I would like to think I am not the only one who gets the impression that, with regards to legal tech, life is moving pretty fast. For clarity, legal tech broadly encompasses the use of software, applications, platforms and other technology to provide legal services and support the practice of law. Within this sector, new developments are reshaping the practice of law, while generative AI dominates all conversations on the future of the legal industry (and everything else for that matter). Add to this a healthy amount of legal tech news sources reporting on all the latest trends, and the task of keeping up with what is happening can feel overwhelming for already overstretched legal professionals.
Despite these challenges, legal professionals are well-advised to stop and look around once in a while to avoid missing out on what is happening in legal tech. For starters, more and more U.S. states, as well as Bar Associations/Law Societies in Canada are imposing technological competence obligations on lawyers. Attorneys now need to familiarize themselves with new technologies and products in order to be able to accurately assess their benefits and risks. Aside from complying with professional duties, becoming technologically savvy will help legal professionals evaluate the strategic value of new technologies and capably meet client demands to use the most efficient and/or cost-effective tools. Increasingly, clients are also asking attorneys to serve as advisors and/or providers of technology solutions as part of their legal services. Beyond that, legal professionals should stay informed to understand and adapt to the potentially revolutionizing effects legal tech may have on the business of law and the legal profession.
In order to stay informed in a manageable way, I find it helpful to both establish routines and make learning about legal tech an interactive activity. As mentioned before, there is a plethora of legal tech news sources available on the web. It is a good idea to take a look through different blogs and news sources, pick your favorites, and then set up automatic updates at a pace that fits your schedule. This keeps information that aligns with your interests and/or criteria flowing at a controlled pace. Beyond blogs and news sources, there are interesting legal tech podcasts for those looking for something to listen to, and their built-in episodic formats automatically manage the flow of information. Not sure where to start? Plenty of websites have compiled lists of what they consider to be the best sources of legal tech news. I suggest perusing their list and browsing the different options, but keep an eye out for the sources that pop up on different lists as those are likely to be the standouts.
For more interactive learning, I recommend attending legal tech conferences. Numerous companies and associations offer conferences and seminars specifically focused on legal tech throughout the year. These events provide opportunities to learn more about Legal Tech from expert panels, roundtables, product demos, as well as providing networking opportunities. Listening to creators of legal tech solutions and people that are both using the technologies and are committed to transforming the legal industry is quite stimulating and helps foster an openness to technology, which is necessary to navigate the world of legal tech. ClearyX has had the opportunity to sponsor a few amazingly informative conferences, including CANLIF Toronto, Legal Innovators California and Legal Innovators UK. Another way to further embrace technology is to take courses on an area of technology or an intersection between law and technology, that may be of particular interest to you. At ClearyX, for example, we have collectively enrolled in Harvard University’s introduction to computer science, CS50 for Lawyers. There are also plenty of AI training courses for lawyers, both free and paid, for those more interested in keeping an eye on AI. This more “academic” approach to learning about technology can be a good way of acquiring a deeper understanding of legal tech and bringing an innovation mindset to the confines of the legal world.
It is important to remember that legal tech is in a constant state of development and the question is not if it will impact the legal industry and the legal profession but to what extent it will continue to transform the practice of law. By creating a framework to stay informed with what is happening in Legal Tech and leaning in to technology, legal professionals will be well-placed to navigate changing times not by chasing trends or mimicking others but by making educated decisions on what best fits their business, client and/or career needs.
To learn more about legal tech, how it impacts your sector, discuss pain points ripe for an efficiency make over, or find out how ClearyX is utilizing technology to reimagine legal services, feel free to take a step forward and reach out.
*No AI was used or harmed in the drafting of this blog post (except for the picture below).
(Microsoft Designer-Image Creator)