Legal Innovation Spotlight

Avaneesh Marwaha, CEO of Litera and a leader in legal technology, shares insights into the transformative role of AI in the legal industry. He discusses the challenges and opportunities of hybrid work environments, emphasizing how AI can enhance workflow and expand access to justice. Marwaha touches on the strategic vision for legal innovation, fostering a culture of agility, and the importance of tech integration. His perspective on future trends in the legal landscape promises actionable advice for law professionals seeking to stay competitive.

Jack Shepherd, a former lawyer and legal tech expert at iManage, discusses the gaps between AI promises and legal practice realities. He highlights the challenges of AI implementation, stressing the need for clear understanding and caution when adopting new technologies. Jack reveals the pitfalls of over-hyped tools and emphasizes the importance of basic data hygiene and targeted applications. He also talks about how generative AI often fails in critical legal tasks, advocating for pragmatic approaches to improve workflows and encourage knowledge-sharing among lawyers.

Neill Pemberton, an Associate Partner at IBM Consulting and expert in Generative AI for professional services, dives into how AI is transforming the legal industry. He discusses the challenges of cultural resistance to innovation and how smaller AI models can enhance efficiency while addressing privacy concerns. Neill highlights the importance of integrating AI in manageable, low-risk ways to build trust within law firms, and he emphasizes the shift from traditional AI to generative AI. This conversation offers invaluable insights for legal professionals looking to navigate the evolving tech landscape.

Eric DeChant, founder of Gammawave AI, shares his expertise at the intersection of AI and law. He discusses the rise of AI roles in law firms and the prevalence of 'innovation theater'—creating roles and tools that prioritize appearances over real needs. Eric emphasizes the importance of impactful AI use cases, like HR and marketing, while highlighting trust issues surrounding value-based billing. He also advocates for small, purpose-built AI solutions to enhance privacy and efficiency in legal processes.

In this engaging chat, Alex Su, Chief Revenue Officer at Latitude Legal and a veteran in legal tech, shares his insights on the transformative power of AI in the legal sector. He tackles the slow adoption of technology and how firms can effectively balance tradition with innovation. Alex highlights the importance of reputation in justifying high fees and discusses strategies for leveraging AI to enhance client services. He also explores staffing solutions, suggesting that outsourcing specialized roles can accelerate AI integration. Tune in for a fresh perspective on legal innovation!

Join Ted as he engages with Damien Riehl to explore the transformative intersection of AI and the legal profession. This conversation unpacks the evolving role of large language models in legal reasoning, how they reshape traditional tasks, and the philosophical implications of trusting AI outputs. Whether you're curious about the limits of AI's "reasoning" or its practical benefits for attorneys, this episode offers fresh perspectives and insights you won't want to miss.In this episode, Damien shares insights on how to:Assess the reasoning capabilities of large language models in legal contextsLeverage generative AI to enhance legal document drafting and researchInterpret the limitations of AI outputs in subjective fields like lawTest the reliability and objectivity of AI systems in complex decision-makingNavigate ethical considerations in adopting AI-driven tools in legal practiceKey takeaways: AI’s reasoning in law aligns with its backward-looking nature, as legal tasks often rely on precedent and existing data, making large language models effective for linking facts to statutes and regulations.The “anesthesia test” emphasizes evaluating AI by its practical outputs, as effectiveness matters more than understanding its internal workings.While large language models excel at connecting legal concepts, they struggle with objective tasks like math, reflecting their contextual strengths.Studies like Stanford’s highlight AI’s limitations, but the legal industry should focus on practical applications for everyday workflows rather than edge cases.About the guest, Damien Riehl:Damien Riehl is a lawyer and technologist with experience in complex litigation, digital forensics, and software development. A lawyer since 2002 and coder since 1985, Damien clerked for the chief judges of state and federal courts, practiced in complex litigation for over a decade, has led teams of cybersecurity and world-spanning digital forensics investigations, and has built AI-backed legal software.At vLex Group — which includes Fastcase, NextChapter, and Docket Alarm — Damien helps lead the design, development, and expansion of various products, integrating AI-backed technologies (e.g., GPT) into a billion-document dataset from 100+ countries, all to improve legal workflows.“How much of the law is looking backward—that is, looking to precedent? You're always looking to statutes; you're always looking to something that is in the data set. So, if it is in the data set, really, all of our reasoning that is legal is backward-looking, not forward-looking.” – Damien RiehlConnect with Damien Riehl:Website: https://vlex.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damienriehl/Connect with Ted Theodoropoulos:Website: https://getinfodash.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedtheoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getinfodash/podcasts

In this episode, Ted chats with legal tech expert Colin Levy about the realities of legal innovation and its impact on the industry. Colin reflects on his journey from Big Law to in-house roles, the promise of generative AI, and the evolving role of legal operations. The discussion also delves into the current capabilities and limitations of AI in legal work, top use cases for law firms, and the investment trends in legal tech. Whether you're a legal professional or curious about technology’s role in law, this episode offers relatable insights into the future of the field.In this episode, Colin shares insights on how to:Integrate technology into legal operations effectivelyAddress work-life balance challenges in legal careersImplement alternative billing models in law firmsLeverage generative AI in legal practiceNavigate career transitions from traditional legal roles to interdisciplinary rolesKey takeaways: Legal operations serve as a critical bridge between technology, law, and business, requiring diverse skill sets to ensure process and tech alignment.Generative AI offers significant potential in areas like contract review, litigation analytics, and knowledge management, though it remains in its early stages with limitations.Big Law’s emphasis on billable hours is increasingly seen as outdated, underscoring the importance of exploring alternative, value-based billing structures.Cultural resistance and lack of preparation often lead to underutilization of legal technologies, highlighting the need for thorough readiness and education initiatives.About the guest, Colin Levy:Colin Levy is a recognized legal tech expert, educator, and author. He serves as director of Legal and Evangelist at Malbek, and he is a leader in Contract Lifecycle Management. Levy wrote The Legal Tech Ecosystem and co-authored CLM for Dummies, establishing himself as a key voice in the field. He advises legal tech startups, judges industry awards, and frequently contributes to publications and podcasts. Levy's mission is to empower the legal community through technology adoption. He shares insights on his website, colinslevy.com, and maintains an active presence on social media platforms.“Just because a tool exists, has existed, or is being used by someone doesn't mean it's the right solution for you or in the ballpark of what you should be using, which leads to you purchasing a solution that ends up sitting on a shelf somewhere and not being used.” – Colin LevyConnect with Colin Levy:Website: https://www.colinslevy.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinslevy/Connect with Ted Theodoropoulos:Website: https://getinfodash.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedtheoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getinfodash/podcasts

