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An Incomplete Inventory of NewLaw
June 4, 2014
So I was asked to give a presentation about “NewLaw.” No problem at all — aside from the minor, niggling detail of...
June 4, 2014
So I was asked to give a presentation about “NewLaw.” No problem at all — aside from the minor, niggling detail of...
These Venture Capitalists Skip Law Firms for Legal Services Startups
May 12, 2014
Venture capitalist Jason Mendelson, in a speech he gave last year, was not venturing much oral capital into the concept of investing in legal services. A corporate and securities-law attorney before he co-founded the Foundry Group, his venture capital firm, Mendelson told a conference he found it difficult to invest in companies serving law firms because, unlike regular enterprise customers, they don't always act rationally when it comes to economics. He warned that most legal startups would fail...
May 12, 2014
Venture capitalist Jason Mendelson, in a speech he gave last year, was not venturing much oral capital into the concept of investing in legal services. A corporate and securities-law attorney before he co-founded the Foundry Group, his venture capital firm, Mendelson told a conference he found it difficult to invest in companies serving law firms because, unlike regular enterprise customers, they don't always act rationally when it comes to economics. He warned that most legal startups would fail...
The Economist on the Affect of Technology on Employment – Including Law
February 16, 2014
This article from The Economist surveys the opinions of several economists on the impact of technology on employment in the near and long term, including white collar occupations like the legal services industry. An excerpt: For much of the 20th century, those arguing that technology brought ever more jobs and prosperity looked to have the better of the debate. Real incomes in Britain scarcely doubled between the beginning of the common era and 1570. They then tripled from 1570 to 1875. And they...
February 16, 2014
This article from The Economist surveys the opinions of several economists on the impact of technology on employment in the near and long term, including white collar occupations like the legal services industry. An excerpt: For much of the 20th century, those arguing that technology brought ever more jobs and prosperity looked to have the better of the debate. Real incomes in Britain scarcely doubled between the beginning of the common era and 1570. They then tripled from 1570 to 1875. And they...
GCs Driving In-House Change, Global Trends
February 6, 2014
The increasing pressure felt by today’s corporate legal departments on a global scale means general counsel must not only alter their practices but also become worldwide change agents for their companies, according to a new research paper from legal services firm Mitratech Holdings Inc. “GCs are presented with a tremendous opportunity to mitigate risk to the business and decrease overall legal costs by taking on the role of change agent to drive consistent, transparent operations for their...
February 6, 2014
The increasing pressure felt by today’s corporate legal departments on a global scale means general counsel must not only alter their practices but also become worldwide change agents for their companies, according to a new research paper from legal services firm Mitratech Holdings Inc. “GCs are presented with a tremendous opportunity to mitigate risk to the business and decrease overall legal costs by taking on the role of change agent to drive consistent, transparent operations for their...
Study: Boom Long Gone, But Firms Get Lift as Year Dawns
January 13, 2014
While a return to the legal industry's pre-2008 halcyon days remains out of reach, law firms should expect to see the modest positive momentum they experienced in the second half of last year extend into 2014, according to a report produced by Citi Private Bank's Law Firm Group and Hildebrandt Consulting. The nine-page client advisory [PDF], which is to be released Monday, notes that though growth in demand for legal services was down 0.6 percent at the end of 2013's third quarter, that figure...
January 13, 2014
While a return to the legal industry's pre-2008 halcyon days remains out of reach, law firms should expect to see the modest positive momentum they experienced in the second half of last year extend into 2014, according to a report produced by Citi Private Bank's Law Firm Group and Hildebrandt Consulting. The nine-page client advisory [PDF], which is to be released Monday, notes that though growth in demand for legal services was down 0.6 percent at the end of 2013's third quarter, that figure...
In-House Legal Departments Turning Into Mini-Firms?
October 24, 2013
Around the world, some in-house legal departments are beginning to wonder what their expertise is worth outside the company. A legal consultant in Australia claims a group of insurance underwriters has considered establishing its own "captive law firm" that would serve its needs as well as other similar clients. And a British construction company is allowing its in-house legal department to offer low-cost services to other companies in the same industry. George Beaton, executive chairman of Beaton...
