The Geek In Review

This week we welcome Raghu Ramanathan, President of Legal Professionals at Thomson Reuters, for an insightful discussion on the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the legal industry. Raghu shares why he believes the legal sector, alongside healthcare, stands at the forefront of the AI revolution. His journey into the legal tech world, driven by the transformative potential of AI, sets the stage for a deep dive into current trends, future predictions, and the strategic initiatives shaping the future of law. Central to the conversation is Raghu's updated perspective on the evolution of law firms, revisiting predictions he first made in 2017. He outlines a compelling framework describing "three waves" of AI adoption currently underway. The first wave, "Optimization," which many firms are experiencing now, focuses on using AI to enhance existing workflows, making tasks faster and more efficient. The second wave, "Re-engineering," involves fundamentally rethinking processes, staffing models (including the traditional pyramid structure), pricing strategies, and the very nature of legal work to leverage AI's capabilities more deeply. Looking further ahead, the third wave anticipates the emergence of entirely "New Business Models." Thomson Reuters is actively navigating and shaping this transformation, particularly through its AI platform, CoCounsel. Raghu highlights the rapid evolution of CoCounsel, emphasizing the continuous development of new "skills"—capabilities ranging from summarization and research to drafting and complex analysis like the innovative "Claims Explorer." He explains TR's strategy involves integrating proprietary data (like Westlaw), client-provided documents, and public information, leveraging advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) from various providers to deliver comprehensive and powerful AI assistance. Prioritizing new skill development involves balancing significant client value with technical feasibility, constantly informed by close collaboration with innovation-focused customers. Beyond law firms, the conversation explores the crucial role and adoption of AI within the court system. Raghu notes a surprising enthusiasm among courts, driven by the urgent need to address growing case backlogs and enhance access to justice within tight budgets. He points to Thomson Reuters' significant partnerships, including a major agreement to deploy AI tools across the US federal courts and ongoing collaboration with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), which is fostering education and policy discussions among judges and court staff nationwide. Complementing product innovation, TR's expanded "Customer Success" initiative underscores the importance of user adoption, providing dedicated resources and best practices to help lawyers and legal professionals effectively integrate AI tools into their daily workflows, ensuring technology translates into tangible value. Raghu anticipates that smaller and mid-sized law firms may initially leverage AI more aggressively as a competitive equalizer, pushing larger firms to make bolder, more strategic moves beyond simple optimization. He stresses that the ultimate differentiator for success in the AI era will likely be less about the technology itself and more about effective change management. The rapid pace of AI adoption already witnessed in the legal sector signals that this transformation is not a distant prospect but a present reality reshaping the industry at an unprecedented speed. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.] Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript

In this week’s Geek in Review, we sit down with Patrick Waldo, CEO of Unicorn Forms and proud Houstonian, to explore the intersections of data, document automation, and legal tech innovation. From the vibrant startup culture at Houston's ION and the Capital Factory's SXSW House event to the regulatory grind of form design, Waldo shares how his journey—from working in compliance-heavy industries to launching a playfully named but technically serious platform—is reshaping how we think about document-driven workflows. Waldo pulls back the curtain on Unicorn Forms’ approach to digitizing and structuring data trapped in PDFs. With a background in regulatory intelligence, he understands firsthand how critical, yet painfully inefficient, static documents can be. Unicorn Forms aims to transform the “eight-and-a-half-by-eleven world” into structured, field-driven digital tools. By mimicking the look and feel of familiar e-sign interfaces while embedding structured fields and integrations like Calendly or Stripe, the platform bridges the gap between legal formality and technical interoperability. Security and compliance are at the heart of the conversation as Waldo outlines the different levels of electronic trust, explaining how Unicorn Forms distinguishes itself with hashed documents, timestamp authorities, and encryption standards that exceed many traditional e-signature solutions. He highlights how many professionals—especially in legal, healthcare, and finance—aren’t aware of the risks they take when using non-secure PDFs for sensitive data like social security numbers or payment details. The episode also dives into the often-overlooked role of data ontologies in making government and enterprise forms interoperable. Waldo describes the complexity behind something as seemingly simple as a name or address field and how lack of standardization leads to inefficiencies and errors. By applying his years of ontology-building experience, Unicorn Forms aims to enable more intuitive, human-readable, and system-compatible data capture, with real-world use cases already in place—like improving film permitting processes for the Houston Film Commission. From a startup perspective, Waldo gets candid about fundraising challenges, the paradox of needing metrics to raise money and needing money to build metrics, and how early-stage companies must balance marketing, sales, and product development. He emphasizes the value of angel investors and local ecosystems like the ION and the Canon, while acknowledging the rising bar of investor expectations in today’s post-2023 funding environment. Finally, Waldo shares his philosophy behind the Unicorn Forms brand—born as an April Fool’s joke but grown into a conversation starter and signal for early adopters. With Party City swag, a pink logo, and a message that draws in the curious and the creative, Unicorn Forms is redefining legal tech not just through software, but through an intentional, approachable identity. As Waldo looks ahead, he sees opportunity in pairing strong data engineering with AI tools—not just to automate, but to make legal and regulatory processes smarter, faster, and more human-centered. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode.] Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript

