The Florida Bar's LegalFuel Podcast The Florida Bar

While the legal field has historically been hesitant to adopt new technology, AI is now slowly sweeping into law firms. Integrating AI programs can dramatically boost a firm’s efficiency and reduce costs by assisting with many tasks including legal research, document drafting and review, and even automated client communication. There is a clear upside to implementing AI, but legal professionals must also be aware of the risks and ethical concerns that come with its use.
In today's episode, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Damien Riehl, to discuss best practices for utilizing AI in the law firm. 
Damien Riehl is a lawyer, technologist, and lead product designer at vLex with experience in complex litigation, digital forensics, and software development. A coder since 1985 and for the web since 1995, Damien clerked for the chief judges of state and federal courts, practiced in complex litigation for over a decade, has led teams of cybersecurity and world spanning digital forensics investigations, and has led teams in legal-software development.
Co-Chair of the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Connected and Automated Vehicles, he has helped recommend changes to Minnesota statutes, rules, and policies — all related to connected and autonomous vehicles. Damien is Chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association's working group on AI and the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL).
At SALI, the legal data standard he helps lead, Damien develops and has greatly expanded the taxonomy of over 14,000 legal tags that matter, helping the legal industry's development of Generative AI, analytics, and interoperability.
At vLex Group – which includes Fastcase, NextChapter, and Docket Alarm – Damien helps lead the design, development, and expansion of various products, integrating AI-backed technologies to improve legal workflows and to power legal data analytics. 
This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Technology CLE credit. Course # 8473. 
 
REFERENCED RESOURCES:  
LLMs for Legal Tasks: Best Practices [by Damien Riehl]vLex – Your Ultimate Legal AI PlatformLatest version of ChatGPT aces bar exam with score nearing 90th percentile [ABA Journal]AI Agents and The Era of The Intelligent Interface [Forbes]Affective Computing: Advancing human wellbeing by developing new ways to communicate, understand, and respond to emotion [MIT]Why We Need to See Inside AI’s Black Box [Scientific American]Understanding AI Terms: What is a Foundational Model? [The National Law Review]AI in Law: Transforming Legal Practices [Clio]What is AI and How Can Law Firms Use it? [Clio]LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

The ABA 2023 Tech Survey highlights that 56% of respondents regularly utilize fee-based online services for legal research, with an additional 21% using them occasionally. Surprisingly, 12% never utilize these resources. Despite the abundance of technological options available for legal research, many lawyers still hold a preference for hard copy books. Research suggests that modern screens and e-readers struggle to replicate the tactile experiences of reading on paper, hindering the natural navigation of lengthy texts. For lawyers, books offer a tangible resource for easy browsing, annotation, and cross-referencing that online research might not offer. 
In today’s episode hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Maggie O’Neill, to discuss why books are still relevant in the practice of law.
Maggie O'Neill holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota, and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.
For over 17 years, Maggie ran a solo practice specializing in family law and dependency cases, focusing on litigation and mediation. Maggie's experience in the publishing industry is extensive, having held key roles including Vice President of Product Management and Vice President of HR Publishing at Thomson Reuters and as Editor in Chief of Professional Publications at Reed Elsevier. Additionally, Maggie worked at Callaghan and Company as a Legal Editor and Project Manager. 
This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 0.5 hour of General CLE credit. Course # 8493.
REFERENCED RESOURCES: 
Florida Bar Member Benefits: Legal PublicationsThe Florida Bar and LexisNexis StoreContact Sales 1-877-394-8826ABA to release TechReport 2023 survey on legal tech trends [American Bar Association]ABA Profile of the Legal Profession 2023 [American Bar Association]The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens [Scientific American]LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

The Rules Regulating The Florida Bar detail the required procedures and the professional conduct of our members. They are designed to protect the public and maintain ethical standards within the legal field. So often when the Bar receives a complaint, it’s due to a lack of understanding or awareness of the rules by the attorney. Here at the Practice Resource Center, we actively try to assist our members with guidance and resources so that they have the tools and knowledge to be compliant with the Rules.
In today’s podcast, Christine Bilbrey, Director of the Practice Resource Center, and Jamie Moore, Practice Management Advisor, will discuss some essential, but perhaps less well-known Bar Rules that every lawyer should be aware of to avoid disciplinary action.
This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Ethics CLE credit. Course # 8346.
 
REFERENCED RESOURCES: 
Supreme Court Reduces the Number of Mandatory CLE HoursSupreme Court-Mandated Professionalism CLE Now AvailableFrequently Asked Questions About CLE RequirementsDesignate Your Inventory Lawyer Today!If a lawyer is leaving a firm, which clients to notify?LegalFuel Document Library: Lawyer Changing FirmsTrust Accounting – Basic Records and ProceduresIt Is a Requirement That the Trust Account Compliance Certificate Be CompletedTrust Accounting FAQsAttorney/Consumer Assistance Program (ACAP)How long should I keep closed files?How to Establish an Interstate Law Practice? What are some pitfalls to avoid?Choose a Corporate StructureShould I form a professional service corporation? Do I have to?Modern Complexity Demands New Ways of Working: The Future of The Lawyer-Nonlawyer PartnershipThe Florida Bar Ethics Informational PacketsBest Practices for Law Firm Invoices [Guest Post]LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center

Lawyers often invest in technology but may not utilize it effectively, leading to a missed return on investment. Strategic spending on impactful technology is crucial when you are a solo or small firm on a budget.
 
In today’s episode, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Catherine Sanders Reach, to discuss cost-effective technology tools and services you may already have at your disposal.
 
Catherine Sanders Reach provides practice technology and management assistance to lawyers and legal professionals. Formerly, she was Director of Law Practice Management and Technology for the Chicago Bar Association and the Director at the American Bar Association’s Legal Technology Resource Center. Prior to her work at the NCBA, CBA and ABA she worked in library and information science environments for several years, working at Ross and Hardies as a librarian. She received a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of Alabama.
 
Catherine’s professional activities include articles for Law Practice magazine, Law Technology News and GPSolo Magazine, as well as numerous other publications. She has given presentations on the use of technology in law firms for national bar conferences, state and local bar associations and organizations such as the National Association of Bar Council and the Association of American Law Schools. 
 
This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Technology CLE credit. Course # 8284. 
 
REFERENCED RESOURCES: 
·        About Catherine Sanders Reach
·        Subscribe to North Carolina Bar Association CPM ICYMI Newsletter
·        Articles Written by Catherine Sanders Reach
o  Free and Cheap Technology for Thrifty Lawyers
o  Can MS 365 Replace Law Practice Management Software?
o  Expand MS 365 with Add-ins and Integrations
o  Adobe Acrobat Has a New (Inter)Face
o  Microsoft 365 versus Google Workspace
o  Trying Out LinkedIn Newsletters
·        Other Resources
o  Microsoft Bookings
o  Use Planner in Microsoft Teams
o  Removing sensitive content from PDFs
o  Fastcase Quick Reference Guide
o  Dashlane Authenticator app
o  Keeper Authenticator
o  Zoom VoIP Phone Services
o  Microsoft Teams Phone
·        LegalFuel: The Florida Bar’s Practice Resource Center 
 

Back in the day, law firms either relied on their reputations and referrals from former clients or they paid for billboards and phone book ads. If you are a solo or small firm practitioner, you likely don’t have a lot of time or a huge marketing budget to compete with larger firms to attract new clients, but a simple, well-crafted digital marketing strategy can be all that you need for maintaining a steady flow of client activity.
 
In today’s episode, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Rob Saravia and Jeff Hazen, to discuss practical marketing tips and Bar Advertising Rules. 
 
Rob Saravia is The Florida Bar’s new marketing manager aiding growth in the Programs Department. He brings over 4 years of experience in the marketing field, with a focus on the dynamic realm of retail marketing. Rob is a graduate of Florida State University with a double major in Marketing and Economics. 
 
Jeff Hazen serves as the Assistant Ethics Counsel for the Florida Bar, with over 15 years of dedicated service. Throughout his tenure at The Florida Bar, Jeff has handled thousands of inquiries on the Ethics Hotline, assessed numerous lawyer advertisements, and issued dozens of staff Ethics Opinions. Jeff is a distinguished alumnus of the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
 
This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 0.5 hour of General CLE credit including 0.5 hour of Ethics CLE credit. Course # 8214. 
 
REFERENCED RESOURCES: 
• Article: Law Firm Marketing Strategy: Top 8 Ideas to Grow a Legal Practice (by Clio)
• The Florida Bar Advertising Regulation and Information
• Handbook on Lawyer Advertising and Solicitation
• Chapter 4 Rules of Professional Conduct
• 4-7.13 Deceptive and Inherently Misleading Advertisements
• 4-7.16 Presumptively Valid Content
• 4-7.18 Direct Contact with Prospective Clients
• 4-7.20 Exemptions from the Filing and Review Requirement
• Florida Bar Ethics Opinion 20-01: Negative Online Reviews
• Florida Bar Ethics Opinion 21-1: Negative Online Reviews
• Ethics Hotline 800-235-8619
• Grow Your Practice – Join the Lawyer Referral Service
• LegalFuel: The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar
• LegalFuel: Marketing Resources

Microsoft 365 is a must for many legal professionals who rely on its wide range of time saving and regularly enhanced tools. There are also specifically designed features within the software to streamline your daily legal workflow that you may not be aware of. Now artificial intelligence has been integrated across Microsoft 365. It’s called Copilot and it is poised to become your new digital assistant inside of all the Microsoft applications that you are already using. Smart lawyers should take note and ask how Copilot can instantly and fundamentally change how you get work done in your firm. 
In today’s episode, hosts Christine Bilbrey and Jamie Moore welcome Ben Schorr, a Senior Content Manager at Microsoft, to discuss Microsoft 365 and Copilot. 
 
Ben Schorr is a Senior Content Program Manager at Microsoft. He is also the author of several books and articles on technology including “The Lawyer’s Guide to Microsoft Outlook,” “The Lawyer’s Guide to Microsoft Word” and “OneNote in One Hour.” He was a Microsoft MVP for 20 years and has been involved in management and technology for more than 30. In his free time, he’s a slow Ironman triathlete and a high school football coach. He currently lives with his family in Redmond, WA.
This podcast has been approved by The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit including 1.0 hour of Technology CLE credit. Course # 8203. 
REFERENCED RESOURCES: 
Ben Schorr - LinkedIn
Books by Ben SchorrArticle by Ben Schorr: Which Office 365 Package is Right for Your Law Firm?Microsoft
Microsoft CopilotOfficial Microsoft Blog: Announcing Microsoft Copilot, your everyday AI companionMicrosoft: Rehearse your slide show with Speaker CoachSummarize an email thread with CopilotGet started with Microsoft 365 Chat in Microsoft TeamsMicrosoft OneDrive for BusinessNatural language search in Outlook  LegalFuel: The Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar