New Solo Legal Talk Network

Two friends of the podcast return for this episode of New Solo to talk all things legal tech and the latest in AI services for lawyers. Guests Renee Thompson and Liz McCausland are both accomplished mediators and solo practitioners who depend on tech to boost productivity and keep up with their busy lives.
AI is an emerging technology that is finding its way to more and more law offices. McCausland and Thompson served on a Florida Bar committee to draft an advisory opinion laying out ethical guidelines for the use of AI in legal practice.
With ethical guardrails published, what’s next? A best practices guide and clear definitions and examples of AI for legal services. Client consent, the impact on fees and confidentiality, and even how judges view the use of AI and informing the court that AI played a role in your presentation are all pieces of the puzzle.
It’s a brave new world. Where can attorneys new to AI find mentoring, what will clients and courts expect, and what about billing?
Plus, hear about the Florida Bar’s Solo & Small Firms Section and how other solo and small firms are incorporating legal technologies. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, but if you take in all these new tools step-by-step, you’ll quickly find yourself up to speed and exploring new frontiers.
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com   
Topics:

Hear from two lawyers who helped the Florida Bar Association develop ethical guidelines for attorneys adopting AI technologies into their practice.

New tools are emerging at a rapid clip. But if you take it step-by-step, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Every small and solo firm is different. There’s no single “right way” to incorporate legal tech into your practice, but the days of a legal pad and pen are in the past. Stay current or fall behind. Help is out there, and you can do this. 


Mentioned in This Episode:
Florida Bar Ethics Opinion 24-1, Jan. 19, 2024
“Lawyer Cites Fake Cases Generated by ChatGPT in Legal Brief,” Legal Dive
Damien Riehl on LinkedIn
Jerry Bui on LinkedIn
InfoTrack
San Diego County Bar Association Member Benefits
Clio legal software
Smokeball AI
Noodle AI Assistant
vLex AI
Fastcase
Westlaw
LexisNexis AI
Miami Dade Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez

A new survey finds that clients care deeply about their attorney’s tech tools and tech skills. The numbers don’t lie: Legal tech matters. An efficient, integrated system is no longer “nice to have.” It’s table stakes, from case management to client communications to online filing and billing. 
As a lawyer, guest Dan Lear found himself gravitating to the field of legal tech, including stints at Microsoft and Avvo and now as vice president of partnerships at InfoTrack, helping software developers provide the tech today’s lawyers, and their clients, want. 
If you’re running your own firm, hear what clients say about their attorney’s tech skills and their expectations and how you can explore and implement the latest tools. 
And if you’re a law school graduate who has found you aren’t truly attracted to traditional legal work, hear about the fascinating opportunities for lawyers in the field of legal tech development and consulting.
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com  
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A new survey finds clients care (deeply) about their attorney’s tech and tech skills. And they expect those attorneys to use that tech to efficiently manage their cases

Legal tech tools are advancing rapidly. Today’s tools can integrate every facet of a law practice, from case management and scheduling to digitally filing briefs, seamlessly.

There are opportunities for law school graduates who don’t want to practice traditional law, instead helping tech firms develop new tools and helping law firms understand and implement those tools. 

Mentioned in This Episode:
InfoTrack Attorney Competence and the Client Experience
Previous episodes featuring guest Dan Lear, On the Road, “Legalweek 2024: The Future State of the Industry”

You’ve opened your firm, hung out the shingle, and taken the leap. Now that you’ve made it a year or two, what’s next? There’s no step-by-step guide for small and solo practitioners, but you can learn from those who established a solo practice and made it through the first few years and how they’re moving forward. Hear guest Joanne Martin’s story, how she learned to hire, add relevant tech, and build on her success. 
Martin is the founder, managing director, lawyer, and accredited mediator at Align Family Law, a boutique law practice based in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Hear how she joined professional organizations, expanded her marketing, and drove her practice to the next step. 
As you grow, you can build a network of like-minded professionals, ask clients for a Google review, manage and improve your branding and website, and hire a pro when you need technical help (and even personal coaching). You’ll learn as you go, but you can also learn from others.
Once you get your feet under you, it can be tempting to be overly cautious with your emerging practice, but growth is essential. Spend the money when you need to, hire when the practice demands. Get better and bigger. 
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com  
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Launching a solo firm is hard. But so is taking that firm to the next level. Hear tips for growing beyond a one person show

Adding associates and support staff may sound challenging, but making the right additions builds your business and takes routine tasks off your shoulders.

It’s OK to spend on the tools and professionals you need, such as legal and practice management software and professional help optimizing your tech, even professional coaching. 

Mentioned in This Episode:
Collaborative Family Separation Professionals
Legends Legal Marketing
AlignFamilyLaw.ca
Clio (Grow, Manage, Documents, and Payments)
Microsoft 365
DivorceMate
Adobe
Melissa Shanahan, Velocity Work coaching
Previous appearance, “A Second Career: Building a Solo Law Practice Later in Life” 
Previous episode, “Productivity Boost: Real Uses of AI in the Software You Already Have” 
Previous episode, “Google, Maps, And Business? This is YOUR Episode” 
Previous episode, “A Better AI, Built For Lawyers: Results You Can Finally Trust?”

