive, a company known for its on-demand learning platforms for legal professionals. This acquisition strengthens BARBRI’s portfolio by adding a Legal Innovation Lab dedicated to developing training programs in emerging technologies like generative AI, aimed at preparing the next generation of lawyers for the evolving legal landscape​.

Nexl Acquires Databall to Enhance Legal CRM Capabilities
Nexl, a leader in legal business transformation, has acquired Databall, a legal data platform specializing in advanced analytics. This acquisition merges Nexl’s client relationship management platform with Databall’s data analytics capabilities, offering law firms enhanced insights and growth opportunities. This strategic move positions Nexl as a top legal-specific CRM and client intelligence platform, strengthening its competitive edge in the legal tech market​.

Evisort Acquired by Workday, Signaling AI Market Consolidation
The legal AI market has seen significant consolidation, with early pioneers like Evisort being acquired by larger companies such as Workday. This trend reflects the maturation of the legal AI sector and the transition from foundational AI tools to more advanced generative AI solutions. These acquisitions pave the way for the next wave of innovation in the legal technology landscape​.

OpenAI’s o1 “Strawberry” Model Revolutionizes Legal AI
OpenAI’s newly released “Strawberry” o1 model marks a significant advancement in legal AI. This model moves beyond imitation to genuine reasoning, enabling more complex problem-solving in legal research, contract management, and e-discovery. The o1 model’s potential to improve case outcome predictions and assist in ethical decision-making positions it as a groundbreaking tool for the legal sector.

Filevine Introduces Depo CoPilot for AI-Powered Depositions
Legal tech innovator Filevine has unveiled Depo CoPilot, an AI-powered tool designed to assist attorneys during depositions. Depo CoPilot transcribes and analyzes testimony in real-time, providing insights, tracking deposition goals, and suggesting follow-up questions. This technology represents a significant advancement in leveraging AI to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of legal proceedings.

Thomson Reuters Institute: Law Firms Prioritize AI Implementation
Despite a surge in law firm productivity in Q2 2024, largely driven by increased legal demand and higher worked rates, generative AI’s impact on billable hours remains uncertain. However, over 50% of surveyed firms have identified AI implementation as a top priority, indicating a growing focus on leveraging AI to automate routine tasks and enhance efficiency in the legal sector.

California Enacts Law to Combat Political Deepfakes
In a proactive move to safeguard election integrity, California has enacted a law banning the creation and distribution of political deepfakes 120 days before and 60 days after Election Day. This law requires social media platforms with over a million users in California to label or remove deepfakes within 72 hours of receiving a complaint, aiming to reduce the spread of deceptive AI-generated content during election period.

Eve Legal Tech Startup Introduces AI Agents and Blueprints for Document Customization
Eve, a legal tech startup focused on plaintiff-side firms, has released new features such as AI Agents, Blueprints, and In-Line Editing. These tools enhance legal document creation by dynamically adapting to document nuances and allowing real-time adjustments. Eve’s innovations are designed to help smaller law firms compete with larger firms by streamlining document workflows and improving efficiency.

Consilio Launches Guided AI Review for Document Review Efficiency
Consilio, a global leader in legal technology solutions, has introduced Guided AI Review, an innovative document review solution that combines custom AI algorithms with experienced, AI-trained document review experts. This hybrid approach addresses the risks of using AI alone, such as inaccuracies and biases, by incorporating human oversight to ensure accurate and efficient reviews. This new solution aims to close the “AI Trust Gap” by providing a balanced approach to AI-driven legal reviews​.

It’s Friday the 13th, so hopefully everyone left cookies and milk out for Jason Vorhees last night to keep him happy.

This week saw a few “launches” of new and updated products, primarily dealing with integrating AI agents into their products. OpenAI learned how many r’s there are in strawberry, vLex turned Vincent AI into a full-blown legal workflow platform, and BRYTER leveraged AI agents to build a new data extraction tool. While we are still waiting for GPT-5, it seems that there are a lot of iterative enhancements going on to keep us satisfied for a few more weeks.

If you are still looking for use cases for AI, then Thomson Reuters and others have some examples for corporate counsel and others to (hopefully) reduce the time and money it takes to handle business problems of the legal variety.

Have a nice weekend everyone. I’m headed to only my second ever Major League Soccer (MLS) game this weekend now that the weather has turned “fall-like.” And by “fall-like”, I mean under 90 degrees in the Texas evenings.

