ILTA - International Legal Technology Association

Becoming a Testifying Expert

Learn about what it takes to become a testifying eDiscovery expert in your field of expertise from these testifying witnesses. The panel covers their own backgrounds, what certifications they have obtained, what education they acquired, and the steps that they took in order to become a testifying expert.

Moderator:
@Lauren Doucette - Senior Practice Technology & eDiscovery Project Manager, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Panelists: 
@Chris Haley - Director of Legal Technology, Troutman Pepper/eMerge
@Kevin Cohen - Principal, Data Triage 
@Kelly Twigger - Principal, ESI Attorneys LLC

 

​Recorded on 01-26-2023

Avoiding Burnout for Lit Support Professionals

In this podcast, we will address which practices and boundaries you should enforce and know how to manage pressured environments.

Questions to Tanya will ask Martin:
· Is burnout a problem for litigation support professionals, and does it affect us disproportionately?
· Can litigation support professionals effectively manage their workload to avoid burnout?
· What are tips for working in high pressure environments?
· How can we support ourselves and our colleagues?
· What kind of support is out there for people who need it?

Moderator:
@Tanya Pereira - Business Transformation Specialist, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

Speaker:
@Martin Nikel - Associate Managing Director, Cyber Risk, Kroll

Recorded on 01-05-2023​​

Budget: Lessons Learned

In this podcast interview, the speaker will provide tips in how to achieve excellence in budget creation, defense and control, especially for the Legal area.

Questions Marcelo will ask the speaker:

• What are the challenges of preparing a Budget in a legal area where we know that calculations, metrics, statistics and other data models are not part of the lawyer's daily life?
• We know that communication not only in topics such as the Budget but in many others, in fact in all topics is something that must be encouraged and reinforced, drawing on this topic, how important internal and external communication is for the creation of a Budget effective?
• Thinking about accuracy, is there any budget model that you think is more assertive, how do you know which is the best Budget model (opening) for my company?
• So once all the assumptions have been aligned with the team, the teams in turn are safe for the defense, can you give us some tips for sustaining the numbers against the approval area? We know this is the hardest part, especially when you need more money compared to growing your business.
• How can we know if we are asking enough, when we can know if we need to ask for more?
• A point that I always see in the definition of Budget in several companies from the most diverse branches is the famous one: fat, that is, calculating the correct amount but leaving an extra amount for unplanned expenses, what do you think of this approach?
• Leave an extra Budget or not?
• What is the role of the Legal Ops team in the composition of the Legal Budget? I'll try to make myself clearer, we know that some areas tend to work in silos, that is like a black box, how do you think the Legal Ops team can help?
  
  

Moderator:
@Marcelo Cardoso - Supervisor of Data Analytics, Mercado Livre

Speaker:
Guillermo Calvo - Legal Ops Regional Supervisor, Mercado Livre

Recorded on 12-16-2022​​​

The Hybrid Lit Support Model

This podcast panel is a follow-up to the successful ILTACON session “Three Approaches to Workplace Flexibility” but with a more litigation support focus. Each panelist discussed the challenges they have experienced with hybrid work and how they have overcome them.

Questions Tanya asked the speakers:

• What are the pros/cons/challenges of a lit support team?
• What are some tips you have for a successful hybrid team, particularly when it comes to managing lawyer expectations who may be in the office?
• What metrics are you using to determine success? Do they differ at all from in the office?
• As we are seeing more in in-person events, how are you determining team engagement and the future of team engagement?

Moderator: 
@Tanya Pereira - Discovery Services and Litigation Support Coordinator, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

Panelists:
@Gretel Best - Law Clerk, Manager of Litigation Support & eDiscovery, Gowling WLG
@Levi Percy - Project Manager, Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

 

Recorded on 11/3/2022

Leading Your Firms Through Today’s Legal Technology Challenges

Technology is vital to the practice of law in any modern law firm, but it can also be challenging to implement and keep updated. In this podcast, we’ll explore some of the greatest challenges to the modern law firm, explore why technology is so vital for the continued success of firms, and explore how they’re coping with technology challenges today. Listen for tips to lead your law firm through today’s legal technology challenges!

Question John asked Jeff:
1. What do you see as the greatest technology challenges facing law firms today?
2. Why is technology so important to law firms and are they overall keeping up with technology or falling behind the curve?
3. How can they improve?
4. What are three key components to successfully navigating today’s legal technology challenges
5. Are there non-technology challenges for technology impacting firms today, and can you give us some examples (e.g., senior management support, culture change, adoption, etc.) of the impact these challenges may be having?

