Reinventing Professionals
Ari Kaplan
The business of providing professional advice is changing. Today, anyone can go online and access a wealth of information about any topic, from legal and medical advice to financial planning and accounting suggestions. This blog is designed to offer ideas, guidance, and perspectives on how to effectively navigate a perpetually shifting professional landscape, with a unique focus on the legal industry and the technology that is driving its evolution.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 6, 2021 • 12min
Educating the Public About the Law And Earning More Than Five Million Followers in the Process
I spoke with Mike Mandell, a lawyer with Mandell Law in California, who educates the public about the law through social media. We discussed how he produces content for YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, his process for selecting topics for his videos, the message he conveys to consumers, and how he sees the use of content-driven social media tools for lawyers evolving.
Aug 5, 2021 • 18min
Driving Change in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
I spoke with Jennifer Martinez, the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and a partner at Hanson Bridgett. We discussed the policies and programs that have helped the firm support its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, its Agile Workforce Initiative, and ways that clients are driving change.
Jul 28, 2021 • 13min
Managed Services for Law Firms
I spoke with Ed Sohn, the head of solutions at Factor, a provider of managed services. We discussed Factor’s Legal Transaction Optimization service for law firms, how law firms benefit from collaborating with ALSPs, and the impact of working from home on this alliance.
Jul 26, 2021 • 10min
Legal Tech in Russia
I spoke with Daria Shunina, the head of international startup relations for the Skolkovo Foundation, an innovation center in Russia focused on attracting foreign companies to the country’s innovation ecosystem. We discussed Skolkovo’s mission, the objective of the Soft Landing program, and how interest in legal tech innovation is evolving in Russia.
Jul 23, 2021 • 11min
Empowering the Selection of Outside Counsel
I spoke with Jim Delkousis, the founder and CEO of PERSUIT, a software platform that facilitates a competitive process for sourcing outside legal counsel. We discussed the transition from law firm partner to legal tech founder, the challenges that law department leaders face in selecting their outside counsel, and how the relationship between law firms and law departments is evolving.
Jul 22, 2021 • 16min
Using Technology to Prevent Time Entry Mistakes
I spoke with Andre Wouansi, the founder and managing partner of Accurate Legal Billing, a time entry platform that uses artificial intelligence to help law firms align their invoices with e-billing guidelines. We discussed common mistakes lawyers make when entering their time, how to use artificial intelligence to analyze a law firm’s invoices, and the challenges associated with using AI to interpret unique time entries.
Jul 22, 2021 • 10min
Attracting Talent in a Competitive Market
I spoke with Michael Ellenhorn, the founder and CEO of Decipher Investigative Intelligence, a firm that develops actionable intelligence to guide law firms in developing successful lateral hiring programs and strategies. We discussed the current market in law firm hiring, how law firms are searching for fully or partially remote positions, best practices for law firm leaders to attract talent, and how hiring is evolving.
Jul 16, 2021 • 15min
Guiding Corporate Legal Departments on Transformation in 2021
I spoke with Catie Butt, an Executive Director with A&O Consulting, which is a division within Allen & Overy that advises corporate legal teams in a number of areas including business and legal function transformation. We discussed the genesis of the firm’s Advanced Delivery & Solutions team, how it collaborates with the firm’s practicing lawyers, and the challenges that the legal industry is likely to face in 2021 and beyond.
Jul 15, 2021 • 8min
The Challenges of Capturing Innovation
I spoke with Thomas Franklin, a senior partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton in Denver focused on patent law and the founder of Triangle IP, a software platform that facilitates the idea capture process. We discussed the challenges of capturing innovation, how software can help the process, and how technology is impacting innovation strategies.
Jul 13, 2021 • 15min
The Impact of Digital Innovation on the Legal Industry
I spoke with Olivier Chaduteau, the founder and managing partner of Day One, a consulting firm focused on legal and compliance. We discussed the impact of digital innovation on the legal profession, how lawyers are adapting to a changing market, and the pandemic’s effect on how lawyers manage their legal and compliance matters.
