Knowledge Management

Evolving KM Episode 7: Future Legal Technologists - The SEC Compliance Student Team

Welcome to Evolving KM, a podcast where we discuss how knowledge management is progressing and the impact that's having on KM professionals. In each episode, we interview people who have worked in or on the periphery of KM and get their perspectives on how this profession is evolving to meet the shifting demands of legal service delivery.
We hope you enjoy this episode!
Our guests in this episode are third-year law students from Michigan State University College of Law, with whom we worked on a class project to develop an app related to SEC reporting compliance (specifically the Form 10-K). Their class in the Legal RnD program related to the intersection of law, process improvement and technology. We talk about the students' experiences and the skills they learned that will translate to their future careers, whether as lawyers or legal technologists.
Moderators:Gwyn McAlpine - Director of Knowledge Management Services, Perkins CoieAmy Monaghan - Practice Innovations Manager, Perkins Coie
Guests:Austin James received his J.D. at Michigan State University College of Law in 2018 and holds a B.S in Political Science. Austin is from Montana and is especially interested in applying legal technology and process improvement to benefit the small firms and solo practitioners he encounters there.
Morgan Rogalke is a 2019 J.D. candidate at Michigan State University College of Law and holds bachelor's degrees in Human Biology and Nutritional Science. Morgan has a diverse background in science, theology and fitness and hopes to pursue FDA compliance work.
Eric Villanueva is a 2019 J.D. candidate at Michigan State University College of Law and holds a B.A. in Linguistics. Eric has programming experience that he found especially relevant in automating legal processes.
 

Evolving KM Episode 6: The Fireman Brain Trust

Welcome to Evolving KM, a podcast where we discuss how Knowledge Management is progressing and the impact that’s having on KM professionals. In each episode, we interview people who have either worked in or on the periphery of Knowledge Management We get their perspective on how this profession is evolving to meet the shifting demands of legal service delivery.
We hope you enjoy this episode!
Guest: In this episode, we speak with three partners from Fireman & Company, a premier legal knowledge management consulting firm:
Joshua Fireman is the founder and president of Fireman & Company. He is a former practicing lawyer and advises law firms on knowledge management, change management and firm strategies. In addition to consulting, Joshua is a frequent speaker on these topics.
 
Ron Friedmann is a pioneer in practice support, legal process improvement and knowledge management. He is also a leader in alternative sourcing models. Ron is a prolific writer and tweeter, and we recommend following him at Prism Legal and on Twitter. During the podcast, we reference his article on multidisciplinary teams, which you can find here.
 
Tom Baldwin brings a focus on team building, user experience and attorney working practices to drive practice efficiencies and profitability. Before becoming a consultant, Tom has large law firm experience as both CIO and CKO.
Joshua, Ron and Tom collectively have decades of wide-ranging experience in the legal industry, and we always love listening to their thoughts. Join us as we discuss with them the changes in the legal industry, particularly challenges and opportunities for knowledge management programs. They review the evolution of KM from 1.0 to 2.0 to 3.0, from a cost center to a revenue driver, and from being useful to being critical. They also give advice for those looking to enter the profession or to develop their skills.
Hosts:
Gwyn McAlpine oversees the knowledge management program at Perkins Coie LLP, an international law firm with 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices. Gwyn's focus is on creating value for clients by enabling attorneys to practice law more efficiently and collaboratively. In addition to more traditional KM initiatives, KM at Perkins Coie includes library and research services, internal and external collaboration, and AI and expert systems. Gwyn practiced corporate law for 10 years before fully transitioning to knowledge management.
 
Amy Monaghan is the Practice Innovations Manager within the knowledge management group at Perkins Coie LLP. She works side-by-side with practice groups to further KM initiatives, particularly those involving artificial intelligence systems and other advanced technologies, such as document assembly, logic systems, workflow tools and contract analysis tools. Previously, Amy was in a similar role at Chapman and Cutler LLP.

