LawDroid Manifesto Podcast Tom Martin

Hey there Legal Rebels! 👋
This is the eighth episode of the 2024 season of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, where I will be interviewing key legal innovators to learn how they do what they do.
If you want to understand the pivotal role of artificial intelligence in modern legal practices and the entrepreneurial spirit required to succeed as a solo or small firm lawyer, you need to listen to this episode. Carolyn Elefant is a pioneer in launching her own energy law firm and in using her experience to inspire and educate a new generation of solo practitioners, bringing a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the table.
Revolutionizing Solo Practice: AI, Entrepreneurship, and Advocacy
Join me as I interview Carolyn Elefant, a trailblazing attorney and founder of MyShingle.com, who has been the inspiration to many solo and small firm lawyers.
In this podcast episode, Carolyn shares her pioneering work in energy law and her entrepreneurial journey from starting her own law practice to becoming a leading voice in the legal profession. She provides insightful perspectives on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in law, emphasizing how solo and small firm lawyers can leverage AI to enhance their practice and compete with larger firms. Carolyn also shares how she has managed to get it all done while raising a family.
This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of law, technology, and entrepreneurship, providing actionable insights on how to thrive in a tech-driven legal environment.
The Skinny
In this episode of the LawDroid Manifesto, Tom Martin interviews Carolyn Elefant, a trailblazer in energy law, and the founder of MyShingle.com. Carolyn shares her journey from starting her own law practice to becoming an influential figure in the legal profession. Her insights on AI in law, entrepreneurial spirit, and advocacy for solo and small firm lawyers provide valuable lessons for legal professionals.
Key Takeaways
* Entrepreneurial Beginnings: Carolyn's entrepreneurial spirit was evident from a young age, influenced by her parents' work ethic and example.
* Starting a Law Firm: She discusses her decision to start her own law firm after working in the federal government and private practice, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and adaptability.
* Pro Bono Work and Advocacy: Carolyn's dedication to pro bono work and her efforts to change laws to benefit federal employees in DC highlight her commitment to social justice.
* Adapting to Market Changes: She explains how she pivoted her practice to focus on niche areas like small hydroelectric projects and ocean energy, showing the importance of adapting to market demands.
* Leveraging AI: Carolyn shares practical ways solo and small firm lawyers can use AI to enhance their practice, from drafting promotional materials to conducting legal research.
* Regulatory Challenges: She discusses the regulatory challenges solo and small firms face compared to larger companies and advocates for a level playing field.
* Future of AI in Law: Carolyn emphasizes the potential of AI to transform legal practices and encourages lawyers to start integrating these tools to stay ahead.
* Work-Life Balance: She reflects on balancing a demanding career with raising a family and how becoming an empty nester has provided more time for professional pursuits.
Carolyn Elefant's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and dedication in the legal profession. Her insights on using AI and adapting to market changes are invaluable for lawyers looking to enhance their practice.
For more on Carolyn's work and to follow her ongoing contributions to the legal field, visit her law firm website at Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant and her blog at myshingle.com. If you would be interested in learning about Carolyn’s A.I. Certification course, click the button below:
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Hey there Legal Rebels! 👋
This is the seventh episode of the 2024 season of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, where I will be interviewing key legal innovators to learn how they do what they do.
If you want to learn how blogging can transform your legal career and unlock the door to a thriving, independent practice, you need to listen to this episode. Kevin is a true visionary who has been at the forefront of the legal blogging revolution since its early days, and has a wealth of experience and wisdom to share.
Transforming Lives and Lawyers’ Careers with Blogging
In this captivating episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, I sit down with Kevin O'Keefe, the visionary CEO of LexBlog, who pioneered the legal blogging revolution.
Kevin shares his remarkable journey from practicing law to launching the first legal blogging platform, driven by a passion for empowering lawyers to share their expertise and connect with clients in authentic ways. He reveals how blogging has enabled countless attorneys to establish their authority, attract ideal clients, and achieve greater professional autonomy.
As we explore the future of legal blogging, Kevin provides exclusive insights into his latest venture - "Lou" - an AI-powered assistant designed to help lawyers create compelling blog content with ease. His stories and advice will inspire you to embrace the power of blogging and AI technology to thrive.
Whether you're a solo practitioner, a small firm owner, or a legal professional looking to build your personal brand, this episode is packed with actionable strategies and wisdom you won't want to miss. Tune in now and discover how to harness the power of blogging to create the legal career of your dreams.
