The Ethics Expert: Jayne Reardon

Hey there Legal Rebels! 👋

This is the twentieth episode of the 2024 season of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, where I will be interviewing key legal innovators to learn how they do what they do.

If you want to gain a deep understanding of the critical role ethics and professionalism play in the rapidly evolving legal landscape, you need to listen to this episode. Jayne Reardon is a trailblazer who has dedicated her career to promoting civility and upholding the highest standards of the legal profession. With her wealth of experience and unique insights, Jayne offers invaluable guidance on navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies in the legal field.

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Championing Ethics and Professionalism in the Age of AI: Insights from a Legal Trailblazer

In this captivating episode, Jayne shares her wealth of experience from her remarkable 16-year tenure as the Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. She delves into the groundbreaking initiatives she spearheaded, from integrating technology into CLE requirements to establishing a successful statewide mentorship program.

As the legal landscape evolves at an unprecedented pace, Jayne offers her unique perspective on the pressing need for the profession to adapt and embrace change. She fearlessly tackles critical issues such as the relationship between lawyer regulation and the access to justice gap, and the impact of generative AI on the unauthorized practice of law.

Jayne's passion for fostering a more proactive, data-driven approach to legal services regulation shines through as she discusses the importance of collecting data on consumer satisfaction and outcomes. Her insights on ensuring AI-powered legal services adhere to ethical standards are both thought-provoking and timely.

For lawyers seeking guidance on navigating the ever-changing legal terrain, Jayne offers invaluable advice on staying informed and engaged with professional responsibility committees and organizations. Her words of wisdom serve as a clarion call for legal professionals to continuously learn, innovate, and seize opportunities to make a positive impact in an era of rapid transformation.

Don't miss this essential episode for anyone interested in the future of law, ethics, and the role of technology in shaping the profession. Jayne Reardon's compelling story and visionary insights will leave you inspired and better equipped to thrive in the dynamic world of modern legal practice.

The Skinny

In this episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, host Tom Martin interviews Jayne Reardon, a partner and deputy general counsel at Fisher Broyles. Jayne has had a distinguished career dedicated to legal ethics and professionalism, including serving as the Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism for 16 years. The discussion covers Jayne's background, her work promoting ethics and civility in the legal profession, and her perspectives on how lawyers should adapt to the changing legal landscape.

Key Takeaways:

* Early in her career as an aggressive trial lawyer, Jayne had a pivotal moment that made her reevaluate her approach and dedicate her career to promoting ethics and civility.

* At the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, Jayne advanced initiatives such as incorporating technology into CLE requirements, establishing a statewide mentorship program, and fostering interaction between lawyers and judges.

* Jayne believes the legal profession's regulations, largely unchanged since 1908, need to be reassessed to better serve the public in light of advances in technology and changes in society. There is a relationship between how lawyers are regulated and the access to justice gap.

* With the rise of generative AI tools that can provide legal information and advice, distinctions between authorized and unauthorized practice of law are becoming blurred. The profession needs to reexamine UPL rules to responsibly allow the public to benefit from these technologies.

* Jayne advocates for more proactive, data-driven approaches to regulating legal services and protecting consumers, such as requiring entities to collect data on consumer satisfaction and outcomes. Having a designated compliance officer could be one way to ensure AI-powered legal services adhere to ethical standards.

* To stay informed about legal ethics developments, Jayne recommends lawyers get involved with professional responsibility committees and organizations. She sees this as an exciting time for lawyers to learn, adapt, and make a positive difference by leveraging creativity and new technologies.

Jayne Reardon's career offers valuable insights into the importance of ethics and professionalism in the legal field. As the profession grapples with disruptive technologies like generative AI, her perspectives on modernizing regulations, expanding access to legal services, and upholding ethical standards while embracing change provide food for thought. Jayne's words of wisdom encourage lawyers to continuously learn, think outside the box, and seize opportunities to make a meaningful impact in an evolving legal landscape.

Notable Quotes:

* "I very quickly realized, and I didn't really understand this going into the Commission on Professionalism, how important it was for lawyers to understand where the ethical rules come from and how they apply and what role they as well as justices can have." - Jayne Reardon (23:00)

* "Our ethical rules have existed since 1908 in large part unchanged. But the practice of law, our society, the needs of the public, the complexity of laws, treatises, regulations, ordinances has ballooned. And we really ought to be very carefully and deliberately looking at how are we regulated." - Jayne Reardon (24:00)

* "I've come to believe that there is a relationship between the way we are regulated and the access to justice gap." - Jayne Reardon (24:50)

* "It is very paternalistic for us lawyers to decide that we know best how to serve the public without ever asking them, and the public is going around us, they're getting answers by just going to the search engines." - Jayne Reardon (33:30)

* "This is the most exciting time to be a lawyer. I've been a lawyer for, I'm not going to tell you how many, but decades. And the opportunities to work in new creative ways alongside professionals who have complementary skill sets, different ways of doing things, technology companies, allied professionals, the opportunities abound." - Jayne Reardon (46:30)

Closing Thoughts

Well, there you have it folks - my thought-provoking discussion with Jayne Reardon, a true visionary in the legal profession. Jayne's insights on the critical importance of ethics, professionalism, and embracing change in the face of technological disruption are both timely and invaluable.

As we navigate the uncharted waters of AI and its impact on the legal landscape, it's clear that we need more trailblazers like Jayne who are willing to challenge the status quo and push for much-needed reforms. Her call for a proactive, data-driven approach to regulating legal services and ensuring access to justice resonates deeply with me and aligns with the mission of LawDroid.

Jayne's words of wisdom serve as a powerful reminder that as lawyers, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to harness the power of technology for the greater good. By continuously learning, innovating, and collaborating with professionals across disciplines, we can not only adapt to the changing times but also shape a future where legal services are more accessible, efficient, and ethical.

I hope this episode has inspired you, as it has me, to think critically about the role we play in driving positive change within our profession. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback - let's keep this important conversation going. Remember, in the age of AI, it's not just about staying ahead of the curve - it's about being part of the force that defines it.

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