ILTA Voices

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

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

Making Data Governance Digestible

This podcast session will delve into the very real problem of trying to explain data governance to end users and the C-suite. Our experts will tackle the difference between data governance and information governance, the importance of a good data governance program, how to best distribute the responsibility of data governance, and how to keep data fresh, clean, and reliable as we continue to take in more and more.Questions Chris will ask speaker(s):1. Information Governance and Data Governance may often be used interchangeably, help our listeners understand what the key differences are and why it is important to differentiate them.2. What should the objective of a data governance program be?3. Data governance seems very intimidating if you look at it as one persons job. How can information governance and data governance professionals go about engaging the enterprise in good data governance practices?4. How can IG professionals best make a business case for a data governance program in order to secure resources?5. What are some real practical strategies for ensuring the cleanliness and reliability of data in an organization?
Moderator:@Christopher Hockey, IGP - Director of Information Governance and Management,Bond, Schoeneck and King, PLLC
Speakers:​Neil Burge - Founder, CEO of Cognopia Pte Ltd.Steve Bradley - Director, HBR Consulting
 
Recorded on 01-27-2022

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

Women Who Lead: Carmin Ballou

Our next featured podcast Woman Leader is Carmin Ballou and she is the Director of Data Insights & Analytics at ALAS. She sits down with our WWL group and talks about her Peer to Peer article, mentors, leadership, and more!
 
About
ILTA’s Women Who Lead Advisory Committee put out a call for names earlier this year to identify women who have recently experienced a job transition into their first management role. WWL is profiling four new women leaders in Peer to Peer, one profile in each of the next four issues. WWL will also do an interview with them as part of our podcast series throughout the next year, so stay tuned!  

CEO Conversations: Winter 2021 Peer to Peer

For the Winter 2021 issue of Peer to Peer, ILTA's Director of Publications and Press, Beth Anne Stuebe, sits down with ILTA CEO, Joy Heath Rush, to talk end of year and forward-planning goals for 2022. Tune in now!