practice management

Articulating the Adoption and Value of Legal Technology

We all know that new technology without adoption, isn’t useful to advancing our organizational goals nor does it highlight the value of the technology.But how do you articulate the value of the technology without adoption? It’s a bit of the chicken or the egg conversation that anyone deploying a new technology faces. Join us as we discuss how business sponsors can articulate the adoption and value of legal technology to drive sustainable change.Questions Rachel will ask Nikki:• Adoption is critical to the success to legal technology, during the planning process when should the conversation around adoption take place?• Do you think challenge to legal tech adoption is a US centric problem or is this a global industry problem?• Do you think lawyers are really change adverse or is the value not always articulated?• Who should decide if technology is successfully adopted? Who is responsible for articulating the value?• What skills do you think need to be applied to have successful adoption?
Moderator: @Rachel Shields Williams - Director, Knowledge Management, Sidley Austin LLP
Speaker:@Nicola Shaver - CEO, Co-Founder, LegalTechnology Hub
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Recorded on 06-23-2022​

Decision Making Based On Data: Answer to All Problems? Part 2: Client Facing Decision Making Based on Data (Andrew Medeiros)

This session will review the different opportunities to make data-driven decisions in law firms and the challenges that go with them. Ideally the session, will differentiate between organizational/enterprise applications and client facing/legal advice applications.The goal is to map when data-driven decision-making is a good idea and when it is not. Further the session, will explore what to look for in terms of actions taken from data alone (bias, available data) and give tips how to get started and where to find structured data within your organization/firm to get started for a quick win.Questions Christiane will ask Andrew:• How can data enhance decision making?• When is it not appropriate?• What are the limitations: Bias, Data Hygiene• What needs to happen to make better use of data in the future?Moderator:@Christiane Matuch - Manager, Axiom Consulting Partners
Speaker:@Andrew Medeiros - Director of Innovation Solutions, Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLPRecorded on 04-21-2022

Data, Data, Data...Where Do You Start?

Everyone is talking about data analytics and the evolving role of KM in conducting analytics. In this podcast, we will discuss where do you start, what tools are needed, what skill sets are required, how do you avoid stepping on the toes of others in the firm, such as the marketing or finance team and who may also be doing analysis of data?Questions Carolyn will ask Bobbi:1. Traditionally KM has been about developing standards, templates and taxonomies to locate knowledge and expertise within the organization. But, now, we are starting to see the evolving “role of data” in providing actionable information as part of knowledge management. Bobbi, does this resonate with you?2. DA Investments/Efforts/Initiatives:a. The increasing interest in data analytics – used to be fairly focused on financials and LPM, but now seeing analytics around diversity and retention, legal process improvement – is that consistent with what you are seeing in firms?b. Is the push to do more with data analytics coming from clients or from within firms themselves as they strive to find ways to improve efficiencies and profitability?3. Building Capabilities (Hiring Trends/Roles)a. A few years ago there was a trend to hire data scientists and data analysts – is this trend continuing?b. How are you seeing that KM’s role is evolving to support data analytics capabilities?4. Where to Start (Demonstrating Value/Low Hanging Fruit).A What is the low hanging fruit?B What would be the advice you’d give the person who wants to show the value of data analytics as applied in the“real world” of a practicing law firmModerator:@Caroline Sweeney - ​Director of Knowledge Management & Innovation, Dorsey & Whitney
Speaker:@Bobbi Basile - Managing Director, HBR Consulting LLCRecorded on 04-08-2022

The Rise of Legal Operations in Law Firms

There is current trend towards legal ops in law firms, but not all is equal. It is quite common to see difference in titles, department names and even what is being covered.How are legal operations shaping up in the law firm space and how will these departments help to meet the evolving market demands?Specific interview questions Tracey asked Chris:1. If a firm is looking to start a legal operations department, what are the key components?2. How does having a legal operations team increase efficiency? How does legal operations improve value for the client?3. Are there any tools your recommend to improve performance?4. What are the latest trends in legal operations? What departments are new?5. What are the biggest obstacles in growing the legal operations team?6. How do you justify additional headcount on the legal operations side?
Moderator:@Tracey Pardo - IS Improvement and Reporting Analyst, Cooley LLP 
Speaker: @Christopher Emerson - Chief Legal Operations and Innovations, Quarles & BradyRecorded on 04-08-2022

Change Management In a Virtual World

Change management is a critical part of any successful project or initiative. With so much change happening both in the legal industry and in the world as a whole, a good change management program has never been more important, especially if your firm expects to continue with a hybrid work model into the foreseeable future.In this podcast, we’ll talk to Sharon Ford, Change Management Manager at Perkins Coie, about how to think about change management in a hybrid workplace.Questions that Holly will ask Sharon:1. Over the past two years, people have gone through a tremendous amount of change. Does the pace of change in the world at large impact how we talk about change internally to our stakeholders and end users?2. What are some aspects of change management that become more important when communicating with a hybrid workforce?3. What are some specific issues, or ‘gotchas’, that people involved in change management efforts may not realize will be problematic?4. A successful change management effort will always tailor the message to the audience. Has the way you think about different audiences changed in a hybrid environment?5. If you could provide listeners with one (or two!) takeaways for putting together a successful change management initiative in a hybrid environment, what would it be?Moderator:@Holly Hanna - KM Firm Solutions Manager, Perkins Coie LLPSpeaker:@Sharon Ford - Change Management Manager, Perkins Coie LLP 
​Recorded on 03-31-2022

