Practice
Cheaper, Faster and Better? AI and the Future of the Profession
October 4, 2016
legal computer judge concept, lady justice isolated on white, 3D illustration.the-lightwriter It's a battle synonymous with innovative technology: the interests of the worker against those of the enterprise. With artificial intelligence (AI) in law, the question gets particularly interesting, as on the one hand, the technology could in theory mean easier access to legal services for those who cannot afford it. On the other, lower costs mean less resources to spend on new attorneys and on maintaining...
October 4, 2016
legal computer judge concept, lady justice isolated on white, 3D illustration.the-lightwriter It's a battle synonymous with innovative technology: the interests of the worker against those of the enterprise. With artificial intelligence (AI) in law, the question gets particularly interesting, as on the one hand, the technology could in theory mean easier access to legal services for those who cannot afford it. On the other, lower costs mean less resources to spend on new attorneys and on maintaining...
Mills Oakley Launches Legal Tech Accelerator, Plans Start-Up JVs
September 30, 2016
Australian law firm Mills Oakley has launched an AUS$500,000 legal tech accelerator to help develop a new wave of entrepreneurs in the legal sector and to partner with them. The firm said it is their intention to negotiate a JV structure with the successful start-ups that complete the programme. The law firm would have a minority stake and first right of refusal in relation to using any new IP or service innovations with those it partners with. The Melbourne-based firm is collaborating with...
September 30, 2016
Australian law firm Mills Oakley has launched an AUS$500,000 legal tech accelerator to help develop a new wave of entrepreneurs in the legal sector and to partner with them. The firm said it is their intention to negotiate a JV structure with the successful start-ups that complete the programme. The law firm would have a minority stake and first right of refusal in relation to using any new IP or service innovations with those it partners with. The Melbourne-based firm is collaborating with...
Emotional Intelligence as Legal Practice Skill
September 26, 2016
This is an older article by Professor Majorie Silver (Touro) but only recently posted on SSRN here that I figured some of our readers might be interested in. The full title is Emotional Intelligence and Legal Education and was first published at 5 Psych. Pub. Poli. & Law 1173 (Dec 1999). Here's the abstract: The traditional knowledge-based law school curriculum is slowly giving way to one that increasingly exposes students to various lawyering skills. Nonetheless, legal educators are generally...
September 26, 2016
This is an older article by Professor Majorie Silver (Touro) but only recently posted on SSRN here that I figured some of our readers might be interested in. The full title is Emotional Intelligence and Legal Education and was first published at 5 Psych. Pub. Poli. & Law 1173 (Dec 1999). Here's the abstract: The traditional knowledge-based law school curriculum is slowly giving way to one that increasingly exposes students to various lawyering skills. Nonetheless, legal educators are generally...
Martindale Nolo Launches Legal Marketing Network
September 24, 2016
Martindale-Nolo, the company formed by Martindale-Hubbell and Nolo.com, has launched a new “legal marketing network.” In a statement, the company, which is now owned by Internet Brands, said: “Martindale-Nolo integrates the deep online marketing resources and brand recognition of Martindale-Hubbell, Nolo.com, and Ngage Live Chat to help attorneys grow their businesses by increasing visibility, building credibility, and accelerating growth. The Martindale-Nolo Legal Marketing...
September 24, 2016
Martindale-Nolo, the company formed by Martindale-Hubbell and Nolo.com, has launched a new “legal marketing network.” In a statement, the company, which is now owned by Internet Brands, said: “Martindale-Nolo integrates the deep online marketing resources and brand recognition of Martindale-Hubbell, Nolo.com, and Ngage Live Chat to help attorneys grow their businesses by increasing visibility, building credibility, and accelerating growth. The Martindale-Nolo Legal Marketing...
Writing Off Legal Troubles
September 24, 2016
That was the genesis of Lit IQ, the company Sangha founded in 2015. Lit IQ’s software permits attorneys to automatically find ambiguities that could cause problems. For example, Sangha says, it might flag a sentence that requires a party to donate only to “educational and religious institutions.” Does that mean only institutions that are both religious and educational, or does it include institutions that are religious or educational but not both? Ambiguities and errors like that matter....
September 24, 2016
That was the genesis of Lit IQ, the company Sangha founded in 2015. Lit IQ’s software permits attorneys to automatically find ambiguities that could cause problems. For example, Sangha says, it might flag a sentence that requires a party to donate only to “educational and religious institutions.” Does that mean only institutions that are both religious and educational, or does it include institutions that are religious or educational but not both? Ambiguities and errors like that matter....
Are Lawyers Ready for the Internet of Things?
August 28, 2016
IoT Law While this sounds wonderful or creepy, it also marks the point that lawyers must become more than tech comfortable. Product liability, personal injury, privacy, commercial, government, and other lawyers all have roles to play in the IoT story. When an Uber car hits another car, who will be responsible? Who does the personal injury lawyer file suit against? What are the standards? Was too little or too much information shared? Was there a breach of contract somewhere? What regulations were...
August 28, 2016
IoT Law While this sounds wonderful or creepy, it also marks the point that lawyers must become more than tech comfortable. Product liability, personal injury, privacy, commercial, government, and other lawyers all have roles to play in the IoT story. When an Uber car hits another car, who will be responsible? Who does the personal injury lawyer file suit against? What are the standards? Was too little or too much information shared? Was there a breach of contract somewhere? What regulations were...
Start-Up Chatomate Pioneers Legal Bots
August 28, 2016
An Edinburgh-based legal tech start-up is looking for law firms and social sector organisations that want to put into action a new generation of chat bots aimed at helping clients and improving access to justice. Srini Janarthanam, founder, ChatomateLegal bot company co-founder, Srini Janarthanam’s baby is called Chatomate and it is only a few months old after launching this April. However, the company has already developed several experimental legal chat bots, initially with a focus on helping...
August 28, 2016
An Edinburgh-based legal tech start-up is looking for law firms and social sector organisations that want to put into action a new generation of chat bots aimed at helping clients and improving access to justice. Srini Janarthanam, founder, ChatomateLegal bot company co-founder, Srini Janarthanam’s baby is called Chatomate and it is only a few months old after launching this April. However, the company has already developed several experimental legal chat bots, initially with a focus on helping...
Why so many businesses are fleeing California for Texas
August 26, 2016
California’s tax and regulatory policies have made the cost of doing business more expensive than other states and prompted about 10,000 companies over the last eight years to leave the state or shift or curtail operations to reduce costs, according to a report from Spectrum Location Solutions. The out-of-state metropolitan areas that benefited included: 1. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 2. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington 3. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale 4. Reno-Sparks 5. Las Vegas-Paradise 6. (tie)...
August 26, 2016
California’s tax and regulatory policies have made the cost of doing business more expensive than other states and prompted about 10,000 companies over the last eight years to leave the state or shift or curtail operations to reduce costs, according to a report from Spectrum Location Solutions. The out-of-state metropolitan areas that benefited included: 1. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 2. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington 3. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale 4. Reno-Sparks 5. Las Vegas-Paradise 6. (tie)...
2015 Law School Graduates Got Fewer Jobs in Private Practice
August 26, 2016
Last year’s law school graduates landed fewer jobs in private practice than any class in the last two decades, according to the National Association for Law Placement, which tracks developments in the legal profession. “You have to go back to 1996 to find a comparably small number of private practice jobs,” said James G. Leipold, the association’s executive director. Private practice includes firms of any size as well as solo practitioners. In 2007, there were 37,123 such jobs, the association...
August 26, 2016
Last year’s law school graduates landed fewer jobs in private practice than any class in the last two decades, according to the National Association for Law Placement, which tracks developments in the legal profession. “You have to go back to 1996 to find a comparably small number of private practice jobs,” said James G. Leipold, the association’s executive director. Private practice includes firms of any size as well as solo practitioners. In 2007, there were 37,123 such jobs, the association...
Big New Study on Necessary Lawyering Skills
August 24, 2016
The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System released a new “Foundations of Practice” study based on a survey of more than 24,000 lawyers nationwide. The study identifies “foundations” that lawyers need in the short term after graduation. The following are the items that at least 85% of the respondents said were needed: Communication ● listen attentively and respectfully (91.5%) ● respond promptly to inquiries and requests (91.0%) Emotional and Interpersonal...
August 24, 2016
The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System released a new “Foundations of Practice” study based on a survey of more than 24,000 lawyers nationwide. The study identifies “foundations” that lawyers need in the short term after graduation. The following are the items that at least 85% of the respondents said were needed: Communication ● listen attentively and respectfully (91.5%) ● respond promptly to inquiries and requests (91.0%) Emotional and Interpersonal...
