Legally Speaking Podcast Automating Justice: How Legal Engineering Transforms the Future of Law - Catherine Bamford - S9E18
Legal Engineering Is Revolutionizing Law One Small Improvement at a Time
Catherine Bamford introduces the concept of legal engineering as a continuous improvement process, focusing on marginal gains rather than radical innovations.
She explains how automating repetitive tasks, such as putting an "S" at the end of the word "seller" or changing grammar, can save lawyers significant time, allowing them to focus on more nuanced, bespoke details.
Legal engineering combines people, process, and technology to streamline legal services, making the profession more efficient without losing the personalized elements that define legal work.
This approach debunks the misconception that legal work is too bespoke to automate, emphasizing that the heavy lifting in drafting can be systematized while preserving the unique client-specific nuances.
This insight is best explored early in the episode where Catherine first elaborates on the marginal gains philosophy and the foundational principles of legal engineering.
From Early Quitter to Lawyer
- Catherine Bamford quit school early but found inspiration in a brief law module that changed her career path.
- She secured work experience by writing to many law firms and eventually qualified as a real estate finance lawyer.
Recession Sparks Legal Tech Career
- Catherine transitioned to legal tech during a recession when put on a secondment to improve efficiency using document automation.
- A three-month project turned into 15 years, leading to her becoming a pioneer legal engineer.