Haley Altman, a corporate attorney and legal tech innovator, discusses the transformative power of Generative AI in legal operations. She shares her journey from founding Doxly to navigating corporate development at Litera. The conversation tackles balancing startup agility with corporate stability while managing investor expectations amidst inflated valuations. Haley emphasizes the importance of strategic partnerships and clear communication in fostering innovation, as well as adapting to evolving market demands in legal tech.

In this eye-opening episode, Ted sits down with Judge Scott Schlegel to discuss the urgent realities of AI and legal tech in today's courtrooms. Judge Schlegel, an advocate for practical tech in justice, shares his experiences with both the promise and peril of AI—from voice-cloning risks to affordable solutions for overburdened court systems. Join them as they explore how AI can revolutionize legal preparation and accessibility while highlighting the critical need for awareness, caution, and responsible use in an evolving digital landscape.In this episode, Judge Scott shares insights on how to:Use low-cost technologies to streamline court operationsDetect and address deepfakes in court evidenceLeverage AI tools for trial preparationMitigate the risks of AI-generated evidence in the justice systemImplement practical technology solutions without extensive budgetsKey takeaways: Deepfake audio poses critical risks in domestic cases, allowing cloned voices to manipulate protective orders, seize assets, and disrupt lives with minimal verification.Budget constraints in most courts limit access to advanced tech, pushing judges to rely on affordable tools to streamline operations and improve efficiency.AI tools like ChatGPT offer valuable support in trial prep, helping lawyers simulate juror perspectives and anticipate key questions before court.Rapid AI advancements bring significant challenges for courts unprepared for threats like deepfakes, with slow adoption rates and limited resources complicating responses.About the guest, Judge Scott Schlegel:Judge Scott U. Schlegel, a recent inductee into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame, was elected to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal in 2023. Known for pioneering one of the nation's most advanced online justice systems, he has also led as Chair of the Louisiana Supreme Court Technology Commission and served on the ABA & LSBA Task Forces on the Law and Artificial Intelligence. Judge Schlegel's work includes establishing the Reentry Court and Swift & Certain Probation programs to reduce recidivism. A Loyola University New Orleans College of Law graduate, he is married to Representative Laurie Schlegel and has one son in college.“We need to build a more modern justice system—needs to be more efficient, more effective, and more accessible. And I just think that we can use simple technologies to modernize the justice system to make everybody’s lives better.” – Judge Scott SchlegelConnect with Judge Scott Schlegel:Website: https://judgeschlegel.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judgeschlegel/Twitter: https://x.com/judgeschlegelConnect with Ted Theodoropoulos:Website: https://getinfodash.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedtheoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getinfodash/podcasts

In this episode, Ted sits down with AI and data management expert Aron Ahmadia to explore the transformative impact of AI on the legal industry. They explore agentic AI and its autonomy, discussing its potential to reshape legal processes, cut costs, and improve decision-making. Aron shares insights into both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI in legal workflows, highlighting the journey from innovation to practical application. In this episode, Aron shares insights on how to:Define and integrate agentic AI in legal workflowsAssess AI's impact on efficiency and cost savings in legal servicesOvercome data quality challenges in law firm document managementNavigate the development and deployment of AI for legal research and discoveryManage risk in AI applications within legal and compliance contextsKey takeaways: AI systems in legal discovery have greatly improved cost efficiency, with one case saving over a million dollars using a trial AI product.Agentic AI, known for its autonomy and planning, is expected to transform the legal sector by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing strategic roles.Advanced AI data organization tools also help law firms manage disorganized data by identifying, categorizing, and cleaning it—key steps toward fully leveraging AI.Current AI tools, like those for document review, enable rapid analysis of large datasets, setting the stage for broader use across knowledge management and other legal tasks.About the guest, Aron Ahmadia:Dr. Aron Ahmadia is the Senior Director for Applied Science at Relativity, leading AI development for RelativityOne, including the aiR suite and its Active Learning and Analytics. An expert in machine learning and AI, he specializes in AI for Law, Model Risk Management, and Responsible AI. Previously, he was an adjunct faculty at George Washington University and a founding Computer Science Professor at KAUST, teaching one of Saudi Arabia’s first coed classes. He has experience in Capital One’s Model Risk Office and U.S. government service. Dr. Ahmadia holds a Ph.D. in Applied Math from Columbia University and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology.“We're potentially going to see a level of data understanding and data management that we don’t currently consider because it's just too expensive. But that cost will go away, and the capability will come.” – Aron AhmadiaConnect with Aron Ahmadia:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aron-ahmadia/Connect with Ted Theodoropoulos:Website: https://getinfodash.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedtheoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getinfodash/podcasts