Evolving KM Episode 5: North of the Border and Across the Pond - User-Focused KM

Welcome to Evolving KM, a podcast where we discuss how Knowledge Management is progressing and the impact it is having on KM professionals. In each episode, we interview people who have either worked in or on the periphery of Knowledge Management. We're given their perspective on how this profession is evolving to meet the shifting demands of legal service delivery.
We hope you enjoy this episode!
In this episode, we have a thought-provoking conversation with Kate Simpson, the National Director of Knowledge Management at Bennett Jones in Toronto. Kate started her career in an online legal publishing startup in London, and then built a consultancy practice for KM and design thinking for law firms in the UK and Canada. She applies the best practices of these roles to her current KM position, focused on the intersection of people, process and technology. Kate is a regular writer for Canadian Lawyer magazine, including an article exploring the role of product managers in law firms, in which she advocates for a user-focused approach. She has been involved in the Institute for the Future Practice of Law to promote innovation with the next generation of lawyers. Without predicting the future, Kate shares the attributes she sees as most important for an evolving KM team. Tune in to hear the discussion unfold!
Moderators:Gwyn McAlpine oversees the knowledge management program at Perkins Coie, an international law firm with 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices. Gwyn's focus is on creating value for clients by enabling attorneys to practice law more efficiently and collaboratively. In addition to more traditional KM initiatives, KM at Perkins Coie includes library and research services, internal and external collaboration, and AI and expert systems. Gwyn practiced corporate law for 10 years before fully transitioning to knowledge management.
Amy Monaghan is the Practice Innovations Manager within the knowledge management group at Perkins Coie LLP. She works side-by-side with practice groups to further KM initiatives, particularly those involving artificial intelligence systems and other advanced technologies, such as document assembly, logic systems, workflow tools and contract analysis tools. Previously, Amy was in a similar role at Chapman and Cutler LLP.

Knowledge Management Discussion: ILTACON 2018 PeerShare

Please join us during this quarter's knowledge management virtual roundtable as we discuss all things ILTACON 2018. KM professionals will highlight what they heard, what their favorite takeaways were, impressions of the KM-specific track and the collaboration sessions.
 
If you attended ILTACON 2018, we encourage you to share your feedback as well. If you didn't get a chance to attend this year, this is a great opportunity to hear what your fellow KMers thought was hot and what was not. We look forward to the conversation!Panel:Gwyn McAlpine - Director of Knowledge Management Services, Perkins CoieAmy Monaghan - Practice Innovations Manager, Perkins Coie

Evolving KM Episode 4: A Veteran Perspective - KM with Kim

Welcome to Evolving KM, a podcast where we discuss how Knowledge Management is progressing and the impact it is having on KM professionals. In each episode, we interview people who have either worked in or on the periphery of Knowledge Management. We're given their perspective on how this profession is evolving to meet the shifting demands of legal service delivery. 
 
We hope you enjoy this episode!
 
Our guest in this episode is Kim Stein, National Manager of Knowledge Management at Thomson Reuters. Kim has been working with KM solutions at Thomson Reuters for 16 years. In her role, she has had the opportunity to visit law firms across the United States and talk with people responsible for KM programs at all stages of maturity. She shares with us her thoughts on growing roles in KM and their key characteristics. Be sure to also check out Kim's podcast, "KM with Kim" through her LinkedIn page (look under Projects).Moderators:
Gwyn McAlpine oversees the knowledge management program at Perkins Coie, an international law firm with 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices. Gwyn's focus is on creating value for clients by enabling attorneys to practice law more efficiently and collaboratively. In addition to more traditional KM initiatives, KM at Perkins Coie includes library and research services, internal and external collaboration, and AI and expert systems. Gwyn practiced corporate law for 10 years before fully transitioning to knowledge management.
 
Amy Monaghan is the Practice Innovations Manager within the knowledge management group at Perkins Coie LLP. She works side-by-side with practice groups to further KM initiatives, particularly those involving artificial intelligence systems and other advanced technologies, such as document assembly, logic systems, workflow tools and contract analysis tools. Previously, Amy was in a similar role at Chapman and Cutler LLP.
 
