Future Contracts

🎙️ Professor, Innovator, ChangemakerIn this episode of Future Contracts, Electra sits down with Professor Marcia Narine Weldon, Director of the Transactional Skills Program at the University of Miami School of Law, to explore how legal education is evolving to meet the demands of modern practice.They discuss the rise of AI in legal workflows, how law students are being trained for roles that didn’t exist 10 years ago, and why legal design and client-centricity are non-negotiable in today’s profession. From Marcia’s experiences teaching transactional law to her observations about what makes legal teams effective, this episode bridges the classroom and the boardroom with clarity and vision.💡 Whether you’re training the next generation or leading a team today, this conversation is packed with forward-looking insight.

What happens when you apply design thinking to legal work—without the buzzwords?In this episode, Electra is joined by Astrid Kohlmeier, a pioneer in legal design and co-author of The Legal Design Book. Together they unpack what legal design really means beyond sticky notes and whiteboards—and how it’s driving a more human, usable, and intuitive approach to contracts and legal systems.They talk about:The misconceptions and hype around legal designHow design helps lawyers better align with business needsWhere the biggest friction still exists in contract workflowsThe balance between visual tools and legal substanceWhether you're new to legal design or deep in the weeds of process improvement, this conversation challenges assumptions and invites a fresh take on the role of design in legal transformation.📘 Want to explore more? Check out The Legal Design Book by Astrid Kohlmeier and Meera Klemola — a hands-on guide to rethinking legal systems through user-centered design.🎧 Subscribe to The Future Contracts Podcast for more conversations about what’s changing in the world of contracts—and who’s building what’s next.

In this episode of Future Contracts, Electra Japonas speaks with Nate Kostelnik, in-house counsel at the Oncology Nursing Society, about how in-house teams can build scalable, repeatable systems around commercial contracting. Drawing on his experience with procurement, standardization, and internal playbooks, Nate shares how his team is empowering business partners to manage contracts more independently—without compromising legal oversight. They discuss how data can drive smarter fallback positions, why lawyers should rethink their role in enabling business, and what it really looks like to operationalize legal workflows inside a mission-driven nonprofit.Whether you're building a legal function from scratch or trying to scale without burning out your legal team, this episode is packed with thoughtful insight on the real future of contracts.

Richard Tromans, founder of Artificial Lawyer and legal innovation analyst, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of legal tech. He distinguishes between hype cycles and real innovation, urging the industry to focus on meaningful transformation. The discussion covers the three phases of legal tech, why many lawyers aren’t utilizing current tools, and the increasing influence of clients demanding change. Tromans also addresses the role of AI in the future of legal work and critiques the designs of existing tech products.

Jana Blount, a veteran legal innovation consultant, delves into the necessity of change within the legal industry. She argues that clients are the driving force behind this shift and discusses how design thinking can revolutionize legal services. The conversation highlights the impact of AI on expectations, urging legal teams to move beyond mere efficiency. Blount also stresses the importance of empathy and collaboration in initiating meaningful change while emphasizing the need for innovative mindsets to thrive amid a rapidly evolving landscape.

Is the Legal Industry Training Lawyers for the World They're Entering?In this episode, Electra Japonas sits down with Terra Potter to unpack how legal training must evolve alongside the rise of AI, automation, and client demands. From commercial awareness to system design, Terra argues that junior lawyers need more than legal doctrine—they need to understand the why behind their work.They explore what risk really means, how to embed business thinking into legal workflows, and why lawyers must become architects of legal systems—not just practitioners within them.

In this episode of Future Contracts, Electra Japonas is joined by Darryl Chiang, Director of Legal at Google, to explore what it really takes to simplify contracts and modernize legal workflows.They dive into the limits of traditional legal mindsets, the promise of AI, and the power of standardization—not just to improve efficiency, but to strengthen business relationships. Darryl shares how lawyers can move from complexity toward clarity, and why the future of law depends on human-centered design.

Preston Clark, CEO of SimpleDocs and President of Law Insider, delves into the evolving intersection of law and technology. He discusses the need for standardization in legal practices and how AI is transforming contract workflows. The conversation reveals insights on the challenges of achieving product market fit in legal tech and the shift towards embracing innovative tools. Clark also highlights the importance of adapting legal education to prepare for future demands as automation reshapes contract processes and the role of legal professionals.

Welcome to Future Contracts, the podcast where Electra Japonas talks to the people reshaping how legal work gets done.From AI to workflows, from redlines to risk, this show dives into the real-world tools, ideas, and stories driving the future of contracts. Powered by Law Insider.