The Legalpreneurs Sandbox

As 2020 draws to a close, we welcomed back our crystal ball gazers from 2019, innovation and legaltech gurus: Caryn Sandler, Partner and Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer at Gilbert & Tobin; Warrick McLean, CEO at Colman Grieg Lawyers; and Graeme Grovum, Principal at legal industry consultancy Alpha Creates, to discuss the year in review… Topics covered in our discussion included: 1. What stood out in innovation and legaltech in 2020? And, how did it show up on law firm Managing Partner/CEO agendas? 2. Whether or not, because of COVID-19, the legal industry had been pushed to a tipping point or a previously unimagined awakening to innovation and legaltech. And, what did that mean going forward? 3. How "sticky" were innovation and legaltech "gains" likely to be in 2021? 4. How important has data been in the operation of legal practice? And, how would that stay the same or change in 2021? 5. How did the changes to work, how we worked and what we used to work, connect and intertwine in legal practice in 2020? And, what will that look like in 2021? 6. And finally, what were (or should be), top priorities in innovation and legaltech in 2021? Thank you, Caryn, Warrick, and Graeme, for another fabulous conversation – can't wait to see you all same time, next year! To all our friends around the world, thank you for your support in 2020 – we appreciate it every year, and especially this one. Our very best wishes to you and your families for a restful, joyful, and peaceful holiday season!

What would happen if we disrupted legal education? Would law degrees become affordable? Could learning the law become an interactive, immersive, and holistic experience? Could things like digital literacy, agility, curiosity, creativity, problem solving, business acumen, EI, and relationship building...the tech and human bits...become critical graduate attributes in every law school? Would HOW law schools teach matter as much and WHAT they taught? Would legal educators need to acquire different skills? Would legal regulators and regulation need to change? In this podcast, Terri Mottershead, Executive Director, Centre for Legal Innovation (Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific), facilitated an international panel of legal educators from Australia and the USA who considered these questions and more: Mitchell Adams, Lecturer, LLB Course Director, Swinburne Law School, Swinburne University of Technology (Australia) Ann-Maree David, Executive Director, The College of Law Queensland (Australia) Tania Leiman, Associate Professor and Dean of Law, Flinders University (Australia) Michele R. Pistone, Professor of Law, Villanova University, Charles Widger School of Law (USA) Thanks so much Mitchell, Ann-Maree, Tania, and Michele - a wonderful discussion which, no doubt, will be the first of many more to come! If you would prefer to watch rather than listen to this session, you'll find the video in our CLI-Collaborate (CLIC) free resource hub here.

As Melissa Lyon and Adrienne Trumbull, Associate Principals at Hive Legal discuss in this podcast, Hive Legal is a new law trail blazer. In 2014, its founders launched a corporate commercial law firm with an entirely different business model. Starting with a clean slate, they drew on the experiences of users of legal services and those who deliver those services from traditional business models, to design a model with the purpose of improving the experience for both its clients and its team. Today, Hive Legal provides a truly flexible workplace. It delivers its legal services/products using fixed pricing based on value rather than time spent. Hive's team embraces technology and fosters collaboration, agility, and creativity – they have the courage to think and act differently. This business model has provided the platform for them to develop and utilize several innovative products, ways of working with clients, and an innovative culture across the entire firm. Thanks so much for sharing the Hive Legal story, Mel and Adrienne – we are inspired by what you continue to do differently…every day! If you would prefer to watch rather than listen to this session, you'll find the video in our CLI-Collaborate (CLIC) free resource hub here. Don't forget to also check out and save the date for the other fabulous FREE ReinventED Legal Business: The Case Studies webinars and podcasts - you'll find the details and registration links to the videos as we add them here and, if you subscribe to this podcast, you'll receive notification as we upload more conversations in this series.

