Walchet Talks

In this episode, I chat with Catherine Alman MacDonagh about applying the principles of lean and six sigma to legal service delivery. The points we discuss in this episode along with the corresponding time stamps are set out below:1. Introduction (0:09)2. Relevance of Lean Six Sigma for Lawyers (0:32)3. Application of Lean Six Sigma to Lawyers (2:42)4. Kickstarting Lean Six Sigma processes at your Legal Team (10:04)5. What is Process Mapping? (13:48)6. Making Lean Six Sigma a Continuous Effort (23:26)7. Change Management Techniques that are Helpful (25:08) Link to the episode 'Law Firm Innovation' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfAHmG515a0&t=1s.

In this episode I chat with Josh Kubicki, a business designer and co-founder of the Bold Duck Studio, about design thinking for lawyers. We break down what design thinking is, its applicability to lawyers and lots more. The points we discuss in this episode along with the corresponding time stamps are set out below:1. Introduction (0:08)2. What is Design Thinking? (1:42)3. Relevance of Design Thinking for Lawyers (3:10)4. Reduction of Contract Size using Design Thinking (10:10)5. Kickstarting the Design Thinking Process (19:25)6. Knowing When to use Design Thinking (24:55)

In this episode I chat with Andrew Beasley, Regional Program Director at Clifford Chance, about fostering a culture of innovation in a law firm. We discuss several aspects of creating an environment of innovation starting from what exactly ‘innovation’ means, how to measure the impact of innovation and lots more. The points we discuss in this episode along with the corresponding time stamps are set out below: Introduction (0:08)What does the term 'Innovation' include? (1:48) Examples of the continuous improvement methodology and lean six sigma in a law firm. (6:09)Inculcating a culture of innovation in a law firm. (14:32)Measuring the impact of innovation. (19:27)Benefits of law firms collaborating with legal tech vendors (25:21)   

In this episode we chat with Lucy Bassli, Founder and Principal at the Innolaw Group about Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems. We discuss some of the fundamental concepts of a CLM system, what it includes, where to start, how to select a vendor and tips on improving adoption of the system. The points we discuss in this episode along with the corresponding time stamps are set out below: Introduction (0:08)What does a CLM system include? (1:45)Tips for Starting a CLM System (5:55)Focus Areas and Integrations in a CLM system (9:12)Selecting a vendor (14:33)Migration of Existing Contracts (20:14) Adoption strategies for Multiple Stakeholders (24:22) 

In this conversation we chat with Michael Quartararo, President of the ACEDS (Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists) about the basics of e-discovery. We address some of the typical questions a client would have when embarking on an e-discovery project. The points we discuss in this episode along with the corresponding time stamps are set out below: Introduction (0:09)What does the process of e-discovery look like? (1:58)What should a customer think about when starting an e-discovery project? (4:29)Who decides which e-discovery software to use? (6:50)What should I be considering when selecting an e-discovery service provider? (8:16)How do you ensure good project management on an e-discovery project with an off-shore team? (10:11)What integrations are typically requested for in an e-discovery project? (13:30)Why is it important to be certified? (16:33)How has the process of discovery evolved? (19:30) 

Listen to Nicole Giantonio, Chief Marketing Officer of Elevate discuss how an ALSP functions. We talk about the foundational elements of running a successful ALSP including how to seamlessly run operations across international borders and build trust with your clients. The points we discuss in this episode along with the corresponding time stamps are set out below:Introduction: (0:10)What exactly does an ALSP do? (1:41) How does an ALSP maintain the same quality of service when its operations are spread across countries? (4:31) What are the factors that a client should take into consideration when choosing an ALSP? (7:38)How do you get a law firm to feel comfortable outsourcing some of their work to an ALSP? (10:10)Elevate recently obtained an Alternative Business Structure license from the Arizona Supreme Court. What additional services can an entity provide once it has this license? (14:34)How do you assess typical concerns (like technology enabled review vs. human review, project management across different countries, etc.) of your client when engaging an ALSP? (16:28)

Listen to Catherine Bamford, CEO of BamLegal, break down the basics of document automation for every lawyer. She answers fundamental  questions like which documents to start with, who will do the automation, selection of the vendor and many more. The points we discuss in this episode along with the corresponding time stamps are set out below:Introduction (0:09)What documents should one start with when launching a document automation program from scratch? (1:48)Who typically inserts the automation tools into the precedents, the vendor, an implementation partner or the client? (5:41)Why do some law firms use more than one automation tool? (8:18)How do the newer 'no-code' tools compare with the traditional document automation tools? (11:27)What are the things that one should think about when selecting a document automation vendor? (15:33) How do the document automation tools address complexities within agreements, like changing the entity type, conditional clauses, etc.? (18:56)What are some of the common workflows that are automated along with the document? (22:45) 

Listen to Jack Shepherd, Legal Practice Lead from iManage talk about the essential features of a robust Knowledge Management system for lawyers. The points we discuss in this episode and their corresponding time stamps are set out below. Introduction (0:11)What is the scope of a Knowledge Management (KM) system? (1:24)How important is a KM system in the context of remote working and multi-location offices? (5:05)How do we keep a KM system up to date? (12:48)What are the kinds of insights and analysis that a KM tool can provide its users? (16:54)How do you prioritise user feedback on KM systems when working with your product management teams? (20:20)

Listen to Laura Collins Scott, founder of legal innovation consulting firm Sparkbox, talk about innovative strategies that lawyers should put in place before rolling out legal tech solutions. The points we discuss in this episode and their corresponding time stamps are set out below:Introduction (0:11)What types of change do you help with, and what is the process involved? (1:04)What have you found to be the most effective methods to drive change in the innovation space for lawyers? (6:01)What are some of the non-tech things that a lawyer can do to improve their productivity? (12:44)What are some of the people related challenges you encountered when building out Clifford Chance's innovation lab Create +65 and how did you address those? (18:40)How can law firms create a sustainable environment of continuous innovation? (23:20) 

In this episode we chat with Chuck Davis, Managing Director at Morae about implementations for Document Management Systems (DMSs). The points we address in this episode and the time stamps are set out below:Introduction: (0:11)Why does a DMS require an implementation? (1:20)What are the items an end user should think about before implementing a DMS? (5:28)How does a client prepare for a move from an on-premise DMS to a DMS on the cloud? (10:53)Please tell us more about your experiences during a migration from one DMS to a different DMS.  (14:02)What are the major driving forces for a corporate legal department to choose a DMS? (17:12)How does a Contract Lifecycle Management tool complement a DMS in a corporate legal department? (18:29)What was your first reaction when you received the acquisition offer from Morae for your IT services business? (20:19)