Recorded on 9-7-18

Evolving KM Episode 3: A Veteran Perspective - From Tech Law to Tech and Law

Welcome to another episode of Evolving KM, a podcast where we discuss how knowledge management is progressing and the impact that's having on KM professionals. In each episode, we interview people who have worked in or on the periphery of knowledge management and get their perspectives on how the profession is evolving to meet the shifting demands of legal service delivery. Be sure to follow the knowledge management category on ILTA Radio so you don't miss a thing, and contact us if you'd like to be interviewed for a future episode!
Our guest in this episode is Sukesh Kamra, the National Director of Knowledge Management at Norton Rose Fulbright in Toronto. Beginning his career as a technology law lawyer, his interest in technology led him to a master's program in Law and Technology and, from there, almost accidentally into knowledge management. Now with 14 years in the field, Sukesh has experienced the evolution of KM firsthand, from precedents and search, to a greater focus on process and technology. We talk about the skill sets needed for different roles in a KM team, such as supporting traditional KM functions, engaging with the business of law and applying AI and other advanced technologies. We also discuss the change going on in the legal industry, which Sukesh frames as a cultural shift. You won't want to miss his great suggestions for staying current on KM!
Hosts:Gwyn McAlpine oversees the knowledge management program at Perkins Coie LLP, an international law firm with 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices. Gwyn's focus is on creating value for clients by enabling attorneys to practice law more efficiently and collaboratively. In addition to more traditional KM initiatives, KM at Perkins Coie includes library and research services, internal and external collaboration, and AI and expert systems. Gwyn practiced corporate law for 10 years before fully transitioning to knowledge management.
Amy Monaghan is the Practice Innovations Manager in the knowledge management group at Perkins Coie LLP. She works side-by-side with practice groups to further KM initiatives, particularly those involving artificial intelligence systems and other advanced technologies, such as document assembly, logic systems, workflow tools and contract analysis tools. Previously, Amy was in a similar role at Chapman and Cutler LLP.
Recorded on 8-10-18

Evolving KM Episode 2: A Veteran Perspective - The Prophet of Profit

Welcome to another episode of Evolving KM, a podcast where we discuss how knowledge management is progressing and the impact that's having on KM professionals. In each episode, we interview people who have worked in or on the periphery of knowledge management and get their perspectives on how the profession is evolving to meet the shifting demands of legal service delivery. Be sure to follow the knowledge management category on ILTA Radio so you don't miss a thing, and contact us if you'd like to be interviewed for a future episode!
Our guest in this episode is Toby Brown, the Chief Practice Management Officer at Perkins Coie LLP. He parlayed an earlier KM role into a new pricing function, which opened the door to practice innovation, legal project management and process improvement. Listen as this "Prophet of Profit" discuss how KM and practice innovation drive (and are empowered by) a focus on profitability. Toby also talks about his work with the SALI (Standards Advancement for the Legal Industry) Alliance, which is a developing a standard taxonomy of matter types to facilitate improvements in budgeting and innovation.
Hosts:Gwyn McAlpine oversees the knowledge management program at Perkins Coie LLP, an international law firm with 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices. Gwyn's focus is on creating value for clients by enabling attorneys to practice law more efficiently and collaboratively. In addition to more traditional KM initiatives, KM at Perkins Coie includes library and research services, internal and external collaboration, and AI and expert systems. Gwyn practiced corporate law for 10 years before fully transitioning to knowledge management.
Amy Monaghan is the Practice Innovations Manager in the knowledge management group at Perkins Coie LLP. She works side-by-side with practice groups to further KM initiatives, particularly those involving artificial intelligence systems and other advanced technologies, such as document assembly, logic systems, workflow tools and contract analysis tools. Previously, Amy was in a similar role at Chapman and Cutler LLP.
Guest:Toby Brown is an active member and leader in organizations devoted to legal knowledge management, and he speaks to national audiences on legal pricing, alternative fee arrangements and other law firm financial management issues. He is the founder of the Legal Marketing Association's annual P3 Conference, which brings together over 400 pricing, project management and process improvement experts in the legal profession. Toby also co-founded the "3 Geeks and a Law" blog and co-authored the book, Law Firm Pricing: Strategies, Roles and Responsibilities. He is active on Twitter as @gnawledge and can be found on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/tobinbrown.

