This episode features Stan Shepard, General Counsel of Atlassian, a leading provider of team productivity and collaboration software. Stan discusses his unique career journey from a finance journalist to the current GC of Atlassian. He shares valuable insights into how Atlassian's legal department leverages the company's productivity software products and AI for maximum efficiency.
Episode Highlights:
[00:00:09]: Introduction and Stan's background - Learn about Stan's journey from finance journalist to lawyer at Charles Schwab, and eventually to his current role at Atlassian.
[00:04:00]: Why Stan transitioned from journalism to law - Discover his motivations for pursuing a legal career, including the desire for greater impact and client interaction.
[00:07:00]: The growth of Atlassian's legal department - Hear how the legal team has expanded significantly alongside the company's rapid growth, particularly during the pandemic.
[00:12:39]: How Atlassian's legal team uses their own products - Stan explains how Atlassian's legal department utilizes Jira, Confluence, and other tools to streamline workflows and improve collaboration.
[00:14:10]: AI routing of legal requests - Discover how AI automates the process of routing incoming legal requests to the appropriate specialists.
[00:17:02]: Atlassian's new AI product, Rovo - Learn about Rovo's search, chat, and agent capabilities, designed to enhance teamwork and efficiency.
[00:23:31]: Advice for legal departments adopting AI - Stan provides practical guidance on how legal teams can effectively integrate AI into their workflows.
[00:24:29]: Responsible AI implementation - Stan emphasizes the importance of approaching AI adoption with a focus on ethical considerations and mitigating potential biases.
[00:28:16]: Atlassian's involvement with BSA | The Software Alliance - Learn about Atlassian's advocacy work in the global software industry and their efforts to shape responsible tech policy.
Key Takeaways:
- Embrace continuous learning: Stan's career path underscores the importance of adaptability and a growth mindset.
- Leverage technology for efficiency: Atlassian's legal team exemplifies how technology can optimize legal workflows and improve collaboration.
- Adopt AI responsibly: Stan highlights the need for a thoughtful and ethical approach to AI implementation.
Resources Mentioned:
- Atlassian: www.atlassian.com
- Jira: Atlassian's project management software.
- Confluence: Atlassian's knowledge management software.
- Loom: Atlassian's asynchronous video messaging tool.
- Rovo: Atlassian's new AI product with search and chat functionality.
- Responsible Tech Review Template: A guide for responsible AI development. (Available on Atlassian's website)
- BSA | The Software Alliance: bsa.org
Connect with Stan Shepard:
LinkedIn: Stan Shepard
Episode Credits
Editing and Production: Grant Blackstock
Theme Music: Home Base (Instrumental Version) by TA2MI
Technically Legal - A Legal Technology and Innovation Podcast