The Skinny
In this episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, host Tom Martin interviews Kevin O'Keefe, CEO of LexBlog, a pioneer in legal blogging. O'Keefe shares his fascinating journey from practicing law to launching the first legal blogging platform, and more recently, his foray into AI with the launch of "Lou," an AI assistant for legal bloggers.
Key Takeaways:
* O'Keefe stumbled into blogging in the early 2000s and saw the potential for lawyers to establish authority and attract clients through writing blogs.
* LexBlog started slowly, with only 3 law firm customers in the first year, as blogging was viewed skeptically by many lawyers. But O'Keefe persevered, driven by a mission to help lawyers and the public.
* LexBlog now hosts around 500,000 blog posts, making it the largest collection of legal blog content. This content is being integrated with legal research AI tools.
* When ChatGPT was released, O'Keefe felt a sense of urgency to adapt. This led to the quick development of "Lou", an AI assistant to help lawyers with blogging.
* O'Keefe advises lawyers that the best way to market themselves is through blogging in a specific niche area where they can establish authority and trust.
Through sharing his own story, O'Keefe provides inspiration for legal professionals to embrace new technologies like blogging and AI to better serve clients and society. His grit, curiosity and care for others have enabled him to keep innovating in the fast-changing legal industry. The future of legal blogging is bright as tools like Lou make it easier than ever for lawyers to share their expertise.
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By the way, if you’d like to learn more about how how AI works and how it will impact the legal profession, you should apply to LawDroid University!
My NEW 5-part webinar series, Generative AI for Lawyers: Empowering Solos and Small Law Firms, is now available at LawDroid University.
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* Insightful - Get educated about the intersection of artifici

Hey there Legal Rebels! 👋
This is the sixth episode of the 2024 season of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, where I will be interviewing key legal innovators to learn how they do what they do.
If you want to understand the role of technology in the modern courts and the challenges that institutional culture and mindset play, you need to listen to this episode. Scott is at the forefront of modernizing the courts and has a unique experience and point of view.
A Calling to Help People by Making Justice Accessible
In this thought-provoking episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, host Tom Martin sits down with Judge Scott Schlegel, a trailblazing advocate for leveraging technology to enhance access to justice.
Judge Schlegel shares a wealth of insights drawn from his firsthand experience modernizing court systems. He dives into the challenges and opportunities that emerge when introducing even simple technologies, like replacing physical calendar books with online scheduling. The discussion also fearlessly tackles the thorny issues surrounding AI in the courts, from the risks of deepfake evidence to the promising potential of AI-driven efficiencies.
Throughout the conversation, Judge Schlegel's passion for harnessing innovation to open courthouse doors shines through. He offers practical strategies for navigating the cultural shifts required to adopt new tools and eloquently speaks to how his work aligns with a deeper calling to help people.
Whether you're a legal professional, technologist, or simply passionate about the future of our justice system, this episode is brimming with wisdom and inspiration. Tune in to discover how visionaries like Judge Schlegel are reshaping courts from the inside out—one calendaring system at a time.
The Skinny
In this episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, host Tom Martin interviews Judge Scott Schlegel, a leading tech pioneer in the courts who has opened minds about using technology to make justice more accessible. Judge Schlegel shares his insights on modernizing the justice system, the challenges involved, and how both simple technologies and AI can improve court efficiency and access.
Key Takeaways:
* Judge Schlegel believes in using simple, readily available technologies to make courts more efficient and accessible, such as replacing physical calendar books with online calendars.
* Cultural and mindset changes are often the biggest challenges when introducing new technologies in the courts, even more so than the technology itself.
* Education should be prioritized over regulation when it comes to lawyers using AI tools. Existing professional rules already cover issues around competence and candor.
* Deepfake audio and video pose serious challenges for courts in cases like protective orders and custody battles, where faked evidence could be presented but most people lack resources to hire experts to detect it.
* AI also has positive use cases in courts, such as creating informational videos for jurors and litigants and optimizing schedules.
Judge Schlegel sees his work to make the justice system more efficient and accessible through technology as a calling. While challenges exist, he encourages thoughtfully leveraging available tools, learning from failures, and scaling solutions to courts across jurisdictions. With wisdom and care, technology from simple calendaring to AI can open the doors of justice for more people.
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Please share your thoughts. Did you enjoy it? Not so much? What other guests or topics would you like to hear about? Tell me in the comments!
By the way, if you’d like to learn more about how how AI works and how it will impact the legal profession, you should apply to LawDroid University! It includes all 7 sessions from LawDroid’s spectacularly successful AI Conference.
