Ep 7: Rethinking Law Through Design

In this episode of Future Contracts, Electra sits down with Ed Boal—General Counsel and Legal Domain Expert at StructureFlow—to talk about legal exceptionalism, productizing legal work, and how in-house teams can scale without clinging to the billable hour or bespoke tools.Ed shares lessons from his journey across private practice, in-house legal, and LegalTech, including why being “closer to the business” changed his entire mindset—and how legal teams can borrow from product and engineering to build for the future.They unpack the myths of legal uniqueness, the reality of AI’s impact on junior lawyers, and what it really means to shift from chaos-reactive to strategically proactive. If you’ve ever been stuck drawing org charts in PowerPoint at 2am, this one’s for you.

Legal tech has exploded from a niche industry into a global market worth billions. In this episode, Electra sits down with Timo of Cosmonauts to trace that journey—from the early days of e-discovery and CLM to today’s AI-powered tools that are reshaping how legal services are delivered. They explore why so many CLM projects failed, what’s driving the rise of point solutions, and how generative AI is lowering barriers for SMEs and consumers alike. Timo also shares predictions on consolidation, new business models, and why the biggest opportunities in legal tech may lie outside of law firms altogether.Learn more about Future Contracts London at www.futurecontractslondon.com

Electra sits down with Alex Herrity, Director of Legal Solutions at Adidas, to talk about what it really takes to scale legal operations in a global business. From his journey as a contracts lawyer to leading a legal ops team, Alex shares lessons on technology, AI pilots, change management, and how legal can position itself as an innovator inside the enterprise.Alex is also the co-host of Law // What’s Next, a podcast exploring the future of legal ops and technology.

Lawyer, consultant, and creator Chrissie Wolfe joins Electra Japonas to talk about the future of law in an AI-powered world. They explore what it means to be an AI-first versus AI-enabled firm, why lawyers struggle with identity when facing technological change, and how Gen Z is reshaping the profession with fresh perspectives. Chrissie also shares her journey of building an independent practice, the role of social media in her career, and why firms should see junior lawyers as both learners and leaders.

Contracts shouldn’t be confusing. In this episode of Future Contracts, Electra sits down with Frances Gordon, UK ambassador for the Plain Language Association International, to unpack how plain language and the new ISO 24495 standard are reshaping legal and financial documents.They explore why clarity reduces disputes and builds trust, how plain language can actually lower risk, and the surprising role generative AI can play in scaling these efforts. Frances also shares real-world examples and points to case studies collected in Writing for Dollars, Writing to Please, showing how clear communication drives real business results.If you’ve ever wrestled with unreadable contracts—or wondered how to make them better—this episode is for you.

The Legal Tech Adoption GapFeaturing Joost Bokhorst, Senior Legal Counsel at CyberArkWhy do legal teams invest in tech tools—only to see them sit unused? In this episode, Electra Japonas sits down with Joost Bokhorst to unpack the messy reality of legal tech adoption. From building a business case that speaks the language of the business, to managing expectations and driving team engagement, Joost shares real-world lessons from the front lines. Expect candid stories, practical insights, and a healthy dose of humor as they explore why change is so hard—and what to do about it.💡 Topics include:– Building a business case that actually gets funded– Why user adoption is the real make-or-break– How to avoid “tool fatigue” in growing legal teams– What vendors get wrong (and how they can do better)

🎙️ Professor, Innovator, ChangemakerIn this episode of Future Contracts, Electra sits down with Professor Marcia Narine Weldon, Director of the Transactional Skills Program at the University of Miami School of Law, to explore how legal education is evolving to meet the demands of modern practice.They discuss the rise of AI in legal workflows, how law students are being trained for roles that didn’t exist 10 years ago, and why legal design and client-centricity are non-negotiable in today’s profession. From Marcia’s experiences teaching transactional law to her observations about what makes legal teams effective, this episode bridges the classroom and the boardroom with clarity and vision.💡 Whether you’re training the next generation or leading a team today, this conversation is packed with forward-looking insight.

What happens when you apply design thinking to legal work—without the buzzwords?In this episode, Electra is joined by Astrid Kohlmeier, a pioneer in legal design and co-author of The Legal Design Book. Together they unpack what legal design really means beyond sticky notes and whiteboards—and how it’s driving a more human, usable, and intuitive approach to contracts and legal systems.They talk about:The misconceptions and hype around legal designHow design helps lawyers better align with business needsWhere the biggest friction still exists in contract workflowsThe balance between visual tools and legal substanceWhether you're new to legal design or deep in the weeds of process improvement, this conversation challenges assumptions and invites a fresh take on the role of design in legal transformation.📘 Want to explore more? Check out The Legal Design Book by Astrid Kohlmeier and Meera Klemola — a hands-on guide to rethinking legal systems through user-centered design.🎧 Subscribe to The Future Contracts Podcast for more conversations about what’s changing in the world of contracts—and who’s building what’s next.

In this episode of Future Contracts, Electra Japonas speaks with Nate Kostelnik, in-house counsel at the Oncology Nursing Society, about how in-house teams can build scalable, repeatable systems around commercial contracting. Drawing on his experience with procurement, standardization, and internal playbooks, Nate shares how his team is empowering business partners to manage contracts more independently—without compromising legal oversight. They discuss how data can drive smarter fallback positions, why lawyers should rethink their role in enabling business, and what it really looks like to operationalize legal workflows inside a mission-driven nonprofit.Whether you're building a legal function from scratch or trying to scale without burning out your legal team, this episode is packed with thoughtful insight on the real future of contracts.

"What’s hype—and what’s actually changing in legal tech?"In this episode of Future Contracts, Electra Japonas sits down with Richard Tromans, founder of Artificial Lawyer and longtime analyst of legal innovation, to break down the three eras of legal tech—and where AI fits into the current wave of change.Together, they reflect on decades of efforts to modernize legal services, from early eDiscovery to today’s generative AI boom. Richard challenges the industry to move past superficial tools and buzzwords and instead focus on meaningful transformation: the systems, workflows, and market demands actually shaping how legal work gets done.Whether you’re skeptical or optimistic about AI’s potential in law, this episode offers a sharp, grounded take on what it will really take to shift legal service delivery in a lasting way.🎧 Topics covered:The 3 phases of legal tech: from point solutions to platform warsWhy most lawyers aren’t actually using today’s toolsThe role of clients in driving change—and why they’re getting louderHype cycles vs. real innovationHow AI fits into the next wave of legal workWhat's missing from the current conversationAbout the guest:Richard Tromans is the founder of Artificial Lawyer, one of the leading publications covering legal innovation and technology. He’s advised law firms, vendors, and investors on legal strategy and transformation and is known for cutting through buzz to get to what really matters.If you’re working in legal ops, tech, or just trying to stay ahead of the shift, don’t miss this episode.👉 Subscribe, follow, and share to stay tuned for more conversations at the intersection of legal work, technology, and change.