Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership GA 610 | Lean and AI in the Legal Field with Heather Underwood and Adam Marsland
Dec 11, 2025
Heather Underwood, a business transformation lead who applies Lean and AI to legal operations, and Adam Marsland, a transformation leader with law firm and finance experience, discuss Lean in law, practical Lean examples for litigation and back-office work, AI use cases for process diagnostics, risks of automating the wrong things, and how multidisciplinary teams and curiosity will shape legal transformation.
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Embrace Continuous Organizational Change
- Transformation requires accepting that nothing is permanent and continuous adaptation is essential.
- Marcus Aurelius' stoic line frames change as necessary for growth and innovation.
Use Questions To Invite Insights
- Intentionally ask questions to create mental space where answers can appear and be noticed.
- Use simple daily questions like 'How can we do better tomorrow?' to invite continuous small improvements.
Lean Looks Different In Law
- Lean in professional services looks different than manufacturing because waste appears in different guises.
- Legal work is a greenfield for lean with unique complexities and centuries-old assumptions to challenge.
