In this episode, we welcome Matthew Dickinson, CEO and founder of Vable, to discuss the rapidly changing landscape of legal information and current awareness. Matthew reflects on how, until recently, current awareness in law firms relied heavily on manual curation, Boolean searches, and email alerts—often resulting in information overload and a lack of personalization. With the advent of generative AI, expectations have shifted dramatically. Lawyers now want more than just a flood of articles; they expect relevant, actionable insights delivered seamlessly and intuitively, tailored to their specific needs and workflows.
Matthew explains how Vable and similar platforms are moving beyond simply delivering news. The goal is to provide context-rich, actionable intelligence that integrates with other firm systems, such as CRM platforms. Instead of sending a list of articles about data breaches, for example, the new approach is to alert lawyers when a top client is affected, summarize the implications, and identify who else in the firm needs to know. This shift requires a blend of robust technology, thoughtful workflow design, and a deep understanding of the different roles within a law firm.
A significant portion of the conversation centers on the ethical boundaries of using AI in legal information services. Matthew outlines four pillars for ethical current awareness: trust, transparency, accuracy, and inclusion. He emphasizes the importance of clear labeling when AI is used, maintaining high standards for accuracy (especially for client-facing content), and ensuring a diversity of sources to avoid echo chambers. Vable’s approach includes strong relationships with publishers, transparent rights management, and tools that allow human review and curation before information is distributed.
Matthew discuss best practices for using news and current awareness to support practice development and client engagement. While many firms still rely on newsletters and headlines, there is a growing trend toward more personalized, branded, and interactive content—such as Vable Connect, which allows firms to deliver tailored digests to clients. Automation is on the rise, but the human element remains crucial: lawyers use curated content as a springboard for client conversations, and AI is seen as a tool to empower, not replace, professional judgment.
As the episode wraps up, Matthew shares his perspective on the future of legal information services. He predicts that the next wave of innovation will bring even more personalization, prediction, and integration—potentially leading to “personalized current awareness bots” for every lawyer. However, he cautions that while AI can supercharge productivity, humans must remain in control, especially in high-stakes legal environments. The unique culture and high standards of law firms mean that technology providers must deeply understand their clients’ needs to build trust and deliver real value.
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[Special Thanks to Legal Technology Hub for their sponsoring this episode.]
Blue Sky: @geeklawblog.com @marlgeb
Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com
Music: Jerry David DeCicca
Transcript