The legal world has changed. What it takes to navigate that change, work with it and excel in it, is not the same today as it was nine months ago. And, it won't be the same nine months from now. While it might take a little longer for legislation to change, we've already lived through a legal work evolution – different ways to communicate, different ways to lead, different client and employee needs and expectations and different ways to be. For some organisations, that's already led to systemic change. And, while the legal industry may not move as quickly, what we know right now and for sure is, what got us here, will not get us there. We're in a brave new legal world and with that comes the need for different capabilities, permanently! In this podcast, on New World, New Lawyers – How are capabilities "shaping" up? for the Centre's Reinvent Legal Business Series 2, Dan Kayne, General Counsel – Regions, Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd (UK) and Caitlin (Cat) Moon, Director of Innovation Design, Vanderbilt Law School (USA) shared their thoughts about change in the legal industry, how this has already led to the need for different lawyer capabilities, and how their work is providing a comprehensive and complimentary blueprint for this change. Topics discussed included: The different lawyer capability shapes – I, T, D and O – what they are, what they do, and why they matter How changes in the legal ecosystem are impacting legal education The opportunity for law schools to reinvent legal education The change agent role of in-house counsel and its importance in shaping legal education and lawyer capabilities The important role of collaboration between law schools and legal practitioners in developing lawyer capabilities for now and the future Cat and Dan – thank you so much for your being role models for change and, guiding and inspiring that in all of us – we love your work! If you would prefer to watch this session rather than listen, you'll find the link to the video on the CLI-Collaborate (CLIC) FREE Resource Centre here. Don't forget to also check out and save the date for the other fabulous FREE Reinvent Legal Business Series 2 webinars and podcasts - you'll find the details and registration links to the videos as we add them here and, if you subscribe to this podcast, you'll receive notification as we upload more conversations in this series.

We are at a juncture, right now, where we can take a breath and seize the opportunity not just to do a little better in how we have practised law but, a lot! We can't do that with ALL the same people, or thinking the same way, or doing the same things. We need to celebrate and embrace people from different backgrounds, different approaches, different points of view. And so, in many different ways, diversity AND inclusion (D&I) will play an even bigger role in how we move forward - it's pivotal to legal innovation AND at the centre of building the sort of workplace culture that reflects and respects our contemporary workplace, colleagues and clients. In this podcast, Terri Mottershead, Executive Director, Centre for Legal Innovation (Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific),spoke with leaders and doers in this space from Australia and the USA about Building a New Law Firm Culture Through Diversity & Inclusion: Ann-Maree David, Executive Director,The College of Law Queensland(Australia) Maddison Harrington, Legal Officer - People and Wellbeing,Griffith University(Australia) Leila Hock, Director, Legal Department Partnerships and Inclusion Initiatives,Diversity Lab(USA) Kimya S.P. Johnson, Senior Counsel and Chair of Diversity & Inclusion Practice Group,Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C(USA) Topics discussed included: Definitions for acronyms often used in D & I The importance of taking this time to "build back better" when it comes to the legal industry and D & I Identifying the challenges and overcoming them to effect the advancement of D & I in the legal industry Ways to ensure your D & I initiatives work in law firms, in legal education and in collaboration with consultancies The important role of D & I in developing organisational and workplace culture How D & I connects to and advances innovation The role of allies in D & I Thanks so much, Ann-Maree, Maddy, Leila and Kimya for being so willing to candidly share your thoughts, experience, and the fabulous work you all do – it's making a difference and we are all very grateful for it – amazing! If you would prefer to watch this session rather than listen, you'll find the link to the video on the CLI-Collaborate (CLIC) FREE Resource Centre here. Don't forget to also check out and save the date for the other fabulous FREE Reinvent Legal Business Series 2 webinars and podcasts - you'll find the details and registration links to the videos as we add them here and, if you subscribe to this podcast, you'll receive notification as we upload more conversations in this series.

