Professional Development

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

Understanding Information Governance: What it is and Why is it So Important

Information Governance…we hear this term all the time in legal, but what does it really mean? Is it referring to controlling the stream of information inside a law firm or law department, or outside one? And what methods are being utilized in today’s law firms and law departments to govern this often critical information?In this interview session, we will discuss what the term actually means and what effects it can have on firm attorneys and staff. Finally, we’ll learn why having an IG policy is so vital to clients and firms alike.
 
Moderator:@John Graves - Training Support Specialist, Winstead PC
Speaker:@Jeffrey Sharer - President and CEO, LexShift Recorded on 04-01-2022

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

Security, Privacy and Compliance Tools in M365

Microsoft’s M365 solution includes a growing and evolving number of security solutions. These include MFA, Exchange On-Line Protection, Advanced Threat Protection and others, some new, some improved.
This podcast will be an overview of the solutions in M365 today, solutions that are either baked in to our existing M365 licenses at no additional cost or available at a nominal cost, that offer the possibility to retire and displace more expensive 3rd party solutions.
Moderator:@Mark Manoukian - IT Director, Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter
Speaker:Paul Edlund - Chief Technologist - Midwest, Microsoft
Recorded on 03-04-2022

What Does the Future Hold? Do Distributed Law Firms Offer the Law Firm Model of the Future?

Distributed firms may have been under the radar for a few years, but now they are breaking the Amlaw 200. Distributed firms operate without a physical space. They rely heavily on technology for communication and to deliver services. Join us to learn about the players, their structure and whether they are the future model for law firms.Questions Mike will ask the speakers:1. TJ, Dan, tell us a bit about yourselves and how you got involved in the distributed law space.2. Dan , can you give us some history regarding distributed law firms-what they are, their structure, how did they come to be and how they have evolved?3. What sorts of law do distributed firms commonly practice? Who are their typical clients and their needs?4. TJ, How would you describe the sort of lawyer who would be interested and thrive in this environment?5. TJ, what sort of technology infrastructure does Fischer Broyles firms use? How do you license technology? (Dan can add)6. Dan, do distributed firms employ legal technologists, operations specialists or knowledge professionals or are these all outsourced? (TJ can add)7. TJ, you have said that process and culture are keys to the success of Fisher Broyles. Can you tell us about that. (Dan add what he knows about other distributed firms here)8. TJ, Fisher Broyles was the first distributed firm to enter the AmLaw 200. I understand 2021 financials are very impressive. Is this an indicator that this is a viable model for others long term? (Dan can add regarding the rest of the industry)9. What do you both think is on the horizon for distributed firms?
 
Moderator:@Michael Ertel - KM Attorney, Paul Hastings LLP
Speakers:Dan Packel - Business of Law Reporter, ALM Media, LLCTJ Dovale - Managing Partner, IP, FisherBroyles, LLP

How to Become a Great Mentor in a Remote Working Environment: Mentor/Mentee Edition

In the second part of this podcast series, the speakers will talk about successful strategies to mentor young or new colleagues in the legal IT space when being remote. In addition, we will learn what is a great mentor, how do you find a mentor, how does it change working remotely and why is mentoring so important?Moderator:@Carolyn Bragiel - Advisor, Legal E-discovery, Cardinal Health
 
Speakers:@Joy Murao - Founder and CEO, Practice Aligned Resources (Mentor)@Candi Smith, CEDS -  Sr. Legal Technology & eDiscovery Specialist, Jabil Corporation (Mentee)
Recorded on 01-26-2022

How to Become a Great Mentor in a Remote Working Environment: Mentor Edition

In this upcoming two-part podcast series, the speakers will talk about successful strategies to mentor young or new colleagues in the legal IT space when being remote. In addition, we will learn what is a great mentor, how do you find a mentor, how does it change working remotely and why is mentoring so important?
Moderator:@Carolyn Bragiel - Advisor, Legal E-discovery, Cardinal Health
Speaker:@Kailee Goold - Assistant General Counsel, Cardinal Health
Recorded on 01-25-2022

What are Firms Doing for Retraining/Upskilling to Accelerate Digital Transformation?

As firms have adjusted to our new normal, and some necessary changes had to be made in the delivery of legal services, new possibilities that were once far off aspirations are now available. These new opportunities require new knowledge and skills to enable the workforce to do new or changing jobs to meet digital transformation opportunities. In this podcast session, we will discuss how firms have transformed their legal service models and how they have addressed upskilling and re-skilling to support these new models.
Questions Asked Today:
Tell us about yourself and what you do at CliffordChance (00:36)
What impact does digital transformation have on the roles traditionally seen in law firms? (1:16)
How does your role serves as dot connector for your firm? (3:11)
How has Amy seen the roles change and how she is creating change at Perkins (6:06)
How do you meet everyone along the spectrum? (13:01)
Provide an example of where you have seen success in upskilling or reskilling what was a traditional legal role into this new digital transformation world? (14:45) 
Moderator:@Amy Monaghan - Senior Practice Innovations Manager, Perkins Coie Speaker:@Conan Hines - Senior Legal Technology Advisor, Clifford Chance US LLP
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​Recorded on 11-22-2021