LawDroid University is available for free for everyone to use.
* Free to use - It's 100% free educational content for everyone, just sign up below.
* Insightful - Get educa

Hey there Legal Rebels! 👋
This is the fifth episode of the 2024 season of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, where I will be interviewing key legal innovators to learn how they do what they do.
If you want to understand what role fierce determination and commitment play in contributing to success in the workplace and in life, you need to listen to this episode. Roma has some wisdom and insight to share.
Humanizing Contracts and Making Law Accessible
Join me as I sit down with Roma Khan, the CEO of CrushContracts and inventor of GlobalNDA, who brings a unique perspective on humanizing contracts and making the law accessible to businesses and communities.
In this captivating podcast episode, Roma shares her journey from studying philosophy to becoming a legal innovator. She discusses how her passion for justice and logical thinking led her to the world of contracts and business law. Roma highlights the importance of empowering businesses, especially small and mid-size enterprises, to understand and manage their contracts effectively through innovative legal tech solutions like Zoey and GlobalNDA.
Furthermore, Roma emphasizes the need to view contracts as business documents rather than solely legal ones, bridging the gap between legal complexities and practical business needs. She also shares her excitement about the upcoming CrushContracts Academy conference, which aims to provide practical learning experiences and real-world solutions to contract pain points.
Beyond her work in legal tech, Roma's commitment to making a positive impact shines through her community advocacy efforts. She recounts her recent initiative to enhance railroad crossing safety in her town, demonstrating the power of taking action to drive change.
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in how innovation, empathy, and a passion for justice can transform the legal profession and empower businesses and communities alike.
The Skinny
To get a taste of what’s in store, here’s an AI summary:
In this episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, host Tom Martin interviews Roma Khan, the CEO of Crush Contracts and inventor of Global NDA. The discussion centers around Roma's journey from studying philosophy to becoming a legal innovator, her passion for making the law accessible, and her commitment to uplifting her community.
Key Takeaways:
* From Philosophy to Law: Roma's background in philosophy honed her logical thinking skills and passion for justice. Although initially aspiring to be a prosecutor, the 2009 recession led her to a contracts manager role, which revealed her strengths and enthusiasm for contracts and business law.
* Empowering Businesses with Legal Tech: In 2013, Roma founded CrushContracts to provide contract management solutions for small and mid-size businesses. The company's offerings include Zoey (simple contract management software), GlobalNDA (an innovative opt-in standardized NDA solution), and legal consulting services.
* Contracts as Business Documents: Roma emphasizes the importance of viewing contracts as business documents rather than solely legal ones. Her goal is to empower businesses to understand and manage their contracts effectively.
* Crush Contracts Academy: In June, CrushContracts will host a conference in Chicago aimed at providing practical learning experiences. Sessions will cover contract pain points and technologies to address them, focusing on real-world solutions rather than sponsor pitches.
* Community Advocacy: Beyond her legal tech work, Roma is passionate about using her skills to benefit her community. She recently spearheaded an initiative to enhance railroad crossing safety in her town following a tragic accident, demonstrating her belief in taking action to drive change.
This episode showcases Roma Khan's journey from philosophy student to legal innovator, highlighting her dedication to making the law accessible and empowering businesses through technology. Her community advocacy work a

Hey there Legal Rebels! 👋
This is the fourth episode of the 2024 season of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, where I will be interviewing key legal innovators to learn how they do what they do.
If you want to understand the role of ethics and professionalism in the legal industry and what role it has to play with lawyer’s use of AI, you need to listen to this episode.
The Golden Rule and Legal Professionalism
Join me as I sit down with Mark Palmer, the Chief Counsel of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, who brings a unique perspective on the golden rule and its profound impact it can have on legal professionalism and the ethical use of AI.
In this captivating podcast episode, Mark shares his extensive insights into how professionalism, civility, and integrity can transform legal practice. He discusses the critical roles of education and mentoring programs in fostering a culture of respect and ethical behavior among lawyers and judges. Furthermore, Mark talks about the exciting and somewhat daunting integration of artificial intelligence in legal settings, highlighting the importance of maintaining ethical standards as technology reshapes the landscape of legal services.
His stories and reflections not only illuminate the ongoing efforts to promote professionalism within the Illinois legal community but also explore the potential of AI to enhance the efficiency and fairness of legal processes. This episode is essential viewing for anyone interested in how traditional values like the golden rule intersect with innovative technologies to shape the future of the legal profession.