Remember, you can track these stories with the AI Lawyer Talking Tech podcast (Spotify or Apple) which covers legal tech news and summarizes stories on a daily basis.

vLex Unveils Major Upgrade to Vincent AI
vLex has upgraded its AI research assistant, Vincent AI, introducing new tools for transactional tasks and litigation work. The update includes deeper integration with Docket Alarm, providing legal professionals with more robust litigation data and analysis.

Osborne Clarke Claims GPT-4o Surpasses Harvey AI
Osborne Clarke has claimed that its GPT-4o model outperforms Harvey AI’s legal tool in recent BigLaw Bench tests, highlighting the importance of prompt engineering. This development underscores the need for standardized evaluation criteria for legal AI.

OpenAI’s o1 Models Boost Legal AI Capabilities
OpenAI’s o1 models are revolutionizing legal AI by improving document revision processes and enhancing agentic workflows. These models are expected to transform legal practices by making AI agents more effective in navigating the complex and subjective nature of legal tasks​.

BRYTER Launches AI Extract Agent
BRYTER, a leader in legal automation, has unveiled the AI-powered BRYTER Extract Agent. This tool integrates contract review and data extraction with legal workflows, streamlining processes and enhancing document management. By combining large language models with BRYTER’s platform, it allows legal professionals to automate time-consuming tasks such as contract review and information extraction.

Jus Mundi Secures $22 Million to Launch Jus AI
Jus Mundi has secured $22 million to develop its AI-powered arbitration assistant, Jus AI, which supports legal professionals with multilingual responses, document summarization, and translation. This investment will expand the company’s AI reach globally, enhancing workflow efficiency in over 80 countries.

Noslegal’s Open-Source Legal Data Standards Gain Adoption
Noslegal’s open-source legal data standards have been widely adopted by major law firms, including A&O Shearman. These standards help firms improve data management and streamline AI implementation through a modular taxonomy.

AI Convention on Global AI Principles Signed
The Council of Europe has introduced the first international treaty on AI systems, signed by the US, UK, and EU. The AI Convention aims to regulate AI’s lifecycle, ensuring transparency, reliability, and compliance with human rights.

Pricing AI-driven legal services: The billable hour is dead, long live the billable hour
Legal experts predict advancements in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) could disrupt the traditional billable hour model for legal services. As GenAI takes over mundane tasks, the time spent on legal matters will significantly decrease, leading to a shift from the labor theory of value to the marginal theory of value for pricing. Law firms and clients will have to embrace the concept of setting prices based on the utility and worth of legal services to the client, rather than the cost of providing them.

Building Better Lawyers: Rachael Bosch on Brain-Based Coaching and Communication in Law Firms
Poor communication, especially passive or aggressive behavior, negatively impacts workplace productivity. Brain-based coaching leverages neuroscience to improve communication skills and emotional intelligence, while also addressing generational conflicts between partners and associates regarding work-life balance and boundaries.

Thomson Reuters Survey Highlights AI’s Potential Time Savings for Corporate Counsel
A Thomson Reuters survey reveals that corporate law departments using AI could save up to 200 hours per year, potentially boosting productivity by 10%. The AI-driven efficiencies allow lawyers to handle additional workloads or focus on strategic initiatives.

Sheppard Mullin Hires Kate Cain As Chief Knowledge And Innovation Officer, Elevates Keri Gavin To Chief Financial Officer
Sheppard Mullin has appointed Kate Cain as the new Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer, where she will focus on integrating artificial intelligence technologies and advancing the firm’s data and knowledge management strategies.

This week we talk with Ed Walters from VLex to explore the Autumn 2024 release of VLex’s Vincent AI platform. Ed discusses a series of transformative updates that are turning Vincent AI from a legal research tool into a comprehensive platform that integrates drafting, transactional, and research tasks. These updates include new workflow tools, redlining capabilities, and an innovative feature called Prompt Assist, which enables users to have more control over the AI’s responses by asking follow-up questions to refine their queries. This added transparency and auditability make Vincent AI more user-friendly and trustworthy, as Ed highlights throughout the discussion.

One key feature of the Autumn 2024 release is the introduction of multi-turn conversations within the AI’s responses. This enhancement allows users to continue asking follow-up questions, enabling a deeper exploration of legal issues without needing to start from scratch each time. We discuss how this mirrors tools like Perplexity, where AI can provide follow-up prompts to help users navigate complex inquiries. Vincent AI goes further by asking clarifying questions to ensure the results are tailored to the specific needs of the user, such as identifying which party is at risk in a contract.

Ed emphasizes that legal professionals are not just conducting research for academic curiosity—they need actionable tools integrated into their workflow. Vincent AI’s new capabilities, such as drafting briefs or analyzing redlines, reflect this shift by focusing on providing immediate, actionable insights. Ed explains how these workflow tools enable lawyers to dive straight into their work instead of first sifting through research results, creating a more efficient and integrated process for legal professionals.

A significant highlight of the episode is the introduction of VIDA (Vincent in Docket Alarm), a new feature that combines VLex’s Vincent AI with Docket Alarm’s vast repository of court documents. This integration allows legal professionals to conduct deeper analyses of litigation trends, law firm strategies, and individual lawyer performance, offering unprecedented insight into how cases are being handled. Ed humorously mentions a suggestion from the VLex team to call this feature “DIVA” (Dockets in Vincent AI), but for now, it remains VIDA. This new development provides law firms with enhanced analytical capabilities to explore their own practices and those of competitors.

Finally, the episode concludes with Greg and Ed discussing the broader implications of these tools for law firms, especially in managing large, multi-jurisdictional projects. Ed explains how the 50-state survey feature, a traditionally burdensome task, can now be completed in minutes, making it easier for firms to scan legal landscapes across the U.S. and globally. As Greg points out, this capability not only streamlines the process for legal teams but also creates new opportunities for firms to offer innovative services to clients. Throughout the episode, the conversation showcases how Vincent AI’s latest updates are pushing the boundaries of legal technology.

Links:
– https://www.vlex.com/vincent

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Contact Us: 

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading vLex’s Autumn ’24 Update: Show and Tell with Ed Walters

This week, we sit down with ⁠Rachael Bosch⁠, the founder and managing director of ⁠Fringe Professional Development⁠, to discuss the importance of communication and leadership development within the legal industry. Rachael, with her extensive background in law firm talent management and certifications from prestigious institutions like the NeuroLeadership Institute, Harvard Law School, and Cornell University, offers valuable insights into the role of brain-based coaching in fostering effective workplace environments. Her passion for helping professionals grow and succeed shines through as she discusses her journey from a decade-long career in law firm talent management to founding Fringe Professional Development.

Rachael explains her decision to leave a stable career at Paul Hastings to start her own company, citing her love for professional development and her growing interest in communication challenges within law firms. She describes how these challenges often stem from poor communication practices, such as being too direct, too passive, or using the wrong platform, which can lead to misunderstandings and inefficiencies. Rachael’s background in theatrical performance also contributes to her fascination with human behavior and motivation, which she has channeled into developing innovative training programs that focus on improving workplace communication and leadership.

The conversation delves into the concept of brain-based coaching, a method that combines neuroscience and leadership development to help professionals understand and improve their communication and leadership skills. Rachael emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in effective communication, noting that many professionals struggle with these aspects. She explains how brain-based coaching helps individuals recognize cognitive distortions and other psychological barriers that can hinder their ability to communicate effectively. By grounding coaching in neuroscience, Rachael is able to offer a more fact-based approach that resonates with her often-skeptical audience of lawyers.

Rachael also shares some of the challenges she has faced in promoting coaching within law firms, particularly the resistance from attorneys who believe that only other attorneys can truly understand their issues. She argues that the “clarity of distance”—the idea that a coach who is not deeply entrenched in the legal industry can offer a more objective perspective—is actually a strength in coaching. Additionally, Rachael highlights the importance of upward feedback in professional development, describing how Fringe Professional Development’s tools help law firms gather and utilize feedback to improve leadership and team dynamics.

Rachael predicts that the legal industry will face a conflict between a new generation of partners who deeply care about creating supportive work environments and a new generation of associates who maintain a more detached, boundary-driven approach to work. She emphasizes the need for bridging this gap to create cohesive, caring teams. Rachael’s insights provide valuable takeaways for legal professionals looking to improve their communication and leadership skills, as well as for firms aiming to create more human-centered workplace cultures.