We have launched our new series: ReinventED Legal Business: The Case Studies to showcase legal businesses - law firms, in-house legal departments, ALSPs, Community Legal Centres, Legal Consultancies, Legal Incubators and Accelerators – that have reimagined, repurposed, or reinvented legal business and tell their stories. These legal businesses are not just part of, but are creating a new legal ecosystem with the aspiration, and as these are case studies, the proof of concept, that what they do and how they do it is less about "new" and more about a different "business as usual." Law Squared is one of these businesses! It's an innovative NewLaw firm that has challenged the status quo of the traditional law firm model. Founded in 2016 by Demetrio Zema, Law Squared has pursued its vision to make good businesses great and great businesses better, by working with their clients in a clear, transparent and engaging manner. Law Squared has consistently pursued its aims to break down the barriers traditional legal service providers have created, by being clear communicators, listening to their client's needs, being efficient, and always transparent on costs. Law Squared has proactively approached its delivery of legal services across four practice areas; commercial, corporate, employment and litigation, and, that's led to Law Squared becoming one of the leading NewLaw firms among enterprises and corporates across Australia. Thanks so much for sharing the amazing Law Squared journey, Demetrio – you've not only built the path but, you're lighting the way for us all too – amazing! If you would prefer to watch this session rather than listen, you'll find the link to the video on the CLI-Collaborate (CLIC) FREE Resource Centre here. Don't forget to also check out and save the date for the other fabulous FREE ReinventED Legal Business: The Case Studies webinars and podcasts - you'll find the details and registration links to the videos as we add them here and, if you subscribe to this podcast, you'll receive notification as we upload more conversations in this series.

The world of legal internships has changed. Legal work experience is being redefined, literally right before our eyes! The good news is, there are more opportunities to gain that all important pre-first job experience, gain insights into what a legal career might look like, and identify and try out other roles and opportunities that might interest you too. The challenge is not expecting that to happen the way it used to – in person and in an office - because if legal services are being delivered from a lawyer's home and virtually, it stands to reason that at least some of your work experience needs to be focused that way too. In this podcast on The New Legal Intern Terri Mottershead, Executive Director, Centre for Legal Innovation (Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific), was joined by an international panel of leaders and doers in the law student work experience and legal education space from Australia and the USA to talk about this and lots more: Tom Brunskill, Co-founder & CEO, Forage (formerly InsideSherpa) (Australia/USA) Sam Garner, National Manager, Graduate Resourcing Strategy & Learning, King & Wood Mallesons (Australia) Samuel Kilpatrick, Volunteer Paralegal Coordinator, Anika Legal (Australia) Sandee Magliozzi, Associate Dean for Experiential and Competency-based Learning and Clinical Professor of Law, Santa Clara University School of Law (USA) Topics discussed included: The objectives of internship programs The evolving world of virtual internships The changing role of work experience and the relevance of internships in this space The opportunities for collaboration between legal educators and industry through internships Sandee, Sam, Tom and Sam – thanks so much for sharing your experience and providing a glimpse into the new world of legal internships and legal education – so exciting! If you would prefer to watch this session rather than listen, you'll find the link to the video on the CLI-Collaborate (CLIC) FREE Resource Centre here.

The changing legal marketplace has brought with it a new and evolving set of client needs and expectations. It's still essentially and importantly all about relationships but, it's equally important for legal businesses to be able to anticipate where value can be added for their clients and proactively offer it. That's increasingly hard to do if your legal practice doesn't analyse its client related data. It's become very important for legal businesses to know exactly when and where they have hit the right mark or strayed from it and make immediate mid-course corrections. And, if that isn't done and your clients are unhappy, then there's evaluation platforms where they can share their thoughts and, this could dissuade potential clients from engaging you. The legal market place today is all about choice and customisation. It's about how clients experience the interactions with their legal service/product providers every step along the way, with many of those steps being taken "virtually" now too! In this podcast on What do law firm clients REALLY need (and want)?, Terri Mottershead, Executive Director, Centre for Legal Innovation (Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific), was joined by an international panel of leaders and doers in the legal business development, client data, client evaluation platforms and client experience space from Australia and the USA to talk about this and lots more: Marcie Borgal Shunk, President and Founder, The Tilt Institute, Inc (USA) Silvia Coulter, Principal, Client Development and Growth Practice, LawVision Group LLC (USA) Ben Farrow, Managing Director, FirmChecker (Australia) Carl White, Chief Experience Officer and Director, CXINLAW (Australia) Topics discussed included: Whether client experience and client satisfaction are the same thing or something different Why legal practices need to develop a "client first" strategy Whether or not legal services/products can be customised, and should be How to establish/develop/maintain client relationships in a virtual world Marcie, Silvia, Ben and Carl – thanks so much for your practical insights and experience sharing – we love your work! If you would prefer to watch this session rather than listen, you'll find the link to the video here.