In our previous episode, we talked about getting the most from the software you already pay for and use, especially those Microsoft tools. Now, we’re going deeper into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and how these tools help you be more productive and profitable. Don’t be scared, be ready. 
AI enhancements and tools are already incorporated into the latest versions of your current office software. Remember when some were wary of early word processors, later hard drives, and eventually cloud services and document sharing? We learned to overcome those fears and master the advances. AI is no different.
Look at your paid versions of Adobe Acrobat. If you have an online subscription, or the latest desktop version, you may already have an AI assistant. Learn to use it for contract and document review, document summaries, information consolidation for quick email distribution, and even reformatting. 
Zoom offers AI “note taking” and post-meeting summaries (even a takeaway “to do” list for each participant). So does Microsoft Teams. How about turning a Microsoft Word document into a PowerPoint? Hear how we learned to stop worrying and love the AI.
Questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com  
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AI isn’t going anywhere. The technology is weaving its way into products you already pay for and use. Learn how to take advantage.

Computer software advances are nothing to be afraid of. Increase productivity, cut repetitive tasks, and free yourself.

 

But AI isn’t magic, and it isn’t as smart as you. Learn to build guardrails and know where you can’t fully trust it. A hammer is a great tool, but it won’t build a house. AI won’t run your practice, but it can help.

Resources:
Adobe Acrobat AI
Microsoft Copilot, “Announcing Microsoft Copilot, Your Everyday AI Companion”
Copilot for Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 AI Tools And Applications
Microsoft OneDrive
Zoom AI
PC Guide, “What Is ChatGPT And What Is It Used For?”  
Previously on New Solo, Adam Alexander, “AI And The Evolving Security Threats (And Protections)”

Is it time to review the tech tools you use every day? Are you getting the most out of your online services (or are you using the right ones?) 
A lot has changed in the way Microsoft tools interact with the world of legal tech in the past year or so. So, we’ve got a special episode on tech. A back-to-school session where host Adriana Linares offers some no nonsense tutoring to help you get the most out of your Microsoft subscriptions and tech and be more productive. 
Start with understanding your Microsoft account and the types of available add-ons and subscriptions. Take a deep dive into the types of Microsoft accounts: personal/family, work, and third-party accounts. Dig into available AI and how they apply to your business. And learn about security options, and why they are so important.
Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com  
Topics:

Understand the array of Microsoft accounts and services. Business or personal? Security? Plus, add-ons and subscriptions.

Learn why you should never mingle your personal and private accounts.

Get the latest on AI add-ons such as Microsoft Copilot (and understand the security around these new tools). 

Mentioned in this Episode
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 Pricing
Microsoft Office.com
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Loop
Microsoft Copilot, “Announcing Microsoft Copilot, Your Everyday AI Companion”
Copilot for Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Copilot
Create a Gmail account
Create an Outlook email account
Google Workspace
Godaddy.com
Previously on New Solo, Adam Alexander, “AI And The Evolving Security Threats (And Protections)”

AI, artificial intelligence, is super cool. But it’s not perfect, and it can get you into trouble. Start by reading the terms of service. Understand if you’re getting something for free, you get what you pay for. And finally, be careful.
ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and all the new, exciting versions of artificial intelligence, AI, are exciting. But have you read the “terms of service?” Guest Daniel Whitehouse is a lawyer who practices in the areas of IT and digital security. He says even lawyers forget to read (really read) the terms. And that’s a mistake.
Do you know who owns the data you input? Is it being absorbed into the AI’s own machine learning and shared with the public? Broadcasting your information into the world, for everyone to see, can be as easy as a checkbox you clicked on.
Not to make you paranoid, but … be a bit paranoid. Even if you’re using Microsoft 365 and OneDrive, do you know if you’re using the professional or personal version (hint: there is a difference).
Got questions or ideas about solo and small practices? Drop us a line at NewSolo@legaltalknetwork.com 
Topics:

AI is a miracle but remember, it’s a “continuous learning model.” What is it learning from you? What are you sharing with these products?

If you can’t find something you’re looking for in the terms of service, ask why that information is so hard to find. Be suspicious. Terms and service provisions should be clear and easy to read.

Understanding how AI uses information, and how accurate it is, is especially vital in the legal world. 


Mentioned in this Episode:
Previous appearance on New Solo: “Did You Really Read Those Terms of Service?” 
Previous appearance on New Solo: “Data Security and Florida Breach Notification Law”
Bob Ambrogi, LawNext.Com
Damien Riehl, LinkedIn 
Carolyn Elefant, My Shingle 
Microsoft 365
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft Copilot, “Announcing Microsoft Copilot, Your Everyday AI Companion”
Copilot for Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Copilot
Windows Security Center
Microsoft Defender XDR