This episode of Automates features values-driven Caitlin McFee, Head of Growth at Capacity. Caitlin explains: Her reasons for getting behind the mission of Capacity and how it helps firms operate as better businessesThat firms must look beyond 'wellbeing days' to truly transforming the experience of working in a law firmUsing work allocation as a lever to affect changeThe inherent challenges in attempting to fundamentally change the way the legal industry worksBalancing the needs of the firm and the associates with the desire of the partner to have controlThe cultural differences between the UK and US in adopting techCreating an open and flexible startup culturePlus, here's a link to the referenced must sign up newsletter about everything the legal industry cares about https://legaldigest.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Our guest this episode is Greg Lambert, Chief Knowledge Services Officer at Jackson Walker, co-creator of 3 Geeks and a Law Blog and one half of The Geek in Review podcast, a true OG in the online legal sphere. Some standout points covered:The ease of information sharing within an industry as nuanced as the legal industryThe merits of an emerging technologies committeeHow listening to and understanding the business is the starting point for pinpointing the right solutions to their challenges, and the answer is not always technology!How the AI buzz can spark valuable conversations within the business that otherwise would not have come to beThe importance of delving beyond pouring data into LLMs but thinking about how to make use of that data and extract value The tough fact that using Generative AI to handle legal research is one of the hardest things you could do with Generative AI!Plus a two minute summary of changes in the macro environment over the last 20 years. And - he *only* received two sales emails from vendors pitching tech during the one hour recording of this session!

This episode, Ben speaks to Bighand CMO Briana McCrory about all things marketing. Bri offers her perspective on:The importance of company culture in encouraging long staff tenuresBuilding a marketing function around changing buyer behaviourEvolving from a single product company to a multi product companyThe value of data-led research reports at various stages of the buying journeyRapid growth and fostering a growth mindsetThe collaborative legal tech community - competitors or not!

Catriona Wolfenden talks us through her journey from reluctant solicitor to Product & Innovation Director at Weightmans.  Discussing the firm's (much to Ben's fascination) 34-strong Product & Innovation team, Catriona covers:Striking the right balance between virtual work and physically getting together with some sharpies and Post-Its.Maintaining culture when split across different offices and hybrid working arrangementsThe predicament that there are always way too many product & innovation projects than you can ever service The sometimes 'alien' function of sales within a law firmAdapting to wearing a software vendor hat The soft skills to look out for in fresh out of university legal engineersShifting from billable hours to the 'it's ok to fail' mentality of innovation And many more topics. Whether you're considering legal career, a law grad, an experienced lawyer looking to cross over to the world of innovation, a supplier or simply a legaltech fanatic, there's something for everyone here, folks!

Our guest this episode is Jason Dirkx, Director of Practice Technology Solutions at Paul Hastings. Jason offers some excellent insights into the law firm/tech vendor relationship and the optimal set up for a law firm's tech & innovation department.Some snippets:Contrary to popular opinion, lawyers don't need to learn to code or prompt, leave it to the experts!The law firm of the future recognises cross-discipline expertiseDon't think of the relationship as client and vendor, think of it as a partnershipStartups and tech companies don't always have to focus on growth at all costsInnovation teams aren't a deliberate blocker to successful legal tech sales

Catherine Bamford, CEO of BAM Legal, specializes in legal tech and community building. In this conversation, she shares insights on best practices for navigating the tech landscape and selecting solutions for law firms. Catherine discusses the importance of process mapping and embracing the complexities of legal workflows. She highlights the role of community in driving innovation within legal tech and how AI is reshaping document automation while stressing the need for human oversight. A fascinating dive into the future of law technology!

In this conversation, Alex Hamilton, the Founder of Radiant Law, shares his revolutionary approach to legal contracts through tech-driven tools. He emphasizes that fixed fee pricing shifts focus to client value and that relationships are central to contracts, which can often undermine them. Alex argues that automation should enhance human creativity instead of replacing it. He also discusses his ambition to win the Shingo Prize and reveals insights from his evolving book, 'Sign Here,' highlighting the importance of innovation in traditional legal practices.

Glenn LaForce, Chief Knowledge & Innovation Officer at Holland & Knight,  joins Ben on this episode of Automates, where he runs us through his illustrious career and discusses:Why you have to be aligned with your IT function in order to breed successHow dorm-storming the firm from all angles can ensure a smooth rollout of tech updatesThe difference between conducting a proof of value vs a proof of conceptWhy lawyers are really great at writing prompts, and they don't know itThe legaltech, KM & innovation community really is made up of the best people!With a healthy dose of camaraderie and stories of Pearl Jam, it's a great listen!

In a lively discussion, Alex Smith, Global Product Lead at iManage and an expert in Legaltech, shares his insights on the dynamics of product management teams in this sector. He emphasizes the rapid execution of change once a robust foundation is established. Alex also highlights the profound impact of market trends and the critical role of customer interaction in product development. Networking and mentorship are showcased as essential for professional growth. Ultimately, Alex connects all topics back to the importance of knowledge management in driving innovation and transformation in legal services.

This episode's guest is Tessa Bartley, Head of Legal Technology at Charles Russell Speechlys, who tells us about the firm's new department called Advanced Client Solutions, alongside covering topics such including:Topics covered include:Knowledge becoming strategic againHow experts in searching are poised to pivot to writing promptsShifting your culture to one that accepts constant changeUsing lawyers' competitive nature to your advantage!Embedding an innovation mindset into a firmPlus some choice analogies from Tess!