We read and hear a lot about legal innovation and transformation, more now than ever before, but it's hard to know how much of this is "innovation theatre" or "window dressing" versus real, tangible change. In this podcast on The Changing Face of Legal Innovation and Transformation – Who's zooming who?, Terri Mottershead, Executive Director, Centre for Legal Innovation (Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific), was joined by an international panel of leaders and doers in the legal innovation and transformation space from Australia and New Zealand to talk about this and lots more: Caroline Ferguson, Business Transformation and Innovation Director, Simpson Grierson (New Zealand) Katrina Gowans, National Legal Transformation Lead, Origin (Australia) Caryn Sandler, Partner + Chief Knowledge and Information Officer, Gilbert + Tobin (Australia) Adrian Warren, Director, Plexus + KPMG NewLaw Partnership (Australia) Topics discussed included: What innovation and transformation specialists do How to innovate no matter what your legal organisation looks like The differences and similarities between internal and external innovation How data and innovation are link together The impact of COVID-19 on innovation/transformation now and moving forward… Caroline, Katrina, Caryn and Adrian – we love learning from your innovation and transformation journeys and thank you for your generosity and willingness to share them! If you would prefer to listen rather than watch this session, we'll also be releasing this session as a webinar as part of our FREE Reinvent Legal Business Series 2 webinars - you'll find the details and registration links as we add them here.

In the legal marketplace today, one that is increasingly client centric, legaltech enabled, data driven and where service/product delivery needs to be lean, nimble, and agile, having the right people, do the right things, at the right time and at the right price point is the only way a law firm gets to do what its clients want i.e. deliver its services and products effectively and efficiently. It's that easy and it's that hard! The creativity, complexity and uniqueness of legal professionals has never been more important than it is right now but, so too is recognising their fragility. People aren't machines. And, if they are to be at their best, they need to be recognised, engaged, and empowered - that's where the new people, people come in - HR, talent management professionals, well -being and coaching executives collaborating and working in unison to support, guide, and connect the dots between individual capabilities and the achievement of legal business performance goals. In this podcast on Reinventing the Legal Workplace – Meet the new people, people!, Terri Mottershead, Executive Director, Centre for Legal Innovation (Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific), was joined by an international panel of leaders and doers in this space from Australia and the USA: Jan Christie, Capability + Development Manager, Gilbert + Tobin (Australia) Louise Ferris, Chief People Officer, McCullough Robertson Lawyers (Australia) Krista Larson, Director of Employee Well-being, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (USA) Susan Manch, Chief Talent Officer, Winston & Strawn LLP (USA) Topics discussed included: Who are the new people, people and what exactly do they do? The changing role of human resources and how it's combining with digital resources today The impact of COVID-19 on workplaces, work cultures, mindsets, mental health and well-being, capabilities and capability development Challenges and priorities just ahead… Thank you Jan, Lou, Krista and Sue – your work and dedication is an inspiration – amazing! If you would prefer to listen rather than watch this session, we'll also be releasing this session as a webinar as part of our FREE Reinvent Legal Business Series 2 webinars - you'll find the details and registration links as we add them here.