The Skinny
To get a taste of what’s in store, here’s an AI summary:
In this episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, host Tom Martin interviews Mark Palmer, the Chief Counsel of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. The discussion centers around the Commission's role in promoting professionalism, civility, and integrity among lawyers and judges, particularly in Illinois, and the integration of AI in legal practices.
Key Takeaways:
* Role and Mission of the Commission: The Commission was established to address issues of incivility in the legal profession and has expanded its scope to include education, mentoring, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion among legal professionals.
* Educational Initiatives: A significant part of the Commission's work involves developing Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs and overseeing professional responsibility education for lawyers, including new modules on sexual harassment prevention.
* Mentoring Programs: The Commission runs a lawyer-to-lawyer mentoring program, which pairs new lawyers with experienced practitioners to foster professional development and ethical practice.
* Court Experience Improvements: Initiatives are also in place to enhance the experiences of courthouse patrons, particularly self-represented litigants, ensuring they receive fair and respectful treatment.
* AI and Legal Ethics: Mark Palmer has been appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court AI Task Force to explore the ethical implications of AI in the judiciary. The task force aims to develop guidelines and educational programs on the responsible use of AI in legal settings.
This episode highlights the proactive steps taken by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism under Mark Palmer's leadership to address and prevent incivility within the legal profession. The introduction of AI-focused initiatives also reflects a forward-thinking approach to maintaining ethical standards in the evolving landscape of legal technology. This ensures that the legal profession not only adheres to traditional values of civility and integrity but also embraces modern tools to enhance justice delivery.
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This is a public epis

Hey there Legal Rebels! 👋
This is the third episode of the 2024 season of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, where I will be interviewing key legal innovators to learn how they do what they do.
If you want to understand the nature of AI’s impact on the legal profession and its business model, you need to listen to this episode.
Analyzing AI’s Impact on the Legal Profession
Join me as I interview Jordan Furlong, a leading legal analyst and forecaster who recently keynoted at LawDroid's first annual AI conference.
In this insightful podcast episode, Jordan dives deep into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession. He shares his expert views on how law firms, legal educators, and practitioners can navigate the rapidly changing landscape. Jordan also takes us through his professional journey, revealing how he transitioned from practicing law to becoming a pivotal voice in legal market analysis.
His stories and insights underscore the critical role technology plays as a catalyst for change within the legal industry. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of law and technology, offering valuable perspectives on preparing for a future where AI plays a central role in legal services.
The Skinny
To get a taste of what’s in store, here’s an AI summary:
Jordan Furlong's perspective on the legal industry and the impact of AI highlights the importance of adaptability, embracing technology, and the potential for transformative change in the legal profession. His insights encourage lawyers to consider AI's role in enhancing legal practices, improving access to justice, and pursuing a career that aligns with the evolving needs of clients and society. Furlong's analysis underscores the significance of curiosity, experimentation, and a proactive approach to shaping the future of the legal profession.
* Transformative Potential of AI in Law: Furlong emphasizes the significant impact AI can have on the legal profession. He believes that AI has the potential to automate and accelerate many aspects of legal work, allowing lawyers to focus on higher-value tasks such as advocacy, advisory roles, and client accompaniment.
* Embracing Technology: Despite historical resistance to new technologies within the legal profession, Furlong encourages lawyers to embrace AI and experiment with its capabilities. He believes that AI will be adopted more quickly than previous legal technologies and that being complacent about its impact would be unwise.
* Improving Access to Justice: Furlong sees AI as a tool that can empower individuals with information and options to solve their legal problems, potentially reducing reliance on lawyers for certain tasks. This could lead to improved access to legal services for a broader range of people.
* Importance of Human Connection: While AI can automate many aspects of legal work, Furlong emphasizes the enduring importance of human judgment, connection, and the unique skills that lawyers bring to their clients. He believes that AI can enable lawyers to focus more on the human aspects of their work, ultimately delivering better outcomes and service.
* Navigating Ethical Implications: Furlong acknowledges the risks and ethical implications surrounding AI in the legal profession. He encourages lawyers to carefully navigate these challenges while remaining proactive in shaping AI's trajectory within the industry.
* Career Advice for Aspiring Lawyers: Furlong advises young lawyers to pursue meaningful careers that align with their talents and provide value to others. He highlights the diverse paths available within the legal profession and encourages individuals to find work that resonates with their skills and passions.
Overall, Jordan's insights offer valuable perspectives on the transformative potential of AI in the legal industry, the importance of adaptability and experimentation, and the enduring significance of human connection and judgment in