October 24, 2013
Around the world, some in-house legal departments are beginning to wonder what their expertise is worth outside the company. A legal consultant in Australia claims a group of insurance underwriters has considered establishing its own "captive law firm" that would serve its needs as well as other similar clients. And a British construction company is allowing its in-house legal department to offer low-cost services to other companies in the same industry. George Beaton, executive chairman of Beaton...
Are We All Virtual Lawyers Now?
October 20, 2013
In my Oklahoma Bar Journal column, The Virtual Law Practice − Are We All Virtual Lawyers Now? I play around a bit with the term virtual lawyers and ask some questions about what the term really means. Does it refer only to online delivery of legal services, to lawyers who sometimes telecommute from home or to lawyers who represent clients without physically ever meeting them? If the latter is the case, then there were virtual lawyers before there was the Internet and we are all virtual lawyers...
October 20, 2013
In my Oklahoma Bar Journal column, The Virtual Law Practice − Are We All Virtual Lawyers Now? I play around a bit with the term virtual lawyers and ask some questions about what the term really means. Does it refer only to online delivery of legal services, to lawyers who sometimes telecommute from home or to lawyers who represent clients without physically ever meeting them? If the latter is the case, then there were virtual lawyers before there was the Internet and we are all virtual lawyers...
ReInvent Law Lab Wins 2013 InnovAction Award
September 17, 2013
The ReInvent Law Laboratory at Michigan State University’s College of Law was named a 2013 InnovAction Award winner in recognition of its work to promote innovation in the legal services industry. The InnovAction Awards — now in their ninth year — recognize outstanding innovation in the field of law and delivery of legal services. According to the College of Law Practice Management, which administers the InnovAction program, the awards highlight “what can happen when passionate professionals,...
September 17, 2013
The ReInvent Law Laboratory at Michigan State University’s College of Law was named a 2013 InnovAction Award winner in recognition of its work to promote innovation in the legal services industry. The InnovAction Awards — now in their ninth year — recognize outstanding innovation in the field of law and delivery of legal services. According to the College of Law Practice Management, which administers the InnovAction program, the awards highlight “what can happen when passionate professionals,...
Major US Bank Offers Online Legal Services in Business Hub
August 16, 2013
An exciting breakthrough in online delivery is occurring through the new offering that Suntrust Bank is launching. They have partnered with a third party to create an online Business Hub which provides legal services in addition to assistance with planning, websites, data backup and finances. From the website: ”This online portal helps you create legal documents, develop business plans and generate invoices and financial reports.” It appears to be a one-stop shop for small business owners...
August 16, 2013
An exciting breakthrough in online delivery is occurring through the new offering that Suntrust Bank is launching. They have partnered with a third party to create an online Business Hub which provides legal services in addition to assistance with planning, websites, data backup and finances. From the website: ”This online portal helps you create legal documents, develop business plans and generate invoices and financial reports.” It appears to be a one-stop shop for small business owners...
Fastcase Announces 50 Legal Innovators to Watch
July 27, 2013
With a record number of nominations, online legal research company Fastcase chose its latest class of 50 legal innovators and visionaries to honor in 2013. They include legal technologists and law professors, from start-ups to the establishment, who are inventing, adopting and advocating for new models of delivering legal services. Honoree Raj Abhyanker, co-founder of Trademarkia, which served as the world’s largest trademark firm, recently opened a retail storefront reminiscent of Apple computer...
July 27, 2013
With a record number of nominations, online legal research company Fastcase chose its latest class of 50 legal innovators and visionaries to honor in 2013. They include legal technologists and law professors, from start-ups to the establishment, who are inventing, adopting and advocating for new models of delivering legal services. Honoree Raj Abhyanker, co-founder of Trademarkia, which served as the world’s largest trademark firm, recently opened a retail storefront reminiscent of Apple computer...
