In this engaging conversation, Tom Martin, founder of LawDroid and a multifaceted legal tech innovator, discusses how his AI platform is revolutionizing legal workflows. He highlights LawDroid's tools that enhance client communication and automate document preparation, making life easier for legal professionals. Tom emphasizes the role of generative AI in improving access to justice, particularly for underserved communities. He also explores no-code solutions that empower law firms to customize their tech without needing extensive technical skills.

Laura Leopard, co-founder of Leopard Solutions, and Phil Flora, a key player in the development of the PROWESS platform, discuss their groundbreaking tool for legal talent management. They highlight how PROWESS transforms corporate relationships with outside counsel by utilizing an extensive database for data-driven insights. Key features include a unique ranking system that accounts for diversity, retention, and growth metrics. The duo emphasizes the importance of accurate data and user feedback in enhancing legal recruitment processes and fostering collaboration.

Tim Follett, founder and CEO of StructureFlow, shares his journey from corporate attorney to legal tech innovator. He discusses the vibrant atmosphere at the Legal Geek conference, showcasing the rapid rise of AI in law. Tim emphasizes the transformative power of data visualization, explaining how StructureFlow simplifies complex legal structures. He highlights the importance of effective visual tools to foster collaboration and improve communication in legal cases, paving the way for a more intuitive future in the legal profession.

Shawn Swearingen, Chief Innovation Officer at Faegre Drinker; David Gross, co-founder of their Legal Design Lab; and Ruben Gonzalez, Director of the Lab, dive into the exciting relaunch of their Design Lab in Scottsdale. They explore the transformative power of design thinking in legal practices, emphasizing user-centered solutions and empathy. Discover the driving factors behind relocating the Lab, the role of storytelling in legal presentations, and how collaboration and innovation are reshaping the future of law.

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.

Amber O'Meara, Head of Innovation at MinterEllison, and Tim Andrews, Director of IT Operations, dive into the transformative impact of Microsoft Copilot on the legal industry. They discuss their phased strategy for adopting generative AI, focusing on overcoming challenges like data limitations and user resistance. Key initiatives include engaging training programs, a reverse mentoring system, and gamification techniques to enhance participation. Excitingly, they reveal how these technologies are reshaping workflows, improving productivity, and empowering legal professionals to tackle complex tasks.

Serena Wellen, the Vice President of Product Management at LexisNexis Legal and Professional, delves into the revolutionary Lexis Protégé tool designed to personalize the legal workflow. She discusses how this AI assistant adapts based on user profiles, enhancing productivity within Microsoft 365 applications. Wellen also emphasizes the importance of user control and transparency in data handling, ensuring that the AI meets the unique needs of law firms. Additionally, she highlights the crucial role of client feedback in refining AI products for the legal sector.

Ted Theodoropoulos, CEO of InfoDash and a veteran in legal technology, discusses the evolution of his company from Acrowire to a cloud-focused platform. He delves into the challenges law firms face transitioning to cloud systems and the advantages these present, especially for AI integration. The conversation highlights the mixed reception of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot in legal practices, emphasizing the need for thoughtful adoption and strategic leadership to truly innovate within the industry.

Ed Walters, a representative from VLex and an expert in legal tech, discusses the transformative Autumn 2024 updates to the Vincent AI platform. He highlights its evolution from a legal research tool to a comprehensive workflow solution integrating drafting and transactional tasks. Key innovations include Prompt Assist for refined AI interactions, multi-turn conversations for engaging follow-ups, and tools to enhance legal analysis. Ed emphasizes the importance of user control and transparency, making Vincent AI a reliable partner for legal professionals.

This week, we sit down with Rachael Bosch, the founder and managing director of Fringe Professional Development, to discuss the importance of communication and leadership development within the legal industry. Rachael, with her extensive background in law firm talent management and certifications from prestigious institutions like the NeuroLeadership Institute, Harvard Law School, and Cornell University, offers valuable insights into the role of brain-based coaching in fostering effective workplace environments. Her passion for helping professionals grow and succeed shines through as she discusses her journey from a decade-long career in law firm talent management to founding Fringe Professional Development. Rachael explains her decision to leave a stable career at Paul Hastings to start her own company, citing her love for professional development and her growing interest in communication challenges within law firms. She describes how these challenges often stem from poor communication practices, such as being too direct, too passive, or using the wrong platform, which can lead to misunderstandings and inefficiencies. Rachael's background in theatrical performance also contributes to her fascination with human behavior and motivation, which she has channeled into developing innovative training programs that focus on improving workplace communication and leadership. The conversation delves into the concept of brain-based coaching, a method that combines neuroscience and leadership development to help professionals understand and improve their communication and leadership skills. Rachael emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in effective communication, noting that many professionals struggle with these aspects. She explains how brain-based coaching helps individuals recognize cognitive distortions and other psychological barriers that can hinder their ability to communicate effectively. By grounding coaching in neuroscience, Rachael is able to offer a more fact-based approach that resonates with her often-skeptical audience of lawyers. Rachael also shares some of the challenges she has faced in promoting coaching within law firms, particularly the resistance from attorneys who believe that only other attorneys can truly understand their issues. She argues that the "clarity of distance"—the idea that a coach who is not deeply entrenched in the legal industry can offer a more objective perspective—is actually a strength in coaching. Additionally, Rachael highlights the importance of upward feedback in professional development, describing how Fringe Professional Development's tools help law firms gather and utilize feedback to improve leadership and team dynamics. Rachael predicts that the legal industry will face a conflict between a new generation of partners who deeply care about creating supportive work environments and a new generation of associates who maintain a more detached, boundary-driven approach to work. She emphasizes the need for bridging this gap to create cohesive, caring teams. Rachael's insights provide valuable takeaways for legal professionals looking to improve their communication and leadership skills, as well as for firms aiming to create more human-centered workplace cultures. Listen on mobile platforms:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact Us:  Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