Transfer Station: Success at Succession Planning and a LegalTech Adoption Update with Donna Brown and Jaclyn McDuffey

I spoke with a solo attorney, who gets a heck of a lot done in her unique practice niche, by leveraging AI + business planning.   Episode Highlights 02:12 - Overwhelming AI solutions in law. 03:56 - Jess Birken recommends note-taking AI. 04:48 - Fathom: AI for virtual meetings. 06:31 - Flat fees vs. hourly billing for AI efficiency. 07:25 - AI in competitive practice areas. 08:55 - Using AI for marketing in law. 12:50 - The rise of podcasting for marketing. 16:05 - Transition to nonprofit law. 18:41 - Vetting AI tools for legal use. 21:00 - Balancing innovation with caution in AI. 23:48 - Prioritizing intentions over rigid plans.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected]  https://redcavelegal.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal  www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/  Connect with Jess Birken https://birkenlaw.com/  [email protected]   

I talked with an attorney who owns a law firm and real estate closing company about how he grew his organizations using acquisition as a tool, as well as about how the firm has stayed on track by adopting modern technology.   Episode Highlights 01:04 - Commitment to actionable insights. 02:05 - Creating a fun workplace culture. 06:22 - Impact of culture and dynamics. 07:39 - Using unexpected initiatives. 10:57 - Decision-making and organizational charts. 13:35 - Featuring the human side of business with events. 17:33 - Approach to business and acquisitions. 19:12 - Opportunities in legal and closing business models. 27:17 - Decision on adopting Qualia for business. 31:43 - Using AI in legal practices. 34:35 - Future for lawyers in AI integration.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected]  https://redcavelegal.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal  www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/  Connect with Jack O'Donohue https://touchstoneclosing.com/  https://touchstonelawoffices.com/  https://www.youtube.com/@DonutDigest  [email protected]   

I spoke with a senior paralegal about best practice tips for intake + client service.   Episode Highlights 02:45 - Automations in CRM to filter conversations. 04:04 - The "CRM as ATM" concept for law firms. 06:13 - The importance of cultural responsiveness in client communication. 07:46 - The value of short, effective intake forms. 11:03 - Benefits of outsourcing roles in firms. 12:56 - Effective use of answering services. 16:13 - Importance of metrics and lead tracking. 19:45 - Training clients for law firm communication expectations. 22:15 - Simplifying software usage in law firms. 25:01 - Exploring artificial intelligence in legal practices.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected]  https://redcavelegal.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal  www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/  Connect with Vanessa Reynolds gmrodriguezlaw.com  [email protected]   

I spoke with a lawyer, developer, educator & data scientist about how AI is disrupting law practice & legal education.   Episode Highlights 03:33 - AI revolution challenge for law firms. 05:57 - What is agentic AI? 11:41 - Custom GPTs in practice. 19:52 - Bias in AI and its implications. 25:52 - Tackling AI fairness and justice. 32:57 - Star Trek's predictive view on AI. 36:01 - The concept of P-Doom. 45:20 - Role-playing in AI and law education. 48:30 - The promise of AI in education. 54:41 - Legal students' interaction with AI tools.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected]  https://redcavelegal.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal  www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/  Connect with David Colarusso https://suffolklitlab.org/  https://lawrpg.org/  [email protected] 

I spoke with Jordan Furlong, of Law21, a legal futurist, about what impact AI is having (and, will have) on lawyers.   Episode Highlights 04:51 - Large language models and ChatGPT in law. 05:39 - General-purpose technology's ubiquity. 07:39 - The empowerment potential of AI. 09:57 - Rethinking legal tasks and roles. 16:59 - AI adoption in law firms: Challenges and opportunities. 19:04 - Billable hours and changing legal pricing. 37:11 - Law21 consulting focus: Adaptation in legal services. 39:59 - The need for legal industry transformation. 54:12 - Reflecting on societal and historical responsibilities.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected]  https://redcavelegal.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal  www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/  Connect with Jordan Furlong [email protected]  https://www.law21.ca/   