Fringe Professional Development Toolkit

Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Contact Us: 

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

Continue Reading Building Better Lawyers: Rachael Bosch on Brain-Based Coaching and Communication in Law Firms

As many of us come off the high of hanging out and talking AI at ILTA, there seems to be a push this week in the articles for AI tools to “show me what you’ve done for me lately?” This makes sense that once you get back to the office and need to show existing return on investment, or to justify potential return on investment, you definitely want to make sure you do not bring in products that will simply be parked on a shelf and remain unused.

Jackie Schafer, CEO of Clearbrief, believes that legal tech buyers are experiencing fatigue because of the overwhelming number of vendors entering the market, often with products that are essentially wrappers on existing technologies like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Many of these vendors have not invested sufficient thought into the architecture of their products, including how they integrate with essential tools lawyers use or how they meet stringent security and confidentiality requirements. As a result, legal professionals are bombarded with constant marketing and promises, making it difficult for them to discern which products are genuinely effective, secure, and suitable for their specific needs. This leads to a feeling of fatigue as they try to cut through the hype to find reliable solutions. I think she is spot on.

On a personal note, I have been testing out a new method of notetaking this week after hearing one of the reporters on the Hard Fork podcast talk about it. Has anyone tried Zettelkasten? This is a style of note taking, where you essentially write down your notes in your own words as you are doing research, and then use a free program like Obsidian to compile these notes into a single place. I’ve been playing around with it, and reading the book How to take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens this week, and I have found it to be very fascinating. The software allows you to tag, link, and create subjects, which is very appealing to the librarian in me. If you’ve used Zettelkasten note taking before, I’d like to know what you think!

Here’s this week’s edition of What. Just. Happened? Remember, you can track these stories with the AI Lawyer Talking Tech podcast (Spotify or Apple) which covers legal tech news and summarizes stories on a daily basis.

 

Harvey Launches Legal GenAI Evaluation System: BigLaw Bench
Harvey has released BigLaw Bench, a groundbreaking methodology for assessing the accuracy of legal generative AI tools, evaluating models on real legal tasks. Harvey’s framework sets a benchmark for the industry, providing a transparent and structured evaluation system crucial for the future of legal AI​.

Clearbrief CEO Discusses Legal Tech Buyers’ Fatigue Amid AI Surge
Clearbrief’s CEO Jacqueline Schafer discusses the legal industry’s fatigue with unproven generative AI solutions. While legal departments seek AI tools to streamline tasks, they emphasize the need for these technologies to integrate seamlessly with existing processes. This highlights the demand for trusted, proven AI tools in the legal sector.

Lawyers Need a Capitalist Mindset in the Age of AI
As AI transforms legal processes, lawyers must adopt a capitalist mindset, investing in AI-powered solutions to own the means of production. By developing or acquiring legal tech solutions, lawyers can create new revenue streams and stay competitive in an AI-driven legal market​.

Revolutionizing Legal AI Benchmarks with “AI Law”
AI Law’s evaluations show that AI models are improving in performing legal tasks, but still have room for growth, especially in high-stakes legal matters. The article emphasizes the potential benefits of AI in improving efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness in legal services. The composability of AI models allows for AI to assess and improve itself, offering radical advancements that may surpass human capabilities in reasoning and learning over time.

Rise in Legal AI Adoption with Specific Use Cases and Patience
Legal AI tools are being adopted more broadly, though experts urge firms to identify specific use cases and proceed with patience. Automating routine tasks such as document production and compliance is expected to yield significant efficiency gains for law firms.

Generative Search Engines Poised to Revolutionize Legal Research
Generative Search Engines (GSEs) like OpenAI’s SearchGPT are transforming legal research by providing direct answers instead of links. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce the time lawyers spend on research, offering precise and contextual responses​.

The hidden costs of AI-powered legaltech: are foundational skills being lost?
While AI automates tedious, low-strategic tasks like document review and contract drafting, it raises concerns about junior lawyers missing out on crucial skill-building opportunities. Although AI enables faster career progression and efficiency, experts argue that relying too heavily on AI could result in a mid-level cohort of lawyers lacking essential experience, calling for a balance between AI adoption and skill acquisition.

ILTA Survey Shows GenAI Usage by Small Law Firms
According to a survey by the International Legal Technology Association, small law firms are increasingly adopting general AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT. These tools are being used for tasks such as business operations, research, and drafting, though widespread adoption across the legal industry remains limited.