This week, we sit down with Sam Flynn, COO and co-founder of Josef, to separate substance from hype in the rapidly evolving world of legal tech. Sam shares his passionate stance that “RAG is not dead,” defending Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) as a foundational and still deeply relevant method for deploying AI in the legal industry—despite the flashy allure of agentic AI. His nuanced take reminds listeners that success in this space depends not only on the sophistication of the technology, but on doing the “boring” foundational work: ensuring data integrity, context-aware chunking, and responsible workflows. Throughout the discussion, Sam champions the idea that great legal technology should not just enhance expert workflows but make legal information accessible to non-experts. With examples from Josef’s clients like L’Oréal, Bumble, and Bupa, Sam illustrates how Josef’s tools allow legal departments to offload routine work through reliable self-service systems—freeing up time for more strategic thinking while improving speed, compliance, and consistency across organizations. He makes the case that empowering end users with trustworthy tools isn’t just good tech—it’s a new model for scaling legal and compliance services. A key highlight is Josef’s Roxanne project, developed in collaboration with Housing Court Answers and NYU. Roxanne is an AI-powered tool designed to help tenants in New York navigate the complexities of housing law. Sam outlines the safeguards that ensure Roxanne’s answers are accurate and compliant, such as closed-domain data sources, human-in-the-loop validation, and smart escalation workflows. The conversation touches on the broader access to justice (A2J) implications of this technology—arguing that when designed carefully, AI can amplify the reach and impact of legal aid organizations by orders of magnitude. The episode doesn’t shy away from the tensions legal professionals feel when automation enters their domain. Sam offers a powerful reframing: instead of seeing these tools as a threat, lawyers should view them as opportunities to offload low-value tasks and expand their influence. The goal, he says, is not to cut jobs—but to redefine the kind of work legal professionals do, making space for more proactive, strategic, and meaningful engagements within organizations and communities. As the conversation wraps, Sam shares his optimism about the future—tempered by a clear-eyed understanding of the human factors that will determine success. While the technology is ready, the question is whether legal professionals will step up and take the lead. His call to action is clear: focus less on the hype, and more on the systems, safety, and trust that make tech transformative. Whether you're a legal technologist, innovator, or cautious observer, this episode offers a grounded and inspiring look at what it takes to build legal tech that actually works. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Special Thanks to ⁠Legal Technology Hub⁠ for their sponsoring this episode. Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript

This week we sit down with Sean West—co-founder of Hence Technologies and author of Unruly: Fighting Back When Politics and Law Upend the Rules of Business. Together, they explore the shifting fault lines where law, technology, and geopolitics collide. From the growing reliance on generative AI in legal work to the erosion of rule of law and the emerging threats (and opportunities) facing knowledge workers, Sean offers a strikingly global—and at times unsettling—view of the legal profession's next frontier. The conversation kicks off with a discussion on the Law360 survey showing that 62% of lawyers are using ChatGPT in some aspect of their work. Sean explains the popularity of general-purpose AI tools over legal-specific ones as a matter of price, accessibility, and perceived innovation. While lawyers trust themselves to edit AI outputs, Sean warns that this passive use of AI could slowly and invisibly displace traditional legal roles, without firms consciously realizing what’s been lost. The discussion deepens as Sean introduces the idea of passive job displacement—where tasks once assigned to junior lawyers, interns, or external vendors are quietly absorbed by AI tools. He likens it to carrying "a quarter of a human brain in your pocket" for $20 a month. What starts as convenience becomes infrastructure, and over time, demand for human input declines. He also questions the long-term viability of legal tech products that can’t clearly outperform generalist AIs like ChatGPT or Claude. Sean then draws on his geopolitical expertise to underscore the urgent need for situational awareness in law firms and businesses alike. He explains how political volatility—from China and Taiwan to Europe’s regulatory tactics—can suddenly reshape the legal landscape. Rather than relying on traditional prediction models or complex advisory plans that get shelved, Sean emphasizes proactive legal scenario planning. His new product, Hence Global, offers a “geo-legal” lens on global news, customized for specific legal practice areas to help firms act instead of react. We push further into the implications of “front-stabbing” politics, where once-hidden power plays are now openly transactional. Sean describes a world where AI-driven lobbying, mass arbitration spam, and “robot lawyers” can reshape public policy or flood companies with legal claims at scale. He argues that when the rules are ambiguous, large players will push boundaries—and smaller players may get squeezed out. In a world without a clear referee, the game favors those who can afford better tools and faster moves. Finally, Sean challenges legal and corporate leaders to stop avoiding the hard conversations. Whether embracing AI to boost productivity or choosing to protect jobs, organizations must be transparent. “Let’s front-stab about it,” he says. Make your commitments public—whether you're retraining your workforce or doubling down on AI-driven efficiency. Because in a world where legal, political, and technological lines blur, silence isn’t just unhelpful—it’s a risk. Links and Mentions: Learn more about Unruly and Sean’s work at https://hence.ai Subscribe to Sean’s newsletter: https://geolegal.substack.com Try Hence Global with a discount: global.hence.ai – use promo code GEEK for one-third off Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript

This week we welcome Chan Hee-Koh, CEO and co-founder, and Justin Brownstone, Strategic Partnership Lead at FileRead. As legal professionals and tech enthusiasts gear up for LegalWeek, the conversation starts with some lighthearted banter about the best places to visit in New York—including a passionate endorsement of Angelina in Paris' hot chocolate. However, the discussion quickly turns toward the evolving role of AI in the legal industry and how FileRead is shaping the future of litigation technology. Chan shares the deeply personal story that inspired FileRead’s creation: his immigrant family’s experience during the 2008 housing crisis. Seeing how legal services were out of reach for many due to the complexity and cost of litigation, he set out to develop a platform that could make legal discovery and fact-finding more accessible and efficient. FileRead focuses on litigation-specific AI applications, aiming to streamline document review, build stronger factual narratives, and uncover hidden stories within vast amounts of case data. The discussion also touches on the industry's skepticism toward AI and the need for legal tech companies to build trust and demonstrate real value. The conversation then turns to FileRead’s recent growth and roadmap for 2025. Having secured a $6 million seed funding round and a strategic partnership with Simplify, the company is expanding its capabilities beyond Relativity to offer a standalone AI-powered litigation analysis platform. Justin highlights how FileRead’s technology goes beyond standard eDiscovery tools by enabling instant document analysis, chronology building, and memo drafting—tasks that traditionally take weeks of manual work. The team is also working on developing litigation workflows that will automate complex fact-checking processes, helping lawyers assess case strengths and identify missing evidence more efficiently. A key theme of the episode is the legal industry’s slow but inevitable adoption of AI. Chan and Justin discuss how legal workflows are fundamentally different from those in other industries due to the uncertainty and unpredictability of litigation. Unlike transactional law, where contracts and compliance processes are more standardized, litigation involves a constantly shifting landscape where new evidence and legal arguments can completely change the direction of a case. The hosts and guests explore how AI is beginning to bridge the gap between human expertise and technological efficiency, making legal work more strategic and less burdened by repetitive document review. As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on the rapid evolution of legal technology. Greg and Marlene note that while AI has been discussed in legal tech for years, the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) have dramatically accelerated in just the last two years. Chan and Justin acknowledge that staying ahead in this fast-moving space requires constant experimentation and adaptation. However, they emphasize that while technology can enhance legal work, people remain at the center of the industry. AI should be seen as a tool that empowers attorneys rather than replaces them. To learn more about FileRead, visit FileRead.com, or reach out directly to Chan and Justin via email. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript

This week, we welcome back Ed Walters, Chief Strategy Officer at vLex, to discuss the latest advancements in legal AI. The conversation covers the evolving role of AI in legal research, the integration of multimodal AI capabilities, and the ethical considerations surrounding the technology. With the rapid pace of innovation in AI-powered tools, Walters provides insights into how vLex is adapting and pushing the boundaries of legal technology. His perspective underscores the importance of structured legal data, security measures, and law firms leveraging their proprietary data for competitive advantage. One of the key topics discussed is the impact of reasoning models in AI-powered legal research. Walters notes how tools such as OpenAI, Gemini, and Anthropic’s latest models are transforming legal workflows by enabling more sophisticated research capabilities. These tools allow for more human-like interactions with AI, increasing efficiency in knowledge work by reducing non-billable research time. Walters emphasizes that while these advancements are impressive, legal professionals should always verify AI-generated content, ensuring that human judgment remains the final step in legal analysis. A particularly exciting development discussed in the interview is vLex’s recent integration of multimodal AI capabilities, enabling the analysis of audio and video files. Walters explains how this feature allows lawyers to transcribe and analyze depositions, oral arguments, and client intake interviews securely within Vincent AI’s SOC 2 Type 2 compliant environment. This breakthrough provides legal professionals with enhanced efficiency in document review and litigation preparation, reinforcing vLex’s commitment to transparency and usability. The discussion highlights how these features bridge the gap between traditional and AI-powered legal workflows, streamlining processes while maintaining high-security standards. The conversation also explores vLex’s integration of docket alarms into litigation workflows, allowing legal professionals to generate comprehensive profiles of opposing counsel and judges. This tool enables lawyers to analyze patterns in case filings, settlement tendencies, and motion success rates. Walters emphasizes that the ability to synthesize vast amounts of structured litigation data provides firms with a strategic advantage. However, he also acknowledges the ethical implications, stressing the need for transparency in AI-generated insights to maintain the integrity of legal practice. Finally, Walters shares his thoughts on the future of legal AI, predicting a shift toward the integration of law firms’ proprietary data with public datasets. He highlights vLex’s new initiative, Vincent Studio, which allows firms to create bespoke AI-driven workflows tailored to their specific needs. This, he argues, is the next frontier in legal tech, where law firms transition from passive AI adoption to active AI-driven innovation. As the industry continues to evolve, Walters reinforces the idea that while AI enhances legal practice, human expertise and oversight remain irreplaceable. His insights provide a compelling vision of how legal professionals can leverage AI to augment, rather than replace, their legal expertise. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript

This week on The Geek in Review, we welcome Zach Posner, co-founder and managing director of The Legal Tech Fund. Zach brings a dynamic mix of first‐hand experience and visionary insight into the world of legal tech investments. The conversation kicks off with a discussion of recent high-profile funding rounds—such as Harvey’s $300 million raise—and the growing influx of generalist VC interest in the legal space. This episode sets the stage by framing legal tech as a rapidly evolving market that’s finally getting the spotlight it deserves. Decoding Funding Dynamics and Early-Stage Challenges A key portion of the discussion centers on the inefficiencies of early-stage funding in the legal tech arena. Zach explains that, unlike public markets with readily available metrics, early-stage investments rely heavily on personal relationships and entrepreneurial trust. He highlights how the lack of data and public comparables makes each handshake a significant moment of risk and opportunity. The dialogue provides listeners with an insider’s perspective on why leadership credibility and entrepreneurial vision are often more critical than raw business metrics in legal tech startups. Community Building and Collaborative Innovation Another major theme in the conversation is the importance of community and collaboration. Zach underscores that the Legal Tech Fund isn’t just about injecting capital—it’s about cultivating an ecosystem where startups, law firms, and legal departments work hand-in-hand. The fund’s unique approach of engaging with 65 different portfolio companies daily has fostered a network that benefits from shared insights and strategic partnerships. This community-first approach, according to Zach, is instrumental in driving both innovation and seamless product integration for legal professionals. Embracing AI and User-Centric Solutions The conversation takes a forward-looking turn as Zach discusses how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing legal workflows. While many legal tech innovations focus on enhancing efficiency, he stresses that creating an exceptional user experience is paramount. Zach notes that the rapidly evolving AI landscape demands that legal tech startups not only keep pace with technological advancements but also prioritize intuitive design and seamless integration. This approach helps ensure that even as technology becomes more powerful, it remains accessible and directly relevant to the end user. Looking Ahead: The Future of Legal Tech Wrapping up the episode, Zach offers a crystal ball view of the future, predicting that the next few years will see even more dramatic changes in legal tech. From AI-driven workflow automation to innovative partnerships between law firms and startups, the sector is poised for transformative growth. He encourages legal professionals to experiment, learn continuously, and stay curious about emerging technologies. For listeners eager to explore further, Zach directs them to legaltech.com and TLTFsummit.com, promising more insights and upcoming announcements. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the convergence of law, technology, and innovation. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript

In this episode of The Geek in Review, we welcome back Legal Tech and Security industry experts, Ken Jones and Josh Smith, to discuss the upcoming ILTA Evolve Conference. Reflecting on last year’s focus on AI potential, we discussed how the legal tech landscape is shifting towards practical applications of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in 2025. Josh and Ken share their insights for legal professionals eager to understand current trends and the real-world impact of emerging technologies. Throughout our discussion, we highlighted the shift from the “what ifs” of AI to tangible, real-world use cases. Josh emphasized that this year, ILTA Evolve is focused on cost-saving AI applications and enhancing productivity, while Ken referenced the Gartner Hype Cycle to illustrate the movement from initial hype to actionable outcomes. The discussion underscores the importance of practical implementation in legal technology for anyone involved in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. We get the behind-the-scenes process of curating ILTA Evolve content, showcasing how volunteer session coordinators and a diverse committee work together. By gathering input from industry experts, soliciting innovative ideas via LinkedIn, and balancing quantitative feedback with qualitative insights, Ken and Josh made sure that the conference features a wide range of topics. This collaborative approach not only enriches the legal tech experience but also makes ILTA Evolve an event where every legal professional can find valuable takeaways. One of the episode’s focal points was Tara Wheeler’s keynote, “Navigating the Digital Frontier.” Ken and Josh share their excitement about her deep dive into the intersection of AI and cybersecurity—a topic that mirrors our own discussions on legal tech advancements. In addition to high-caliber educational sessions, there is extensive networking opportunities at ILTA Evolve, including interactive workshops, built-in networking breaks, and engaging social events. These elements are critical for fostering professional connections in the legal technology community. As our conversation wrapped up, we looked forward to the future of legal tech and the evolving challenges in data governance, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. We shared our thoughts on how rapid technological advancements call for a balance between automation and human expertise. Despite the complexities of emerging legal tech trends, we remain optimistic that ILTA Evolve will continue to educate, connect, and inspire the legal tech community well into the future. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Evolving Legal Tech Trends: From Theory to PracticeCollaborative Theme Selection & Diverse ContentHighlighting Keynotes and Networking OpportunitiesFuture Challenges and Opportunities in Legal TechBlue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript

This week, we sit down with Wendy Jephson, CEO and founder of Let's Think, to explore how behavioral science is revolutionizing knowledge management and decision-making in legal organizations. Drawing from her extensive experience at NASDAQ and in legal tech, Jephson shares valuable insights into capturing tacit knowledge and improving critical thinking through technology. The conversation delves into how Let's Think is addressing one of the legal industry's most pressing challenges: capturing and transferring the valuable knowledge locked in experts' minds. Jephson explains their innovative approach of using behavioral science methodologies combined with AI to extract, structure, and share tacit knowledge within organizations. The discussion highlights how this technology not only preserves crucial expertise but also enhances client relationships and improves fee recovery rates. A significant portion of the episode focuses on the intersection of behavioral science and legal technology. Jephson outlines how Let's Think's platform serves as a "thinking partner" for legal professionals, helping them develop strategic thinking skills while preserving institutional knowledge. The discussion explores how this approach differs from traditional automation-focused legal tech solutions by emphasizing the enhancement rather than replacement of human expertise. The hosts and Jephson examine the practical implications of behavioral science-based technology for law firms, particularly in addressing challenges such as knowledge transfer between senior and junior lawyers, improving client communications, and justifying complex legal work. The conversation highlights how this approach can lead to better understanding of legal work's value, potentially reducing write-offs and improving client satisfaction. The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion about the future of legal tech and women-led startups in the legal industry. Jephson shares her optimistic perspective on the increasing acceptance of AI in legal practice and the growing presence of women in legal technology leadership roles, suggesting a transformative period ahead for the legal industry. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transcript

This week, we welcomeGabriela “Gaby” Isturiz—a serial entrepreneur, legal tech pioneer, and co-founder ofThe XX Fund. Gaby’s impressive background includes building multiple high-growth SaaS companies that were acquired by Fortune 500 firms, and her transition into venture capital has fueled a mission to support women-led startups. The conversation sets the stage by delving into the rapid evolution of legal tech, with a special focus on the challenges and opportunities presented by generative AI. Gaby dives into the transformative impact of generative AI on the legal tech landscape. She highlights how startups are racing to adopt the latest AI capabilities yet warns that simply labeling a product as “AI-powered” does not guarantee success. Drawing on research that compared customer responses to landing pages with and without explicit AI mentions, she underscores the critical importance of balancing technological buzzwords with clear, tangible value propositions. For enterprise customers, the promise of AI must translate into concrete benefits rather than inflated expectations. The discussion then shifts to the hurdles of scaling a legal tech business. Gaby explains that the journey from achieving problem-solution fit to securing product-market fit involves a series of challenges—from attracting early customers and retaining them, to navigating the complexities of scaling operations and talent acquisition. In an industry where incumbents hold significant distribution advantages, Gaby advises startups to adopt a laser-focused approach. By outperforming established players in specific niches and iterating rapidly, nimble startups can gain a foothold even against the so-called 800-pound gorillas of the market. A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to exploring the mission behind The XX Fund. Gaby shares her personal journey—from leaving a high-paying role to build solutions that truly matter, to her realization that mentorship and strategic investment could empower the next generation of women founders. She explains how The XX Fund specifically targets early-stage tech and tech-enabled companies with valuations under $10 million, aiming to address the stark funding disparities faced by women-led ventures. Gaby’s passion for providing both capital and access resonates throughout the conversation, as she emphasizes that creating an inclusive ecosystem benefits the entire industry. Looking ahead, Gaby offers a forward-looking perspective on the future of legal tech and professional services. She predicts that while technological advancements like AI will continue to disrupt workflows and streamline operations, the real challenge lies in mastering go-to-market strategies. Legal tech startups must not only innovate but also clearly communicate the value of their solutions to a market inundated with new tools and applications. Gaby’s crystal ball insight reminds us that success in this rapidly changing environment depends on a delicate balance between technological prowess and strategic customer engagement, ensuring that innovation translates into sustainable growth. Links: Customers don't care about your AI featureThe Fund XXGaby's LinkedIn Newsletter (Build Legal Tech)Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT

This week we welcome back Karen Dunn Skinner and David Skinner, founders of Gimbal Consulting, to discuss a revolutionary approach to legal efficiency. Their latest book, The Power Zone Playbook for Lawyers, provides a step-by-step guide to optimizing legal workflows, enhancing productivity, and preventing burnout. With over two decades of experience in legal process improvement and law firm management, Karen and David share their insights on how lawyers can focus on high-value tasks, delegate strategically, and build thriving practices without sacrificing well-being. A major theme of this conversation revolves around the concept of the Power Zone, which is defined by three key pillars: work that lawyers are uniquely qualified to do, work they are passionate about, and work that delivers the most value. By identifying these core strengths, legal professionals can reduce inefficiencies, optimize workflows, and shift their focus to strategic tasks. The discussion also introduces The Delegation Quadrant, a powerful framework for assigning work effectively, ensuring that lawyers concentrate on their most impactful contributions while leveraging legal assistants, technology, and automation for lower-value tasks. Another key highlight is the role of AI and automation in legal practice, particularly in light of recent innovations like DeepSeek's AI-powered legal reasoning model. Karen and David discuss the impact of AI tools in streamlining repetitive legal work, improving access to justice, and increasing efficiency in small firms. However, they emphasize that while AI can handle routine processes, the true value of a lawyer lies in the transformation they provide to clients—whether in business transactions, litigation, or personal legal matters. As legal technology evolves, firms must adapt by embracing new tools while maintaining a strong client-centered approach. Beyond technology, Karen and David explore how shifting away from the traditional billable hour model can lead to greater profitability and client satisfaction. Flat-fee pricing and value-based billing strategies allow lawyers to align their interests with their clients while enhancing efficiency. They also discuss how different generations of lawyers approach work-life integration, highlighting the importance of early career planning, self-awareness, and continuous professional development. By adopting a Power Zone mindset, attorneys at any stage in their career can reduce stress, increase their impact, and build more sustainable legal careers. For lawyers looking to take control of their practice, maximize their strengths, and embrace strategic efficiency, The Power Zone Playbook is a must-read. The book provides practical tools, real-world case studies, and actionable insights to help legal professionals optimize their workflow. Grab a copy of The Power Zone Playbook for Lawyers on Amazon and explore Gimbal Consulting’s coaching programs at LeanLegal.academy. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Geek in Review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube to stay updated on the latest insights in legal innovation. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@geeklawblog.com⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT

This week, we are joined by Atena Reyhani, Chief Product Officer at ContractPodAi, for an engaging discussion on the intersection of AI innovation and the legal industry. Atena brings her deep expertise in AI-driven product development and shares insights into the trends shaping legal technology and how ContractPodAI is at the forefront of this transformation. The conversation kicks off with a focus on the prevalence of conversational user interfaces (CUIs) in modern legal tech tools. Atena explains that CUIs, inspired by platforms like ChatGPT, are intuitive and reduce the cognitive load for users, making adoption easier. “Conversational user experience is now one of the ways of interacting with super intelligence,” she notes, highlighting how this design helps bridge the gap between human communication and AI capabilities. Atena also predicts a future shift towards deeper human-AI collaboration, moving beyond simple interactions to robust tools that integrate seamlessly with user workflows. When asked about the challenge of brand differentiation in a landscape where many tools appear similar, Atena emphasizes the importance of moving from basic chatbots to comprehensive, end-to-end solutions. She points to the rise of agentic AI, where multiple AI agents work together to provide dynamic, actionable insights. According to Atena, “AI can now analyze information, outsource tasks, and dynamically engage multiple AI agents to perform end-to-end operations,” paving the way for truly intelligent legal platforms. Atena delves into how ContractPodAi leverages AI to address real-world challenges in legal operations. With its Lea AI solution, the company has expanded beyond contract lifecycle management (CLM) to broader enterprise applications such as compliance and obligation management. Atena reveals an exciting new initiative, the Lea Marketplace, which she describes as “a one-stop shop for enterprise legal GenAI,” likening it to the Salesforce or Microsoft Marketplace. This platform will enable partners and subject matter experts to accelerate innovation through collaborative, industry-specific solutions. Reflecting on her career in AI and her recognition as an award-winning innovator, Atena speaks passionately about the tangible impact of AI on businesses and individuals. She also underscores the importance of diversity in technology development, stating, “Women bring a diverse perspective that is crucial for innovation.” Atena encourages more women to step into leadership roles and shape the future of AI and legal tech. The episode concludes with Atena’s predictions for the legal tech industry. She identifies key challenges, including aligning AI capabilities with organizational needs and ensuring effective user adoption. “It’s one thing to have the technology and another to use it to its full potential,” she observes, stressing the importance of strategic deployment, training, and change management. Atena’s optimistic vision underscores the vast opportunities for AI to revolutionize legal operations. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@glambertpod⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Transcript

