#47 Building the Better Lawyer: A Chief Innovation Officer's Strategy for Winning Clients

In this episode of Lawyers Who Learn, David Schnurman, CEO of Lawline, has a conversation with Evan Shenkman, Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer at Fisher Phillips. Evan shares his journey from employment litigation attorney to legal innovation leader, and discusses how his firm embraces cutting-edge legal technology.

The discussion centers on Fisher Phillips' pioneering role as the first law firm to test Case Text's Co-Counsel AI tool, and explores how Evan has established at least a dozen similar relationships with legal tech startups since then. He explains the mutual benefits of these partnerships: law firms gain early access to innovative tools while startups receive valuable feedback from practicing attorneys to improve their products.

Evan offers insights into how these legal tech tools enhance attorney performance, emphasizing that the goal isn't just to save money but to make lawyers more effective. He details his firm's approach to training attorneys on AI tools through live demonstrations, practical use cases, and ongoing support from his growing team of 15 knowledge management professionals.

The conversation also covers how innovation impacts client relationships, with Evan sharing examples of winning significant client business specifically because of the firm's technology initiatives. He discusses the practical challenges of implementation, the importance of building relationships in the legal tech community, and how he balances a demanding travel schedule with family life and personal wellbeing.

Throughout the episode, Evan provides valuable perspective on how law firms can position themselves at the forefront of legal technology while creating tangible value for clients, attorneys, and the business itself.