The Geek In Review

Bridging Legal Practice and AI: K&L Gates and AltaClaro Innovate Legal Training

Oct 14, 2024

Carolyn Austin, Director of Practice Innovation at K&L Gates; Brendan McDonnell, a Partner at K&L Gates; and Abdi Shayesteh, CEO of AltaClaro, dive into the cutting-edge intersection of legal practice and artificial intelligence. They discuss AltaClaro's immersive training platform that equips lawyers with real-world simulations. Brendan reflects on K&L Gates' historic embrace of technology and formation of an AI Solutions Group. The trio emphasizes the necessity of innovative, hands-on training in adapting to AI advancements while navigating ethical challenges in the legal landscape.

58:44

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Episode guests

Abdi Shayesteh

Brendan McDonnell

Carolyn Austin

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

AltaClaro's experiential learning platform enables practice-ready attorneys through simulation-based training that emphasizes real-world engagement and feedback.

K&L Gates fosters a culture of innovation by embracing technology and forming an AI Solutions Group to navigate generative AI integration effectively.

Future legal education must focus on adaptability and collaboration, enhancing professionals' confidence and skills in leveraging technological advancements like AI.

Deep dives

Innovative Learning for Legal Professionals

AltaClaro offers an experiential learning platform that focuses on making legal professionals practice-ready through simulation-based training. The courses are designed by practitioners and include real-world documents and assignments that lawyers are likely to encounter in their careers. Participants receive immediate feedback from vetted practitioners, allowing them to improve their skills efficiently. This approach emphasizes practice over traditional lecture-based training, giving lawyers a safe space to make mistakes and build their confidence.

Intro

2min

Innovative Legal Training in the AI Era

25min

Innovating Legal Practice with AI

10min

Navigating the Intersection of AI and Legal Training

4min

AI in Legal Training: A New Era

5min

Innovating Legal Education: Embracing AI and Simulations

4min

Navigating AI in Legal Practice

8min

In this episode of The Geek in Review, hosts Marlene Gebauer and Greg Lambert are joined by Carolyn Austin, Director of Practice Innovation at K&L Gates; Brendan McDonnell, Partner at K&L Gates; and Abdi Shayesteh, CEO of AltaClaro. The conversation delves into innovative legal education strategies and the integration of generative AI in legal practice, highlighting how experiential learning platforms are shaping the future of legal training.

Abdi introduces AltaClaro's experiential learning platform, designed to make lawyers practice-ready through simulation-based training. Utilizing a "Learn, Do, Review" methodology, the platform presents associates with real-world assignments, provides feedback from seasoned practitioners, and facilitates live review sessions. This approach aims to build confidence, enhance critical thinking skills, and improve efficiency among legal professionals by immersing them in practical scenarios that mirror actual legal work.

Brendan discusses K&L Gates' longstanding commitment to innovation and education within the legal industry. He reflects on the firm's history of embracing technology—such as developing one of the first e-discovery platforms—and its proactive stance on integrating generative AI into legal workflows. Recognizing the transformative potential of AI, K&L Gates formed an AI Solutions Group to prepare attorneys and allied professionals for the technological advancements reshaping legal practice.

Carolyn explains how K&L Gates collaborated with AltaClaro to develop specialized training programs focused on generative AI, including prompt engineering and supervisory courses. These programs address the challenges partners and managers face when integrating AI tools into their workflows, emphasizing ethical considerations, risk assessment, and effective supervision. The partnership ensures that all firm members, from associates to senior partners, are equipped with the necessary skills to use AI responsibly and effectively.

The guests explore the broader implications of AI adoption in the legal field, discussing challenges such as change management, ethical obligations, and the need for data-driven practices. They highlight the importance of fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Looking toward the future, they express optimism about AI's potential to enhance legal services, improve access to justice, and drive innovation, emphasizing the critical role of education and adaptability in this transformation.

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Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert

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Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript