More Than A Lawyer with Holly Cope

JOIN THE AI AGENT BUILD FOR LAWYERS WAITLIST HERE: https://www.fridayaiadvisory.com/ When everyone has AI, which lawyers will still matter in 2027?I spent years climbing the corporate ladder in lawI spent years adding "strings to my bow."That process doesn’t stop because AI has arrived.But we do need to reconsider what belongs in that toolkitThe question I find more useful than “Will AI take my job?” is this one:“How do I become the lawyer of tomorrow?”1. What will clients need from me?2. What will legal teams look like?3. Which skills should I start developing now?We have always invested in becoming better lawyers.Now we need to think carefully about what being a VALUABLE future lawyer will actually mean.And I think that's a much more exciting future to prepare for. Don't you?That’s what I explore in my latest article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/which-lawyers-still-matter-2027-holly-cope-72rfe/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I'm sitting down with:Raffi Isanians, a former BigLaw M&A lawyer (with experience at Kirkland & Ellis, Gunderson, and Goodwin), Y Combinator alum, and founder of Mage Legal.Marcelo Moura, a dual-qualified associate in Mishcon de Reya’s Commercial Litigation team, co-founder of AI2L, and UK Ambassador of the Brazilian Legal Tech Association (AB2L). He has worked in law since 2005 and has been involved in AI, innovation, and legal-tech initiatives since 2017.Mike Kochkin, founder at BeSavvy, an AI-powered legal training platform helping law firms rethink how lawyers learn, develop judgment, and build practical skills in an AI-first world.We discuss the difference between automating legal tasks and replacing the lawyer, the risks of relying on AI without review, and the skills lawyers need to practise as their work changes. Mike also offers a practical response to the training challenge: faster feedback, stronger first principles thinking, and the ability to assess the answers AI produces.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Raffi Isanians00:23 Will AI replace lawyers or change their work03:52 Training programme announcement06:12 Why lawyers need to invest time in learning AI07:25 AI native law firms and the need for oversight10:05 Are lawyers training their own replacement11:11 AI as a copilot and the value of human lawyers12:37 Building the future law firm with lawyers and developers13:48 Marcelo Moura on future proofing your legal skills16:33 Why you cannot outsource your reasoning16:57 Mike Kochkin on how the role of junior lawyers is changing17:24 AI handles the writing while lawyers focus on content18:04 How AI can shorten the learning and feedback loop19:18 AI gives answers but lawyers must judge them20:19 First principles thinking before AI tools20:54 AI agents builders and client relationships--------Want to build AI agents for your own legal work?Join me for The Global AI Agent Build for Lawyers, a six-week live programme starting in January 2027.Build a working AI agent around the legal tasks you handle every day.Learn through live workshops, expert office hours and hands-on practice.Test your agent’s accuracy and put safeguards in place for client confidentiality and human review.Join the Waitlist here:https://www.fridayaiadvisory.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

JOIN THE AI Agent Build for Lawyers WAITLIST HEREhttps://www.fridayaiadvisory.com/In this episode, I'm talking with Joey Irwin, Co-Founder of Kyra Law, an AI-native law firm for startups. Joey shares his journey from Linklaters and Monzo to spending a year experimenting with AI and building the foundations of a new legal business.We explore how Kyra combines AI agents, shared institutional knowledge and experienced lawyers to deliver legal services with upfront fees and responsive communication. Joey explains how the firm captures each client’s preferences, checks work before it leaves the business, and uses automation to create more space for judgment, relationships and flexible working.We also discuss winning clients, moving towards more complex work, and why the most useful question lawyers can ask about AI is: how will this improve my client’s experience?Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:00 What is an AI-native law firm?04:00 Training programme06:19 Upfront fees, responsiveness and better client communication09:38 Inside Kyra: AI agents and a second brain for clients16:37 Quality control, governance and client data20:14 Building the platform and taking on more complex work22:56 Joey’s journey from Linklaters and Monzo to Kyra24:37 A year of vibe coding and building without external funding28:58 Winning clients and earning repeat business31:46 The admin iceberg: automation, judgment and strategy32:42 Making legal work more enjoyable and flexible35:17 AI skills, agents and putting clients first--------Want to build AI agents for your own legal work?Join me for The Global AI Agent Build for Lawyers, a six-week live programme starting in January 2027.Build a working AI agent around the legal tasks you handle every day.Learn through live workshops, expert office hours and hands-on practice.Test your agent’s accuracy and put safeguards in place for client confidentiality and human review.Join the waitlist herehttps://www.fridayaiadvisory.