This week we welcome Bobby Puglia, Chief Product Officer at Bloomberg Industry Group, to discuss Bloomberg Law's latest generative AI-powered tools: Bloomberg Law Answers and Bloomberg Law AI Assistant. Bobby provides an insightful look into how these tools are designed to revolutionize legal research by making it faster, more intuitive, and seamlessly integrated into users' workflows. The conversation begins with a discussion about the challenges of capturing the attention of legal professionals and the strategies that can bridge the gap between innovation and adoption. Addressing "Tool Fatigue" and Driving Innovation Adoption Bobby delves into the strategies behind overcoming "tool fatigue," a common challenge in the legal industry. He highlights the importance of understanding specific user pain points and delivering targeted solutions. Marlene shares how peer advocates within law firms can champion the adoption of new tools, while Greg emphasizes the need for tailoring communication to align with the unique needs of different legal professionals. These insights reveal Bloomberg's thoughtful approach to encouraging the adoption of its cutting-edge tools. Inside Bloomberg Law Answers and AI Assistant Bobby explains how Bloomberg Law Answers uses generative AI to provide concise, transparent answers directly in search results. With citations and detailed attributions, the tool seamlessly integrates into existing workflows. Meanwhile, the AI Assistant offers a groundbreaking way to interact with legal documents—allowing users to summarize, interrogate, and ask specific questions confined to the document’s "four corners." These tools are designed to save time and enhance productivity for attorneys and legal researchers. User-Centric Design and Quality Assurance The discussion highlights Bloomberg's user-focused development process, including its Innovation Studio, which uses pre-beta testing to refine tools based on user feedback. Bobby outlines how this iterative approach improves content sourcing, interface design, and overall functionality. Robust benchmarking, guardrails, and human-in-the-loop testing ensure that Bloomberg’s AI tools maintain the highest standards of accuracy and reliability. The Future of AI in Legal Workflows Looking ahead, Bobby shares his vision for generative AI’s role in reshaping the legal industry. He predicts a future of integrated, customizable workflows that reduce time spent on routine tasks, allowing legal professionals to focus on high-value work. The conversation also explores how Bloomberg plans to expand its AI Assistant to tackle broader research tasks, streamline navigation, and enable seamless integration with platforms like Microsoft. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blue Sky: ⁠⁠@glambertpod⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@marlgeb⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT

This week, we kick off the new year with Patrick Ip, co-founder and CEO of Theo AI. Patrick joins the podcast to discuss his journey from Google to entrepreneurship and how his company is leveraging AI to transform legal workflows. As the legal industry begins to embrace AI, Patrick shares his unique perspective on opportunities, challenges, and the ethical considerations surrounding these groundbreaking technologies. The conversation begins with a fascinating discussion about a recent pro se lawsuit where AI tools like OpenAI’s GPT-4 and others played a pivotal role in drafting a complex complaint. Patrick and the hosts delve into the implications of this case for legal professionals, highlighting the advancements in AI’s capabilities and the need for caution when non-experts wield these tools. The discussion provides a critical lens on the ethics, risks, and reliability of integrating AI into the legal process. Patrick shares the inspiring backstory of Theo AI, rooted in his rich professional journey, which spans work at the United Nations, launching startups, and being part of a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated project at Google. At Theo AI, Patrick has combined his entrepreneurial spirit with his legal expertise to develop tools that make legal predictions more accessible and reliable. From managing client expectations to transforming litigation funding, Theo AI’s innovative use of synthetic and firm-level data is driving efficiencies and fostering better decision-making across the legal landscape. The discussion also ventures into the practical applications of Theo AI, particularly for litigation funders and law firms. Patrick explains how Theo AI compresses case review time from weeks to mere minutes, offering predictive insights that help legal professionals assess case viability, manage risk, and optimize workflows. He emphasizes the role of trust and transparency in AI development, ensuring the technology is both robust and aligned with ethical practices. As the episode concludes, Patrick reflects on the future of AI in the legal industry, forecasting that the most transformative advancements will seamlessly integrate into existing tools like Microsoft Word and Outlook. He also shares his broader philosophy of balancing work with personal passions, drawing inspiration from his experiences as an entrepreneur, coffee aficionado, and triathlete. This engaging conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving role of AI in legal technology and beyond. Links: Theo AI webpagePatrick Ip (LinkedIn) Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blue Sky: ⁠@glambertpod⁠ ⁠@marlgeb⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT

This week, Greg Lambert sits down with Tom Dunlop, CEO and founder of Summize, and Laura Proctor, Chief Marketing Officer, to explore the evolution and impact of Summize in the contract lifecycle management (CLM) space. From its innovative beginnings to its strategic positioning in a competitive market, this discussion unveils the strategies, challenges, and future trends shaping legal technology. Tom Dunlop shares the frustrations that sparked the idea for Summize, recounting his days as an in-house lawyer overwhelmed by the manual review of locked PDF contracts during due diligence. “It was painstaking,” Tom recalls, “I knew there had to be a better way.” Teaming up with a software engineer, he sought to create a tool that could generate instant, usable summaries of contracts. Thus, Summize was born, tackling not only legal pain points but also bridging communication gaps between legal teams and broader business units. Laura Proctor highlights Summize’s unique approach to embedding its tools within widely used platforms like Microsoft Word, Slack, and Teams. This strategy ensures lawyers and business users can collaborate seamlessly without leaving their existing workflows. “Why ask lawyers to leave Word when they already love working there?” Laura explains, emphasizing Summize’s commitment to user-centric design. This integration not only enhances efficiency but also shifts the perception of legal teams from bottlenecks to enablers. Central to Summize’s implementation is their “Hero Framework,” a three-step process designed to reduce legal bottlenecks, enhance efficiency, and track progress with actionable analytics. Tom explains, “We focus on reducing low-value, high-volume tasks, enabling self-service for the business, and then optimizing legal workflows.” This framework has even led to unexpected benefits, such as elevating the “personal brand” of legal teams within organizations. Laura delves into the differences between US and UK markets, noting that US buyers often have prior experience with CLM tools, while UK customers may be making their first purchase. This distinction shapes Summize’s marketing and implementation strategies, with a focus on ensuring rapid time-to-value and addressing previous pain points. “In the US, it’s about reassurance and quick wins,” she explains, highlighting the importance of tailoring approaches to meet varying customer needs. Looking ahead, Tom envisions a future where AI moves beyond single tasks to orchestrate complex workflows, potentially disrupting the billable hour model and democratizing access to legal knowledge. “If we can monetize legal knowledge rather than time, we could 10x the market,” he predicts. Laura adds that Summize will continue leaning into creativity and differentiation in an increasingly crowded market, ensuring their solutions remain bold and memorable. This episode is a deep dive into the innovative strategies that are redefining CLM and the broader legal tech landscape. From the practical application of AI to enhancing legal collaboration, Summize offers a glimpse into the transformative potential of technology in the legal world. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blue Sky: @glambertpod @marlgeb ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT

In this special year-end episode of The Geek in Review, Greg Lambert takes listeners on a unique journey through the past year’s 50 episodes, all with the help of Google’s NotebookLM audio overview tool. Inspired by Josh Kubicki of the Brainyiacs Newsletter, Greg experiments with this cutting-edge AI tool to synthesize and discuss the key themes, guests, and topics covered throughout 2024. The result is an innovative meta-conversation between Greg and AI-generated co-hosts, offering insights into the future of law and legal technology. Key Themes from 2024: The episodes this year highlighted critical shifts in the legal landscape, from the integration of generative AI to the rise of client-centric practices. Technology’s impact on efficiency, mental health, and the evolving role of lawyers emerged as recurrent topics. Discussions also included the push for ethical AI adoption, flat-fee models, and the importance of balancing professional and personal lives, particularly in the “Love and Legal Tech” series. NotebookLM reflected on these trends, offering a synthesized perspective on how the legal industry is adapting to innovation. Generative AI and Legal Tech: Generative AI dominated discussions, with guests exploring its transformative potential and the skills needed to leverage it effectively. While some feared job displacement, most viewed AI as an augmentation tool, enabling lawyers to focus on higher-value tasks. Leaders like Dr. Megan Ma and Conrad Everhard shared groundbreaking projects, such as an M&A negotiation simulator, exemplifying AI’s capabilities. The conversation underscored the necessity for prompt engineering skills and ethical considerations in AI deployment. Data Management, Security, and Transparency: The importance of robust data management and security was a consistent theme, with experts like Kelly Griswold emphasizing it as a foundational business function. Conversations also explored “garbage in, garbage out” scenarios, the need for explainable AI, and maintaining client trust through transparency. These discussions highlighted how firms must prioritize governance to ensure responsible and effective AI use. Collaboration, Social Impact, and Access to Justice: The legal tech community’s collaborative spirit shone through in initiatives like Baker Donelson’s Legal Design Lab and Tom Martin’s LawDroid, which aim to make legal services more accessible. Guests celebrated the social impact of innovative tools designed to reduce barriers to justice and foster inclusivity. These efforts reflect a broader commitment to using technology to address systemic inequities in the legal system. Looking Ahead: Wrapping up the year, Greg revisits the podcast’s hallmark “Crystal Ball” question, noting common predictions for the next two to five years. From AI’s continued evolution to shifts in pricing models and the rise of emotional intelligence in leadership, the future of law promises to be dynamic. This episode not only recaps a transformative year but also sets the stage for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Tune in to this engaging recap as Greg Lambert merges legal innovation with AI technology to reflect on an extraordinary year for The Geek in Review. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this year-end episode of The Geek in Review, hosts Marlene Gebauer and Greg Lambert are joined by legal tech experts Niki Black, Principal Legal Insight Strategist at AffiniPay, and Sarah Glassmeyer, Director of Data Curation at Legal Technology Hub, to recap the top stories of 2024. From the evolution of generative AI in legal tech to groundbreaking acquisitions, the conversation delves into the successes and challenges that shaped the year in the legal industry. The discussion kicks off with a look at AI's growing role in legal research and practice management. Greg recalls the controversial Stanford report that questioned the reliability of AI tools marketed as hallucination-free. The guests explore the importance of unbiased evaluations, the complexity of defining legal research, and the rapid pace of AI development that often outpaces regulatory and academic studies. Sarah highlights the need for peer-reviewed analysis to guide the effective use of these tools, while Niki emphasizes the user-friendly interfaces that generative AI brings to legal software. Marlene shifts the conversation toward the challenges of integrating AI into law firms’ existing frameworks. The hosts and guests discuss the hesitancy of document management systems to adopt generative AI due to trust and security concerns. Niki and Sarah examine how firms are adapting to AI by organizing data more effectively and addressing client expectations. They also reflect on the potential of AI to bridge access-to-justice gaps, with tools that empower self-represented litigants and underserved communities. The episode takes a closer look at notable mergers and acquisitions in 2024, such as Bloomberg’s acquisition of Dashboard Legal and Thomson Reuters’ purchase of SafeSign Technologies. Sarah raises concerns about the consolidation of the legal tech market, warning of diminished innovation and competition. Niki observes how cloud-based technologies have facilitated these integrations, making it easier for companies to offer comprehensive solutions that touch multiple aspects of legal practice. Wrapping up, the group forecasts trends for 2025, including regulatory developments around AI and shifting priorities within law firms regarding tech adoption. While some predictions are cautious, like Sarah’s concern over the impact of external political factors on the tech workforce, others remain optimistic about the growing sophistication of legal tech. The episode concludes with reflections on how the industry can better prepare junior lawyers and law students to navigate an increasingly AI-driven landscape. Join Marlene, Greg, Niki, and Sarah for this insightful look back at 2024 and an exciting glimpse into the year ahead. As always, we thank our listeners for tuning in, and we encourage you to share this episode with colleagues and connect with us on LinkedIn or Blue Sky! Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT

This week on The Geek in Review, we sit down with Mark Doble, Co-Founder and CEO of Alexi, to discuss the state of AI-driven tools in the legal industry and how they are evolving to meet the needs of modern litigation practices. The conversation begins with a timely debate on measuring productivity in remote work settings. Doble, coming from a background in both law and software engineering, draws intriguing parallels between how legal services and software development measure output and efficiency. Moving on to Alexi’s core offering, Doble delves into how the platform is currently being used by litigators. He explains that Alexi’s AI technology not only handles the tedious work of research and memo drafting but also provides opportunities for lawyers to explore creative, strategic approaches to cases. By automating routine tasks, Alexi empowers attorneys to focus on high-level legal reasoning and client goals, rather than sifting through mountains of documents. A key aspect of the discussion centers on the ways in which AI tools, like Alexi, can transform junior associate work. Instead of solely performing rote research or document review, younger lawyers can now leverage these tools as teaching aids, accelerating their path to deeper legal understanding. Doble emphasizes that as automation becomes more sophisticated, the human lawyer’s role in guiding strategy and exercising judgment grows ever more critical. Doble then addresses concerns around data security and confidentiality. He reiterates that while the underlying technology is evolving, core principles of security remain the same—encrypting data, controlling access, and ensuring that information is never inadvertently trained into the model’s outputs. He acknowledges emerging questions around work product and privilege but sees them as part of the natural adaptation cycle in adopting new technology. Finally, looking ahead, Doble hints at a significant upcoming announcement from Alexi early next year. He suggests that this new release will push beyond current capabilities, bridging the gap between mere information retrieval and genuine “legal reasoning” support. While keeping details under wraps, Doble leaves listeners with a vision of AI as a true partner in litigation, promising exponential improvements that will redefine how attorneys practice law. Links: Alexi websitelexi LinkedInMark’s LinkedInAlexi X(Twitter)Alexi announcement blog post Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT

This week we welcome Jane Oxley, Chief Revenue Officer at Smokeball, to discuss the pivotal role of communication in legal organizations and how AI is transforming legal practice management. While normally in Australia, we were lucky enough to find Jane while she was working in Chicago, Jane shares her global perspective on communication challenges, bridging time zones, and the creative ways Smokeball leverages technology to streamline law firm operations. Co-host, Greg Lambert kicked off the show by introducing the concept of “Lambert’s Law,” highlighting that “all problems are communication problems,” setting the tone for an insightful discussion on organizational efficiency. Jane explains how effective communication structures can reveal the health of an organization, whether through Slack’s rapid exchanges or more traditional law firm channels like email and face-to-face meetings. She notes the unique challenges faced by smaller firms, particularly their focus on casework over internal collaboration. Smokeball addresses these needs by integrating AI tools that help firms manage cases, streamline communication, and reduce administrative burdens, allowing lawyers to feel more in control of their workflows. Jane Oxley and Marlene Gebauer also discuss the role of AI in enhancing productivity and profitability. Jane describes Smokeball's AI tool, Archie, which helps automate document creation, email drafting, and summarization tasks. With AI handling routine work, lawyers can dedicate more time to client interaction and higher-value tasks. This shift not only increases efficiency but also helps smaller firms bill more accurately for their time—a long-standing challenge in the legal industry. Addressing the potential impact of AI on the billable hour, Jane shares her perspective on the slow but inevitable shift toward value-based billing. She emphasizes that while AI enhances efficiency, widespread change in billing models requires education and a mindset shift. Some firms have begun experimenting with alternative billing structures, but the transition is gradual and nuanced, varying by practice area. Ultimately, AI tools empower firms to deliver better client service and justify their fees confidently. Finally, the discussion highlights ethical considerations in adopting AI, particularly regarding client data privacy and regulatory compliance. Jane advises firms to be vigilant in choosing trusted AI providers and implementing safeguards. She predicts that AI will amplify client expectations for efficiency and responsiveness, but the human side of law—empathy, communication, and trust—will remain irreplaceable. By embracing AI to manage routine tasks, firms can focus on delivering exceptional client experiences, making the human element the true winner in this evolving landscape. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week, we talk with Elena Tsalanidis and Justin Hansky, co-founders of Deeligence, a revolutionary due diligence workflow tool. Hailing from Australia, this dynamic duo delves into the challenges of traditional due diligence processes and how their AI-powered platform aims to streamline and optimize legal workflows for greater efficiency and accuracy. Elena Tsalanidis and Justin Hansky share their personal journeys that led to the creation of Deeligence. From Elena’s background in human rights litigation and her experience working at Buckingham Palace, to Justin’s tenure as an M&A lawyer, their combined expertise and insights have laid the foundation for an innovative solution in legal tech. Their unique approach to addressing inefficiencies in due diligence is rooted in their deep understanding of both the practice and business of law. The hosts and guests explore the skepticism surrounding generative AI in the legal field, including transparency and the accuracy of outputs. Elena and Justin emphasize that Deeligence prioritizes clarity and user trust by integrating human oversight into the process. They outline how their platform simplifies document review, reduces the need for exhaustive scoping, and enables legal professionals to identify key contract provisions quickly and confidently. Implementing new technologies in law firms often encounters resistance due to entrenched practices and security concerns. The Deeligence team discusses their strategies for encouraging adoption, from ensuring ease of use to providing verifiable results. They also highlight the importance of fostering internal champions who recognize the value of modern tools in enhancing legal service delivery and client satisfaction. Deeligence challenges the traditional billable hour model by enhancing the efficiency of tasks like due diligence. The platform allows firms to offer fixed-fee models without compromising the quality of their work, enabling them to surface critical issues across all documents instead of relying on selective reviews. This shift promotes more comprehensive client outcomes and cost predictability, marking a significant transformation in how legal services are delivered. Looking ahead, Elena and Justin discuss their aspirations for Deeligence, including expanding into international markets like the US and UK. They express their commitment to staying at the forefront of legal tech innovation, continually improving their platform to meet evolving industry needs. Their insights underscore a broader trend of specialized, user-focused AI solutions redefining the legal landscape. Listeners are invited to connect with Elena and Justin to learn more about Deeligenceand its impact on legal workflows. This episode provides a compelling look into how technology and a fresh perspective can address long-standing challenges in the legal profession. Listen on mobile platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gebauerm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@glambert ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: geekinreviewpodcast@gmail.com Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jerry David DeCicca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TRANSCRIPT