ILTA Voices

The Rise of the ”Non-Lawyer” – Threat or Opportunity

Some people predict that by 2025 half of legal teams will be staffed by non-lawyers. Will that be perceived as a threat or an opportunity? Do lawyers need to learn legal tech, or can they just hire people who specialize in it but are not lawyers? Do you need to be a lawyer to effectively use legal tech?Questions moderator will ask speakers: - The term “non lawyer” is sometimes perceived as quite controversial. Many people who support the business of law feel it is used to marginalize expertise. With the development of legal technologies being a lawyer is not always a needed qualification to plan, implement and use the tools. In your experience how does it help to be a lawyer or not, when using legal technologies?- Where do you see non lawyers working cases, supporting transactions, being part of case teams, etc. today?- With more and more demand on expertise to “drive” legal technologies, or perform data analysis, do you think layers need to learn these skills? Or can they just hire non-lawyers to work side by side with lawyers? Or both?- Do you think the balance could even tip that within law firms more non-lawyers are leveraged to work and manage cases and lawyers solely focus on the parts that require analysis and practice of the law?- What does all this mean for the legal profession, will the job description of lawyers change over time? Why or why not?
Moderator:@Christiane Matuch - Legal Innovation Manager, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Speakers:@Alyssa Cowley - Associate Director, Knowledge Management, Shearman & Sterling LLP@Harriet Joubert-Vaklyes - Senior Project Manager, Legal Operations, CBRE  @Josh Lazar - Founder and Chief Everything Officer, TechThinkTank 
Recorded on 07-18-2023

Why AI Should Be Part of Your Data Breach Response Plan

AI has become an integral piece of responsive/non-responsive coding for reviewing eDiscovery data, and in our last podcast in the series, we discussed how it is increasingly being applied to personal information identification and redactions in litigation and investigations. For this session, the speaker will focus on how AI is being used for data breach response and why it should be part of your response plan.
Questions the moderator will ask the speaker:
-What do you see as the status quo for how companies react when they’ve learned of a data breach, and what are some of the pitfalls?-What specific advantages does AI offer when compared with that status quo?-What are the risks associated with using AI for data breach response, and what hurdles have teams faced in adopting it?-What practical advice can you offer to the listeners on how to prepare for a potential data breach? 
Moderator:@Andrea Shirey - IT Consultant, Bayer Corporation Legal 
Speaker:@Dan Donegan - New Business Director at Text IQ
Recorded on 07-18-2023

Aligning Taxonomies for Marketing and KM

Common vocabularies are a core requirement if firms want to fully utilize the knowledge created by their attorneys. Organizing those vocabularies into a taxonomy makes it easier to share knowledge across tools and practices. However, many firms don’t create or maintain common taxonomies, resulting in knowledge gaps and a lack of findability.
A common vocabulary, whether it’s something that’s specific to your firm or leveraging existing taxonomies like SALI, is an investment of both time and money, but putting in the effort allows attorneys to quickly find colleagues who have specific skills, experience, or backgrounds.
 
Questions the moderator asked the speaker:
1.Is there one thing in particular that made you realize that this was a problem, and one that needed to be solved?
2.Talking about taxonomies tends to make people tune out. How did you get buy in from other groups?
3.How do you maintain your taxonomies? Is it a group effort? If so, which groups should be involved?
4.What would be your recommendations for firms that are just starting to engage with this issue?
Moderator:
@Holly Hanna - KM Firm Solutions Manager, Perkins Coie
Speaker:
@Rachel Shields Williams -  Director, Knowledge Management, Sidley Austin LLP
 
Recorded on 07-13-2023

Dude, Where’s My Phone? Authentication and the Future of Legal IT

If there was a road map for security and authentication, it’s long gone now! We’re on the road to a Passwordless future and we live in a time where no one even answers their phone! This encore ILTA podcast will quickly bring you up-to-speed and help you…and your users help themselves with better password solutions! 
Questions the moderator will ask the speaker(s):
1) This topic was presented at Legal Week and was very popular.  Why do you think that is?2) What are the biggest challenges to “secure” authentication today?3) What are most of us doing well, and what do most of us need to do better when it comes to our authentication implementations?4) What is the future of authentication in IT?  What are some trends?If you are a listener who is overwhelmed by this topic, where do you recommend people start to become more educated in this area?Moderator:@Corey Reitz - Distinguished Cyber Assurance Architect, Sandia National LaboratoriesSpeakers:@Brian Clarke - Cybersecurity Manager, Porzio Bromberg & Newman@David Forrestall - Managing Partner, SecurIT360@Kenneth Jones - Chief Operating Officer, XerdictRecorded on 07-12-2023.

Applying Design Thinking to Lit Support

Innovation in the legal industry is big news, but its often hard to know where to start. Changing the way we think about our work can help find new ways to approach challenges, and the framework of design thinking has proven success in the legal industry for finding innovative solutions to problems. But what is design thinking, and how can we use its principles and ideas to transform our work in litigation support?
 
 
Questions the moderator will ask the speaker:
What is Design Thinking? Where are we seeing its application the most?
How can we apply design thinking to legal and how can it help us practice law more effectively?
Can you give an example of where design thinking has helped solve a legal workflow problem?
How can we identify areas in our litigation support work where design thinking might be helpful?
 
