The LOPSided Podcast Episode 19: Beyond the Tech: The Human, Operational, and Governance Realities of Legal Transformation
Dec 15, 2025
Justin North, a leading legal transformation expert and founder of Janders Dean, shares his extensive insights into legal innovation. He discusses the crucial role of psychology and culture in successful transformations, urging firms to understand behavior rather than blame tech or stubborn lawyers. The conversation dives into the build vs. buy dilemma in legal tech, highlighting the risks of firms acting as software developers. North also emphasizes the importance of genuine leadership support and the potential of AI across the revenue cycle, all while promoting a modernized governance approach.
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Behaviour Drives Tech Success
- Legal tech projects often fail because firms misunderstand lawyer behaviour and neuroscience.
- Normalising behavioural science in law improves change success and adoption.
Sell The Benefit, Not The Feature
- Tell a clear story that shows tangible benefits to convince lawyers to change.
- Use visible examples so lawyers can see improved revenue, margins, or sanity in peers.
Put Clients In The Room
- Include clients in design and co-creation of tools or processes whenever possible.
- Client involvement increases lawyer motivation and adoption through stronger relationships.