Moderator:
@John Graves - Training Support Specialist, Winstead PC

​Speaker:
@Jeffrey Brandt - Chief Information Officer, Jackson Kelly PLLC

Recorded on 09-30-2022​

Information Governance Policies and Practices for Small Firms

Information Governance is coming to the forefront as privacy become stricter in more and more jurisdictions. Clients are also inquiring about how their records are kept and demanding that firms put protections in place. In this podcast we will review the differences between Records Management and IG. We then delve into IG frameworks and policies and why you would want to establish these, followed by a look at client expectations. We will conclude with an overview of where to start when developing an IG framework and policy and the steps to take to put this in place.

Questions Ann will ask speaker:
1. What’s the difference between records management and information governance? 
2. What is an IG framework and associated policies and why would you want to establish these? (i.e. risk management, costs, etc.)
3. In terms of client expectations, what are clients concerned about and what do they want to see in terms of IG?
4. If a firm or corporation wanted to establish an information governance framework and policy, where would they start and what steps would they go through to get this in place?

Moderator:
Ann Halkett - Director, SOLVED eDiscovery Services, a division of AHBL MLP

Speaker:
Andrew Cogan - IGP, Manager of Practice Services – Records, Allen Matkins 

Recorded on 09-22-2022

Document Automation and the Productization of Legal Services: Leveraging Your Technology Investment as a Source of Revenue

Marketing and IT: How a Communicative Relationship can Yield Valuable Results

Technology is changing how firms operate and there is a need for more collaboration between the marketing and technology teams to achieve shared goals.

In this collaborative podcast between the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) and the Legal Marketing Association (LMA), four seasoned marketing and technology experts discuss their organizational structures, the importance of establishing effective and open communication processes between departments, and share stories in which these efforts resulted in successful projects.  

After listening to this 30-minute podcast, you will learn practical tips on how to work together effectively and take away examples that can be implemented for your own success.

Both ILTA and LMA recognize that collaboration can only add value and aim to continue this discussion with additional content through the rest of 2022. Keep an eye out, share this podcast with a colleague and let us know what think!

Recorded July 2022

Speakers: 
@Ali Shahidi
@Britton Choi
@Erin Meszaros
@Michelle Woodyear

​Moderated By:
@Tara Patterson

Managing Outside Counsel Guidelines - Making Sure the GCs Office is in the Loop and Perils of Not Doing So

Outside counsel guidelines (OCG) are becoming more sophisticated and, at times, cumbersome. What are the provision pitfalls to avoid? What tools are available to manage the volume of OCGs across the firm and to help ensure compliance? Is there room for negotiation with clients? Join us for an open discussion with the GC community regarding the risks associated with not properly vetting and monitoring OCGs.

Questions Daniel will ask speaker:
· What difficulties are you seeing firms have in dealing with Outside Counsel Guidelines?
· What tools are available to assist with management of the guidelines?
· Do you see the need for changes in workflows related to the guidelines?

Moderator:
@Daniel Wood - Director of Counsel Assistance, Womble Bond Dickinson

Speaker:
@Brynmor Bowen  - Practice Group Leader, Legal Risk, IntApp

 

Recorded on 07-25-2022

​​

New and Evolving Roles in Legal

New technology, changing client expectations, regulatory changes, and more are transforming the legal industry, creating opportunities for individuals to develop new skillsets and for firms and legal departments to rethink how they deliver legal services.

In this podcast interview, learn about new and evolving roles in the legal industry, such as process engineer, project manager, legal operations, data scientist, and document automation specialist.

Questions Sam will ask Speakers:

1. What are some of the key roles you see emerging in legal technology?
2. How can individuals skill up to transition into new opportunities?
3. How can firms and legal departments start shifting to new roles, and what should they be doing to ensure that these new functions are successful?
4. Where would you suggest people go to learn more information?
   

Moderator:
@Samantha Sendrowski - Technology Innovation Manager, Bowditch & Dewey LLP

Speakers:
@Gabe Teninbaum -  Assistant Dean of Innovation, Strategic Initiatives, & Distance Education and Professor of Legal Writing, Suffolk University
@Sean Monahan -  Director, HBR Consulting

Recorded on 06-29-2022