Moderator:@Rachel McAdams - Senior Consultant, Sky Discovery
 
Speaker:@Ginevra Saylor - Director, Innovation and Knowledge Programs, Gowling WLG
 
Recorded on 06-30-2023

Keeping Up with Hands-Off Communication with Hands Off Teams

In this podcast session, the moderator will discuss with an attorney the best communications strategies and practices they have encountered with Litigation Support and Legal Staff.
Questions the moderator will ask the speaker:
-What are some steps you take to keep communication consistent in your remote team?-What are some pitfalls about purely remote work that some managers or team members might not consider?-Do you find that your communication style changes between individual team members or is it more consistent due to remote work?-How often do you think you need to stay in contact with team members to maintain consistent communication?-Do you have any advice for remote managers to follow for best practices?Moderator:@Ryan Gerlach - Legal Analyst, State of California Office of the Attorney General, DOJSpeaker:@Ann Halkett - Director, SOLVED eDiscovery Services, a division of AHBL MLPRecorded on 06-29-2023

Why Them? How Corporate Legal Departments Choose Law Firms

This session explored the ever-evolving factors which influence how corporate legal departments evaluate and select law firms, including a spotlight on how mature departments engage in the process. Specific factors covered will include the performance, spend, and DEI metrics used by data-driven departments, as well as a focus on the growing adoption of advanced tools to facilitate the firm selection process.
 
Questions the moderator asked the speaker: 
Given current concerns over the broader economy, what impact is that having on how law departments select outside counsel?  Are they spending less?  Choosing different firms?  How are the behaviors changing?
What factors are driving the buying decision of which law firms these clients want to use?
Have we seen any noticeable changes in these decision drivers as the economy has shifted?
What has been the biggest surprise to you in terms of how law firm favorability has changed?
 
Moderator:@Carolyn Robinson - eDiscovery Coordinator for the Americas - Office of the Regional General Counsel for Robert Bosch, LLC
 
Speaker:@William Josten - Senior Manager, Enterprise Legal Market Content, Thomson Reuters Institute
 
Recorded on 06-29-2023

eDiscovery for the Rest of Us – Considering Less Expensive But Fully Functional Tools for Small and Mid-Size Law Firms

Just because you’re not a large law firm doesn’t mean you don’t do e-discovery! You have litigation matters that are just as important, and that means you need to know the proper tools to use for collecting, reviewing, and producing relevant data. In this session, we’ll have a attorney and paralegal from not-so-huge law firms discussing the tools and workflows they use to successfully navigate the e-discovery world in which they practice.Questions the moderator will ask the speaker: · First let's define small firm. Why do small/mid-size firms need to be smart about eDiscovery? What challenges do they face which big firms may not?· How should a small/mid-size firm address eDiscovery technology – should they invest and manage their own, or look for external partners?· What are some good tools for eDiscovery for these firms?· How can a small/mid-size firm upskill in eDiscovery?What’s your one action point/next step for small/mid-size firms listening to this podcast?Moderator:@Rachel McAdams, Senior Consultant, Sky DiscoverySpeaker:@Tom O’Connor, Director, Gulf Coast Legal Technology CenterRecorded on 06-28-2023

Do You Want to Build a Podcast? Unraveling the Magic Behind ”Entertaining” Content

Your average end user now spends more time consuming and sharing educational entertainment than ever before.
From podcasts to film documentaries, there is a formula that keeps us coming back for more, and ensures the audience retains that information well enough to talk about it with everyone they know. How do we capture that spark in professional learning? As trainers and developers, how do we bring entertainment to education? What looks easier than it actually is, and what is far easier than it looks?
What kind of talent can help you create and execute that vision? In this session, learners will identify the educational fundamentals we see in this genre of entertainment, and then brainstorm opportunities to blend entertainment tactics into our learning strategy to make exciting podcasts.
 
Questions the moderator asked the speaker:  
We’d love to hear your origin story.  [Insert what we know about them to show engagement with the panel.] What inspired you to create your current podcast series?
Is there anything that surprised you along your journey?
Many of our listeners work for legal organizations which have contemplated or actually implemented podcasts.  What are some things to watch out for when building your first podcast?
My guess is a newbie podcaster may see a decent level of interest in their early podcasts perhaps because of its’ novelty.  However, the newbie may see some drop-off over time.  What have you found to be successful ways to maintain audience engagement?  Related, any tips on building your audience?
Many law firms and other legal organizations have created their own podcasts.  What have you found that makes your podcast a differentiator?
I’ve heard of many podcasts bubbling up from within a law firm.  As an example, BD has a podcast, Knowledge Management has one, and multiple partners have created one perhaps even in conjunction with partners at other law firms.  Assuming there is value in coordinated efforts at a firm, do you have any recommendations for combining forces?
I’ve heard of edutainment – the combination of education and entertainment.  What have you learned from other podcasters or your own experience on blending the best of those worlds?
Any practical tips generally – for example, have you found the best duration for a podcast (e.g., 20 minutes, 60 minutes)?  Audio quality tips? Upside/downsides to inviting guests?  Stick to only audio or sometimes include video?
 
Moderator:@Alejandro Vallellanes - Former Global Senior Manager of Research, Baker McKenzie
Speaker:@Greg Lambert - Chief Knowledge Services Officer, Jackson Walker L.L.P
 
Recorded on 06-28-2023

ILTA Technology Competency: Episode 7

ILTA sits down with an array of SMEs from universities, law firms, and our partners, to talk technical competency rule ABA 1.1 and how technology has evolved and changed the way new lawyers and students learn and thus, practice. Keep up with ILTA and guests as we unpack the ever-changing world of learning and what competency means to them.
 
Episode 7 features Kenton Brice, Director of the Law Library at the University of Oklahoma College of Law

ILTA Technology Competency: Episode 6

ILTA sits down with an array of SMEs from universities, law firms, and our partners, to talk technical competency rule ABA 1.1 and how technology has evolved and changed the way new lawyers and students learn and thus, practice. Keep up with ILTA and guests as we unpack the ever-changing world of learning and what competency means to them.
 
Episode 6 features Michelle Hook Dewey, Legal Technologies Librarian and Associate Professor Legal Technologies Librarian and Associate Professor, Georgia State University College of Law