Evolving KM Episode 1: Introduction to the Evolving KM Podcast

Welcome to Evolving KM, a podcast where we discuss how knowledge management is progressing and the impact that's having on KM professionals. In each episode, we interview people who have worked in or on the periphery of knowledge management and get their perspectives on how the profession is evolving to meet the shifting demands of legal service delivery. Be sure to follow the knowledge management category on ILTA Radio so you don't miss a thing, and contact us if you'd like to be interviewed for a future episode!
In this short first episode, we introduce you to your hosts, and discuss why we are undertaking this podcast series and what you can expect in coming weeks. We hope you enjoy it!
Hosts:Gwyn McAlpine oversees the knowledge management program at Perkins Coie LLP, an international law firm with 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices. Gwyn's focus is on creating value for clients by enabling attorneys to practice law more efficiently and collaboratively. In addition to more traditional KM initiatives, KM at Perkins Coie includes library and research services, internal and external collaboration, and AI and expert systems. Gwyn practiced corporate law for 10 years before fully transitioning to knowledge management.
Amy Monaghan is the Practice Innovations Manager in the knowledge management group at Perkins Coie LLP. She works side-by-side with practice groups to further KM initiatives, particularly those involving artificial intelligence systems and other advanced technologies, such as document assembly, logic systems, workflow tools and contract analysis tools. Previously, Amy was in a similar role at Chapman and Cutler LLP.

ILTA - Law Firm 101 and How It Applies to You - Interview with Meredith Williams

The legal profession is a unique environment filled with high expectations, complex concepts and distinctive cultures that can make the learning curve for someone new a bit more like a learning canyon. In order to succeed, it’s important to understand the nuances that are ingrained in the business of law. Enter the “Law Firm 101” initiative –– a program that aims to educate and prepare law students/new lawyers and incoming legal IT professionals about the business of law … the business they’re in. ILTA held a “virtual roundtable” with three member thought leaders to get their insight into how the main points of this initiative are applicable to our members. Our interview with  Meredith Williams, Director of Knowledge Management at Baker Donelson, can be heard in its entirety on the accompanying podcast.
Visit the ILTA website to hear each participant's interview.

ILTA - Law Firm 101 and How It Applies to You - Interview with Joy Heath Rush

The legal profession is a unique environment filled with high expectations, complex concepts and distinctive cultures that can make the learning curve for someone new a bit more like a learning canyon. In order to succeed, it’s important to understand the nuances that are ingrained in the business of law. Enter the “Law Firm 101” initiative –– a program that aims to educate and prepare law students/new lawyers and incoming legal IT professionals about the business of law … the business they’re in. ILTA held a “virtual roundtable” with three member thought leaders to get their insight into how the main points of this initiative are applicable to our members. Our interview with Joy Heath Rush, Director of Enterprise Multimedia Services at Sidley Austin LLP, can be heard in its entirety on the accompanying podcast.
Visit the ILTA website to hear each participant's interview.

ILTA - Law Firm 101 and How It Applies to You - Interview with Marcy McGovern

The legal profession is a unique environment filled with high expectations, complex concepts and distinctive cultures that can make the learning curve for someone new a bit more like a learning canyon. In order to succeed, it’s important to understand the nuances that are ingrained in the business of law. Enter the “Law Firm 101” initiative –– a program that aims to educate and prepare law students/new lawyers and incoming legal IT professionals about the business of law … the business they’re in. ILTA held a “virtual roundtable” with three member thought leaders to get their insight into how the main points of this initiative are applicable to our members. Our interview with Marcy McGovern, Knowledge Management Counsel at Littler Mendelson, can be heard in its entirety on the accompanying podcast.
Visit the ILTA website to hear each participant's interview.