I spoke with a consultant who builds document automation tools for private law firms & legal aid agencies, among others.   Episode Highlights 01:21 - Problem of slow document generation. 03:10 - Automating documents with DocAssemble. 07:11 - Open source vs. commercial software. 08:52 - Potential and barriers of document automation. 11:01 - Challenges in automating complex documents. 12:02 - Logic and formatting complexity. 14:09 - Customization in legal tech. 15:51 - Impact of budget cuts on Legal Services Corporation. 16:52 - Legal aid's critical role for community stability. 18:56 - AI's impact on the legal intake process. 20:14 - AI tools for legal outreach. 22:16 - Environmental concerns regarding AI. 23:52 - Upcoming legal innovation conference in Boston.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected]  https://redcavelegal.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal  www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/  Connect with Quinten Steenhuis https://lemmalegal.com/  https://suffolklitlab.org/  [email protected]   

I spoke to a member of a legaltech implementation & customization firm - the former owner & the new owner, as we spoke about the state of legal software & AI.   Episode Highlights 03:29 - Donna and Jackie offer tech solutions. 04:01 - Importance of customized tech stacks. 06:01 - Evolution from limited to vast legal tech. 09:17 - Jackie on internal transitions and recruitment. 11:48 - The growing allure of Oklahoma City. 14:44 - Shift towards alternative legal billing. 20:51 - AI's role in law firm billing discussions. 25:15 - Automation's impact on billing approvals. 29:37 - Consolidation trends in Legal Tech.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected]  https://redcavelegal.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal  www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/  Connect with Donna Brown and Jaclyn McDuffey https://www.beyondsquareone.com/   

I spoke with a business attorney who works for corporations and handles crisis litigation about his practice.   Episode Highlights 03:06 - Importance of technology in managing court deadlines. 06:43 - Evolution and significance of docket calendaring. 08:52 - Insights into selecting travel bags for lawyers. 09:36 - Recommendations for travel gadgets and mice. 10:28 - Sports memorabilia collecting insights. 12:07 - Favorite sports memorabilia pieces. 14:05 - Concept of crisis litigation explained. 17:11 - Handling chaotic legal situations. 19:07 - Working with corporations and honest communication. 21:37 - Key to maintaining lawyer-client relationships. 23:14 - Personal management style advice for lawyers.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected]  https://redcavelegal.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal  www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/  Connect with Adam Hersh https://bluechip.law/ourteam/adam-hersh/ 

I talked with my guest about adopting and managing legal technology with an eye toward law firm ethics.   Episode Highlights 03:51 - Essential Legal Tech Tools 06:00 - Vendor Partnership Program at alps 06:51 - Wire Fraud and Its Risks 07:59 - Deepfake Scams in Transactions 09:23 - Technology Integration Challenges 10:05 - Importance of Tech Training 13:23 - Tech Adoption Barriers for Lawyers 15:28 - Vetting Tech Vendors for Security 18:11 - Younger Lawyers and Tech Challenges 19:29 - Importance of Processes and Workflows 20:47 - Vetting Software for Risk Reduction 25:51 - Selecting Malpractice Insurance 27:59 - Necessity of Cyber Insurance   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected]  https://redcavelegal.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal  www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/  Connect with Rio Laine https://www.alpsinsurance.com/   

I spoke with a long-time employee of LexisNexis, about where AI search is, and where it's going.   Episode Highlights 02:51 - Google or general AI tools vs. Lexis AI for legal research. 03:53 - Generative AI assistant "Protege" by LexisNexis. 05:08 - Lexis Plus AI's approach to addressing hallucinations. 09:08 - Evolution of legal tech over the years. 10:32 - Legal industry's AI adoption increases. 12:14 - Simon's personal journey at LexisNexis since 1999. 18:28 - Importance of user-focused AI tools at LexisNexis. 20:03 - AI-driven workflow strategies in legal research. 24:09 - Less known Lexis features: Search-tree explanation.   Episode Resources Connect with Jared Correia [email protected]  https://redcavelegal.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia  https://twitter.com/RedCaveLegal  www.linkedin.com/in/jaredcorreia/  Connect with Simon Weierman https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonweierman/