I recently finished reading one of Scott Turow’s legal thrillers. As most of you know, Turow is not only an author, but he was also a lawyer, and a trial lawyer at that. At one point in the book, he captured in a single paragraph what it’s really like to try cases. To be a trial lawyer. What he wrote
Continue Reading Want to Try Cases? It’s Hell. Until You’re Standing at the Podium
I was on a panel discussion at ILTA last week and we were asked why do law firms have so much trouble measuring the ROI on their AI investments. It’s an interesting question. And after I thought about it, it occurred to me that, at least on the substantive side, the ROI for law firms’ investments really inures to the
Continue Reading AI ROI For Law Firms: There’s Not Any
I’ve read and seen a lot about all the money flowing into the legal tech space these days. I can remember when the big tech news was that some firm was thinking about going to the cloud. And now this.And despite that, I have to admit I was not prepared for what I saw at ILTACON 2026. The extravagence and
Continue Reading ILTACON Confirms: Gradually, Then Suddenly Legal Tech Became A Big Business
The last day of any big conference. I’m always a little sad to see things ending. Crowds thinning. Exhibitors breaking down booths. People with roller bags stacked in session rooms. A closing reception that somehow lacks the excitement of the opening one.
On days like this, I always think back to the opening day. The energy and excitement of not
Continue Reading ILTACON 2026: Learning. Networking. Some Fun. And Some Sobering Moments
I keep hearing rumblings about AI pricing. So far most vendors seem content on charging on a subscription basis. Under that model you can input as much as you want at no increased cost. But a lot of the providers are losing money. And at some point they will have to turn a profit. To do that they may turn
Continue Reading The Cost of AI Usage: Time To Throw In The Unrestrained Towel
There have been several surveys and reports of late that suggest law firms are spending a lot of money on AI but they haven’t yet figured out how use to benefit their clients. Or themselves. The consulting firm Harbor recently came out with their own report. It’s a little short on statistics and methodology but the conclusions seem simialr to
Continue Reading Law Firms Are Buying AI: But Are They Really Using It?
So next week starts the annual ILTACON. It’s one of the biggest legal tech shows. Maybe the biggest. And like everything over the top it’s a love hate relationship. To paraphrase a famous authort “Until you go to ILTACON and behold it with your own eyes, you ain’t never been nowhere and you ain’t seen nothing.”The 2026 version starts next
Continue Reading ILTACON 2026: Separating Wheat From Chaff
For some time, I have been concerned about the amount of AI slop that’s being offered. It’s all over social media and seeps into marketing and advertising. I hate it. But I fear that the more people read AI slop, the more normal it becomes until it becomes, God forbid, the accepted and expected way to communicate. Already there is
Continue Reading To Use AI Slop, Or Not To Use AI Slop
For years, I have been concerned that cybersecurity and the risk of data breach does not get the attention they deserve at many law firms. Part of it is becasue law firm leadership often does not understand cybersecurity and part of it is cybersecurity is just a cost drain.That’s why the new IBM study of today’s data breach landscape is
Continue Reading IBM’s 2026 Data Breach Report: Houston, We Have A Problem
I’ve tracked what the well-known document management provider, NetDocuments, is doing ever since the firm I used to be with was with was an early adopter. And I’ve always liked their “we’re not a rock band” attitude: producing apps and products in a workmanlike manner without the hype of some vendors.So it caught my attention when it recently waded
Continue Reading NetDocuments For Plaintiffs’ Lawyers: It’s Pretty Cool
Last week’s announcement of the move by Wachtell’s co-chair and veteran litigator to Gibson Dunn certainly got a lot of press. Rightfully so. But I started to think about what’s contributing to or maybe causing so many partners to jump ship. Certainly money has something to do with it. But so do technology and AI. Here are my thoughts for
Continue Reading Lawyer Laterals: Free Agents with No Comp Caps
When I ran across a recent study by the Blickstein Group of COOs in law firms I wondered if things had changed from the days when equity partners pretty much decided everything. If they had COOs, too often they ignored them or treated them as 2nd class citizens. After reading the study, it’s clear that while the status of COOs
Continue Reading The Blickstein Group Law Firm COO Survey: The More Things Change, The More Some Things Stay The Same
We’ve all been to them: presentations you think will be substantive. But when they start, you’re told the session will be interactive with table exercises. Most of us immediately start plotting the easiest path to an exit. Having recently been to one just like that, it started me thinking about the difficulties in getting lawyers to use technology. And a
Continue Reading Interactive Exercises For Lawyer Training: Get Off My Lawn
Ever wonder why there aren’t more specialized legal tech platforms for criminal defense lawyers? I was never one but have some ideas after talking to a few. It’s a question of priorities. And money. Here are my thoughts for Above the Law.
Continue Reading AI For Criminal Defense: It’s An Issue Of Priorities. And Money.
What does Major League Baseball banning AI in the dugout have to do with legal? It turns out it’s a lot. Read my post for Above the Law to find out
Continue Reading Banning Technology: A Balk That Should Be Called