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm talking with Marcelo Moura, a dual-qualified associate in Mishcon de Reya’s Commercial Litigation team, co-founder of AI2L, and UK Ambassador of the Brazilian Legal Tech Association (AB2L). He has worked in law since 2005 and has been involved in AI, innovation, and legal-tech initiatives since 2017.We compare Brazil’s high-volume, increasingly digitised courts with the UK’s legal system and explore how different rules shape legal technology. Marcelo also shares why he once feared AI would replace lawyers, how to use LLMs without outsourcing human judgment, and what thoughtful AI adoption means for law firms, lawyers, and students.Chapters00:00 Meet Marcelo Moura and explore Brazil’s legal-tech story02:42 Why Marcelo calls Brazil “the largest legal-tech laboratory in the world”05:15 The Newsletter05:32 Paperless courts and how legal systems shape legal technology08:26 Brazil’s legal-tech market: predictive analytics and online dispute resolution14:06 The risks of automating court filings and the limits of court efficiency16:05 Why so many Brazilian consumer disputes become individual cases19:44 Brazil’s legal market and untapped business potential21:40 Why legal-tech markets should learn from each other28:13 Automation and the value of bespoke legal work33:17 How fear of AI shaped Marcelo’s career and led him to speak up36:06 How AI became part of everyday legal practice37:26 Will AI mean fewer lawyers, and how can lawyers prepare?40:18 AI in legal education and the value of learning by doing42:21 What a law firm’s AI strategy needs to consider---Each week I take what I'm hearing in conversations with legal leaders.I analyze the market and track emerging trends in this AI era.In my newsletter called The Future Lawyer Market Intel for the AI eraI'm focused on:What AI is exposingThe opportunitiesThe blind spotsAnd the shifts shaping the next five years.This is how you see the chessboard before everyone else does:https://hollycope.my.canva.site/thefuturelawyer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm joined by leaders working at the highest levels of corporate legal practice, big law, and public service:• Sonia Cisse, Tech, Cybersecurity, Privacy, E-Commerce, and Fintech Partner at Linklaters.• David Mazur, Vice President, General Counsel, and Compliance Officer for Research and Development at Nestlé.• Alexandre Verrien, Legal Executive and former Legal Director of France for Dell Technologies.• Peter Boyce, Legal Deputy Director in the UK Civil Service and AI lead for his agency.• Amy Cronin, Senior Director of Legal at Skyscanner.We explore one of the biggest questions facing the legal profession: where should AI stop and human judgment begin?From algorithmic bias and verification to governance, legal risk, and team culture, this conversation goes far beyond productivity tools. We discuss why human empathy, negotiation nuance, and strategic thinking remain the legal system's greatest strengths, and what core skills lawyers must build to thrive in the age of AI.You'll hear perspectives on AI literacy, prompt engineering, legal data hygiene, and future-proof skill sets that most lawyers aren't talking about yet.In this episode:00:00 - Sonia Cisse: Adaptability & Legal Mindset Shifting00:38 - AI Risk Assessment & Data Security Governance01:01 - Generative AI Literacy & Operational Fluency02:01 - AI-Augmented Career Positioning for Junior Lawyers04:16 - Cross-Disciplinary Hybridization (Legal Data Science)04:42 - The Newsletter05:13 - Introduction David Mazur05:23 - High-Level Strategic Legal Thinking & Deal Structuring05:59 - Visual Legal Communication & Stakeholder Influence06:27 - Scientific Experimentation & Applied Curiosity07:40 - Secure Contextual Research & AI Thinking Partnership08:55 - Strategic Regulatory Oversight & Ethical AI Governance09:49 - Introduction Alexandre Verrien10:08 - Complex Negotiation & Strategic Human Judgment11:27 - "Human-in-the-Loop" Quality Control & Output Verification11:55 - Advanced Prompt Engineering & Context Framing (Avoiding GIGO)12:40 - Legal Data Hygiene & Corporate Information Architecture13:33 - Legal Process Optimization & Change Leadership (PPT Framework)14:58 - Introduction Peter Boyce & Amy Cronin15:38 - Critical Thinking, Advocacy & High-Order Soft Skills16:11 - Technical LLM Literacy & Vendor Evaluation16:46 - Continuous Upskilling & Structured Innovation Management17:23 - No-Code Legal Engineering & AI Agent Building18:01 - AI Liability Ownership & Adaptive Growth Mindset---Each week I take what I'm hearing in conversations with legal leaders.I analyze the market and track emerging trends in this AI era.In my newsletter called The Future Lawyer Market Intel for the AI eraI'm focused on:What AI is exposingThe opportunitiesThe blind spotsAnd the shifts shaping the next five years.This is how you see the chessboard before everyone else does:https://hollycope.my.canva.site/thefuturelawyer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I'm sitting down with Raffi Isanians, a former BigLaw M&A lawyer (with experience at Kirkland & Ellis, Gunderson, and Goodwin), Y Combinator alum, and founder of Mage Legal.Mage Legal helps law firms and in-house legal teams automate legal due diligence by scanning data rooms, flagging risky clauses, generating reports, and producing follow-up questionnaires. Alongside building Mage, Rafi runs Coding for Lawyers, an initiative that helps legal professionals develop technical skills to build with AI better.We talk about why AI won't replace human lawyers, but will radically alter how law firms operate, price, and compete.You’ll hear fresh perspectives on why today's top law firms are becoming technology companies, why treating AI like a "smart associate" changes how you prompt, and what attorneys need to do now if they want to stay relevant in an AI-first world.Timestamps:00:00 — Intro02:08 — Why AI Won't Replace Lawyers (But Will Reshape Everything)03:40 — Why Lawyers Should Be Worried About Being Left Behind05:38 — The Newsletter06:10 — Overcoming Risk-Aversion & Investing in Tools09:29 — "Vibe Coding" & The Shift in Legal Mindset11:01 — AI-Native Law Firms: Recipe for Disaster or Future Necessity?13:24 — Case Study: Cleary Gottlieb & Cleary X14:08 — Debunking the Myth: Are Lawyers Training AI to Replace Them?18:16 — Prompting Best Practices: Treat AI Like a Smart Associate20:56 — Skills for the Future: Do Lawyers Need Technical Depth?22:52 — Over-Reliance on Legal Tech & Vendor Dynamics26:33 — How Legal Tech Companies Survive: Bridging Tech & Legal Expertise31:02 — What AI Can't Replace: Human Connection & Emotional Labor34:33 — Building the Law Firm of the Future39:09 — Outro---------Each week I take what I'm hearing in conversations with legal leaders.I analyze the market and track emerging trends in this AI era.In my newsletter called The Future Lawyer Market Intel for the AI eraI'm focused on:What AI is exposingThe opportunitiesThe blind spotsAnd the shifts shaping the next five years.This is how you see the chessboard before everyone else does:https://hollycope.my.canva.site/thefuturelawyer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the biggest concerns about AI in law is that if AI does all the junior work, how will junior lawyers learn? I've discussed this many times on my podcast. After all, legal careers have traditionally been built through repetition, reviewing documents, researching, drafting, making mistakes, and getting feedback.I'm repeating this cycle thousands of times.The assumption is that if AI removes some of that work, it removes the learning. But what if the opposite is true?Today I'm sitting down with Mike Kochkin, founder at BeSavvy, an AI-powered legal training platform helping law firms rethink how lawyers learn, develop judgment, and build practical skills in an AI-first world.Mike is one of the most thoughtful voices I've spoken to on the future of legal education. Rather than focusing on AI as a productivity tool, he explores how it can transform the way junior lawyers develop expertise, confidence, and professional judgment.We discuss how AI is reshaping legal training and why many of the assumptions law firms have about developing junior talent may no longer hold true.Mike shares a fascinating perspective: AI isn't creating a training gap. It's solving a century-old problem.You'll hear perspectives on legal education, professional development, and AI adoption that most lawyers aren't talking about yet.In this episode, we cover:• Why AI may dramatically shorten legal learning and feedback cycles• The difference between a "training gap" and a "shift in focus"• Why first-principles thinking matters more than learning legal tech tools• How AI-powered simulations can accelerate professional development• The hidden problem with traditional legal training models• Why junior lawyers are becoming afraid to use AI• How law firms can create safe environments for learning and experimentation• The future of virtual vacation schemes and AI-driven legal education• Why product builders and relationship builders will both thrive in law firms• How AI could generate personalised legal training experiences on demand• The role of judgment, risk assessment, and critical thinking in an AI-first profession• Why legal tech skills may be less important than most lawyers think• How law firms should prepare their training programmes for the next generation of lawyersIf you're a lawyer, law student, legal innovator, or simply interested in how AI will reshape professional expertise, this conversation offers a glimpse into what legal education could look like over the next decade.---Each week I take what I'm hearing in conversations with legal leaders.I analyze the market and track emerging trends in this AI era.In my newsletter called The Future Lawyer Market Intel for the AI eraI'm focused on:What AI is exposingThe opportunitiesThe blind spotsAnd the shifts shaping the next five years.This is how you see the chessboard before everyone else does:https://hollycope.my.canva.site/thefuturelawyer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm joined by three leaders working at the highest levels of legal practice and regulation.Brett Dixon, Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales and a long-time advocate for access to justice, legal innovation, and procedural reform.William Findlay, Head of Legal Regulatory at Revolut.James Smither, Global Head of Risk Management at Freshfields. James is a self-described "risk geek" dedicated to redefining how law firms perceive uncertainty as both a massive upside and a critical downside.We explore one of the biggest questions facing the legal profession: where should AI stop and human judgement begin?From algorithmic bias and hallucinations to governance, legal risk, and the future of common law, this conversation goes far beyond productivity tools. We discuss why the flexibility of human judgement remains one of the legal system's greatest strengths and what could be lost if we hand too much decision-making to machines.You'll hear perspectives on AI, justice, legal ethics, risk management, and the future of legal practice that most lawyers aren't talking about yet.