Decision Making Based On Data: Answer to All Problems? Part I: Organizational Decision Making Based on Data (Maggie Miller)

This session will review the different opportunities to make data-driven decisions in law firms and the challenges that go with them. Ideally the session, will differentiate between organizational/enterprise applications and client facing/legal advice applications.The goal is to map when data-driven decision-making is a good idea and when it is not. Further the session, will explore what to look for in terms of actions taken from data alone (bias, available data) and give tips how to get started and where to find structured data within your organization/firm to get started for a quick win.Moderator:@Christiane Matuch - Manager, Axiom Consulting Partners
Speaker:Maggie Miller - ​Chief Client Officer, OrgaimiRecorded on 03-29-2022

What Can We Learn from the US Army’s KM and Innovation Programs?

For all the differences between operating the military and working in private sector, there is one constant both realms share – innovating to remain relevant and foremost in their respective fields.In this podcast session, we will discuss how leaders across the U.S. Army are establishing knowledge management programs to enhance shared understanding, learning and decision-making. In addition, we will further explore how to apply the military’s approach to innovation to law firm KM processes.Moderator:@Amy Monaghan - Senior Practice Innovations Manager, Perkins CoieSpeaker:Andrew Bragg - Chief of Knowledge Management, U.S. European Command
Recorded on 02-11-2022

Can You Replace Traditional Privilege Review?

This interview will discuss the emerging maturity and use of analytics, and whether they can be used for privilege review. We will also explore the different scenarios in privilege review that might benefit from analytics and go over a few real world recent examples.Questions Chris will ask Maria: • What sold you on trying privilege analytics the first time?• How was your experience in using privileged analytics?• What are some areas or issues to keep in mind during the process?• Would you use privilege analytics again?
Moderator:@Chris Acosta - Head of Firmwide eDiscovery Resources, Morrison & Foerster LLP
Speaker:Maria Earley - Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP
Recorded on 02-04-2022
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Integrating Tools in Attorney Workflows

Driving adoption of even useful technology is notoriously difficult. What are some helpful strategies for Litigation Support professionals to get buy-in and training time commitments from busy attorneys?Moderator:@Tyler Crabtree - eDiscovery Specialist, Ellis George Cipollone Browne O'Brien Annaguey, LLP​
Speaker:@Sachin Gupta - Knowledge Management Attorney – Data & Technology Transactions, Latham & Watkins LLPRecorded on 02-03-2022

Showing Bus Ops Some Love: How Process Improvement in Your Business Operations Can Give You the Boost You Need to Engage with Legal

In this podcast session, we will discuss how to best apply process mapping to business operations, and ultimately make the leap from bus ops to legal processes.
Questions Harriet will ask Cassie: 
What is process mapping and why should we care if it is used in business or legal operations?
What sage advice can you provide to those who are new to integrating process on the business side of the house?  Are there specific departments that might be best to start with? What are the quick, easy wins?  
Now, for the $1 million dollar question: how do you make the leap from business ops process improvement to legal process improvement?  How do we convince legal teams to drive interest in process improvement?
How can we alter our approach when it comes to the legal side of the house  in convincing them how process mapping and process improvement is important?
Moderator:​@Harriet Joubert-Vaklyes - Process Innovation Senior Specialist, Shearman & Sterling LLPSpeaker:​​@Cassie Vertovec - Managing Director, Practice Management and Innovation, Paul Hastings​ LLP
 
Recorded on 02-02-2022

How Did the Rise of Legal Operations Affect Law Firm KM?

Corporate legal departments are becoming more and more strategic in how they deploy resources and how they relate to outside counsel and other providers.In this video interview, we will discuss the importance of Legal Operations in this process and how law firm KM departments can benefit by partnering with these in-house teams to adjust and improve their firm’s service delivery. 
Questions Barbara will ask speakers:-The rise of legal operations in corporate legal departments has been a popular topic in the industry for the past few years. Can you tell us what legal operations is all about?-How did the adoption of legal operations impact the way clients relate to outside counsels?-What is the role of Knowledge Management in this scenario? -How can law firms benefit from adjusting to these changes? Do you have some success cases to share? -What is the biggest takeaway on the topic? 
Moderator:@Barbara Gondim Da Rocha - Head of Knowledge Management and Innovation, RMS Advogados
Speakers:@Jennifer Mendez - Director of Knowledge Management Innovation, Fisher & Phillips LLP@Anthony Widdop - Global Director, Legal Operations at Shearman & Sterling
Recorded on 01-28-2022