Photo of Ryan McClead

Ryan McClead is Principal and CEO of Sente Advisors, a legal technology consultancy that helps law firms turn innovation from a buzzword into an operational practice. He has spent more than two decades in legal technology, starting on a law firm help desk and working his way through knowledge management, global technology innovation leadership at Norton Rose Fulbright, and a stint as Senior Vice President at Neota Logic before founding Sente in 2018.

He is a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management, a Fastcase 50 honoree, and the author of Your New AI Colleague: A Field Guide to the AI That's Going to Do Your Job. Before any of that, he spent a decade as a musical theater composer, which explains the cadence of his prose if not his career choices.

(This is part 3 of a 4 part series. You can download the entire series here.)


In previous posts I have addressed the similarities between the legal business and the medical business, and briefly described the Patient Centered Medical Home approach that the medical community has taken to address some of their issues.  In

 (This is part 2 of a 4 part series. You can download the entire series here.)

In the midst of the very same economic turmoil that set Law Firms spinning in 2007, a number of medical care professional organizations came together to craft the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH).  The PCMH is part manifesto,

(This is part 1 of a 4 part series. You can download the entire series here.)

Like all good children living far from where they grew up, I try to call my parents at least once a week. I usually discuss family matters with my mother for a while, then she puts my father

(With sincere apologies to Sam Beckett.)

Deweygon, sitting on
a first year associate, is trying to write off his client’s bills.  He crosses out and uncrosses out. 
He gives up,
exhausted, rests, and prints out another copy. 
As before. 
File:Waiting for Godot in Doon School.jpg
Image [CC] – Merlaysamuel
Enter Howreymir.
Deweygon:  (Giving
up again)
Nothing to be done.

Image [cc] –  顔なし 


Jane:  Have you noticed that this job has become more and more about the correct usage of IT approved technology?  I mean, years ago, I practiced law.  I worked with my clients to determine the best way to work together.  Now, I spend an inordinate amount of time trying


A truly gifted and uniquely skilled artisan
crafting an iron nail by hand. 


Image [CC] – Calvin Lee 

Jane:  Legal Process Outsourcing is a brilliant idea whose time has come, Dan. I think we will see a number of high profile firms begin to partner with LPOs in the next few years. Whereas

Dan: You may not know this Jane, but I’ve been moving into more of a Pricing role at my firm.

Jane: I’m impressed.  And a little frightened for the well being of your firm.

Dan:  Every firm needs to have at least one person focused on determining the right price and fee structure for every