Legaltech Week

This week features Nikki Black, a legal tech strategist and columnist, Stephanie Wilkins, a legal tech journalist, Joe Patrice, a legal commentator, and Victor Li, an ABA Journal editor. They dive into Harvey's Reddit AMA, where founders tackle tough questions about AI's future and valuation. The panel also debates Trump's executive order on state AI regulations and the Pentagon's GenAI platform flagging legal issues. Nikki shares her tech gift ideas for legal professionals, ensuring listeners are well-prepared for 2025.

Each week, the leading journalists in legal tech choose their top stories of the week to discuss with our other panelists. This week's topics: 00:00 Introductions 03:12 Fastcase Files Lawsuit Against Alexi Over Alleged Data Misuse and Trademark Infringement (Selected by Bob Ambrogi) 15:30 Amid all the AI hoopla, Theres still a fundamental question. Do we have the energy capacity to serve all potential needs? And what happens if we dont? (Selected by Stephen Embry) 33:34 The Courtroom Tech Maze Noone Asked For (Selected by Niki Black) 42:25 ICE Using ChatGPT To Write Use-Of-Force Reports, As Fascism Meets Laziness (Selected by Joe Patrice) 50:04 A 30-year-old lawyer quit Big Law. Days later, she had a term sheet to raise $2.5 million for an AI law firm (Selected by Victor Li)

This discussion features Reese Dipshan, editor and legal tech news contributor, who shares insights from the TLTF Summit on the dynamics between startups and investors. Stephanie Wilkins, director at Legal Tech Hub, talks about AI training for young lawyers and the importance of 'AI Essentials.' Victor Lee provides an analysis on private equity's influence in law, while Nikki Black examines the impact of MSOs on legal practice. Julie Sobowale rounds it out with a Canadian perspective on AI regulation, focusing on Cohere's role.

Niki Black, a principal legal insight strategist at 8am, joins Rhys Dipshan, editor at Legaltech News, along with Joe Patrice from Above the Law, and Canadian legal journalist Julie Sobowale. They dive into intriguing topics, including a law school’s mock trial featuring AI jurors and the alarming implications it raises. Julie shares stories of individuals opting for AI like ChatGPT over lawyers in court, revealing insights into access to justice and changing sentiments in the legal landscape. The group discusses whether AI poses a threat to traditional legal roles.

Victor Li, Assistant Managing Editor at the ABA Journal, discusses the shift from SEO to GEO strategies for legal firms to thrive in AI-driven searches. Niki Black, Principal Legal Insights Strategist at 8AM, shares insights on New York's new AI policies, highlighting approved tools and unexpected restrictions. Joe Patrice from Above the Law questions whether AI is making lawyers less thoughtful. Together, they explore the transformative impact of AI on legal practice, from research accuracy to marketing dynamics.

Rhys Dipshan, a legal tech reporter, dives into the Reddit firestorm surrounding Harvey and generative AI, discussing its secrecy and backlash. Niki Black analyzes how AI is reshaping legal work, while Stephanie Wilkins highlights a trend of law schools requiring AI in applications. Caroline Hill offers insights into Utah's new skills-based bar admission, comparing it to the UK's SQE, and Joe Patrice debates AI's potential to redefine paralegal roles rather than replace them. The panel also touches on the AAA's upcoming AI-powered arbitrator for construction disputes.

Joe Tries, a witty commentator from Above the Law, joins Victor Lee, managing editor at the ABA Journal, to dive into the evolving intersection of AI and legal practice. They explore a contentious new Bluebook rule for citing AI that has sparked debate among scholars and practitioners. The conversation shifts to a study revealing that AI tools now match, and even surpass, human lawyers in contract drafting tasks. Plus, they discuss the alarming trend of firms prioritizing flashy AI investments over essential technology upgrades.

Each week, the leading journalists in legal tech choose their top stories of the week to discuss with our other panelists. This week's topics: 02:36 Why Did This First-Time Conference Feel Like Déjà Vu All Over Again? My Thoughts on 8am's Kaleidoscope (Selected by Bob Ambrogi) 13:32 AI company buys a law firm. What could possibly go wrong? (Selected by Stephen Embry) 37:55 As Customs searches more electronic devices, lawyers have some considerations when they cross borders (Selected by Victor Li) 44:51 Nevada Judge Takes Creative and Unusual Approach to Combat AI-Generated Fictitious Citations (Selected by Bob Ambrogi)

In this special episode on Legaltech Week, moderated by Niki Black live at 8am's Kaleidoscope conference, our panelists take turns sharing their thoughts on specific questions regarding the future of AI in legal tech. This week's topics: 00:00 Introductions 02:40 Will AI change the practice of law and how I practice law? 07:02 Will AI finally kill the billable hour? 18:24 What will AI's effect be on access to justice? 28:59 What does tech competence mean in the age of AI? 40:31 What is agentic AI, and how is its work defined in a law practice? 51:58 Will there be a point at which not using AI is legal malpractice?

Each week, the leading journalists in legal tech choose their top stories of the week to discuss with our other panelists. This week's topics: 09:54 Harvey partners with law schools (Selected by Joe Patrice). 16:24 UChicago Law to launch AI Lab (Selected by Victor Li). 25:42 Will Clio's big moves affect legal practice? (Selected by Julie Sobowale). 37:14 Bench IQ, AI startup led by former ROSS cofounder to understand judges' decision patterns, raises $5.3M seed (Selected by Bob Ambrogi). 50:35 ChatGPT suicide case: how to assign liability for AI tragedy (Selected by Joe Patrice). 57:59 OpenAI says it's scanning users' ChatGPT conversations and reporting content to the police (Selected by Niki Black).