Changing the future of law with a people-first approach | Dan Kayne, Founder Of O Shaped Lawyer‪.‬ The Watering Hole podcast for in-house lawyers

In this episode, Alice Stephenson chats with Dan Kayne, founder of O Shaped Lawyer. Founded in 2019, O Shaped Lawyer is a purpose-led initiative that advances what it means to be a well-rounded lawyer in the modern era. Alice and Dan discuss the inspiration behind the O Shaped Lawyer, which started as a small gathering of General Counsels, keen to inspire change within their industry.

Reflecting on this, Dan reveals how when hiring candidates during his time at Network Rail, there were many lawyers with fantastic technical legal skills, but fewer people with the broader people skills needed to engage with their business. Now Dan runs the O Shaped Lawyer full time, where the movement continues to go from strength to strength.

Dan talks about the achievements of the O Shaped Lawyer so far, notably partnering with law firm Browne Jacobson and working with law schools to broaden the skillset of the modern lawyer. The first O Shaped Lawyer module is set to go live with the College of Legal Practice imminently. Alice and Dan discuss how a people-first approach is vital in changing the archaic mindset in parts of the legal industry.

Find out more about the O Shaped Lawyer here: https://www.oshapedlawyer.com/