---Each week I take what I'm hearing in conversations with legal leaders.I analyze the market and track emerging trends in this AI era.In my newsletter called The Future Lawyer Market Intel for the AI eraI'm focused on:What AI is exposingThe opportunitiesThe blind spotsAnd the shifts shaping the next five years.This is how you see the chessboard before everyone else does:https://hollycope.my.canva.site/thefuturelawyer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm talking with Alexandre Verrien.He used to be the legal director of France for Dell Technologies, but now he works for himself as a legal executive.With decades of experience at the intersection of law and technology, Alex offers a unique perspective on how AI is reshaping legal departments, law firms, and the future role of lawyers themselves.We explore what an AI-first legal future actually looks like and why many legal teams still aren't prepared for the transformation already underway.Alex shares practical insights on legal tech adoption, the mindset barriers holding teams back, and why successful AI implementation is far more about people and processes than technology alone.Key Topics Discussed:Why the future of law will be increasingly technological and AI-driven.The mindset challenges preventing legal teams from embracing change.Whether AI will replace lawyers and where human judgment remains irreplaceable.How AI is already reducing workloads and reshaping legal team structures.Why junior lawyers are still essential despite automation.New roles emerging inside legal departments, including Legal AI Engineers and Legal Data Analysts.The importance of clean data and "human-in-the-loop" review processes.Why many legal departments lack a clear AI strategy.The risks of a "wait and see" approach to legal technology.How legal leaders can prepare their teams for the next decadeAlex argues that while AI can accelerate drafting, review, and administrative work, it cannot replace negotiation skills, business judgment, or the human understanding required in complex legal situations.The Legal Department of 2030 Will Look Very Different.---Each week I take what I'm hearing in conversations with legal leaders.I analyse the market and track emerging trends in this AI era.In my newsletter called The Future Lawyer Market Intel for the AI eraI'm focused on:What AI is exposingThe opportunitiesThe blind spotsAnd the shifts shaping the next five years.This is how you see the chessboard before everyone else does:https://hollycope.my.canva.site/thefuturelawyer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm talking with Brett Dixon, Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales and a long-time advocate for access to justice, legal innovation, and procedural reform.Brett brings a unique perspective from both frontline legal practice and legal policymaking, offering a thoughtful view on how AI should - and shouldn’t - be integrated into the justice system.We explore one of the biggest questions facing the legal profession today: can AI strengthen access to justice without undermining trust in the legal system?Brett shares why integrity, transparency, and human oversight must remain at the centre of any AI-driven future, and explains why he prefers to think of AI as augmented intelligence rather than artificial intelligence.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the UK legal system's reputation depends on maintaining transparency and accountability.The dangers of AI hallucinations in legal practice and how lawyers can spot them.Why human judgment remains essential in courts and legal decision-making.How AI can improve access to justice without replacing lawyers.The risks of bias in AI systems and how training data shapes outcomes.Why common law relies on human creativity and legal evolution.What regulation of legal AI may look like in the coming years.The growing divide between large firms adopting AI rapidly and smaller firms struggling with resources.Why the future of legal services is likely to be AI-assisted rather than AI-replaced.How law firms can approach AI strategically while protecting client trust.The future of legal AI isn't about removing humans from the process.It's about using technology to enhance human expertise while preserving the principles that make justice work: integrity, transparency, accountability, and access for everyone.As Brett argues, the legal profession has always been full of problem-solvers and innovators. The challenge now is ensuring AI serves those values rather than replacing them.---Each week I take what I'm hearing in conversations with legal leaders.I analyze the market and track emerging trends in this AI era.In my newsletter called The Future Lawyer Market Intel for the AI eraI'm focused on:What AI is exposingThe opportunitiesThe blind spotsAnd the shifts shaping the next five years.This is how you see the chessboard before everyone else does:https://hollycope.my.canva.site/thefuturelawyer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.