I never practiced criminal law. But my son-in-law is a public defender and I’ve learned how hard they work and toil with limited resources. So when I heard about how the New Jersey PD program was using AI to enable 1,300 public defenders across 66 offices search a state PD database of 3,000+ briefs using
Protecting Our Privacy When Everything That Happens Should Be Known
An interesting book by Dave Eggers came out several years ago called The Circle. It was later made into a mediocre movie, but the book has become considerably more disturbing with time.
The essence of the book was the drip-by-drip loss of privacy, symbolized by the loss of integrity of the main character. She
The Remote Work Conundrum Redux
I was recently with a group of managing partners from smaller firms when the issue of working from home home. To a person they were convinced that being in the office was critical for younger lawyer training. At the same time, they are facing challenges obtaining and retaining younger lawyers who want the flexibilty to
The Real Tragedy of AI in Law: Losing Our Soul
Neal Page: Sir, excuse me. I know this is your cab, but I’m desperately late for a plane, and I was wondering if I could appeal to your good nature and ask you to let me have it.
Lawyer getting into cab: I don’t have a good nature.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, 1987.
There’s a
Want to Try Cases? It’s Hell. Until You’re Standing at the Lecture
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
AI ROI For Law Firms: There’s Not Any
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’
ILTACON Confirms: Gradually, Then Suddenly Legal Tech Became A Big Business
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
ILTACON 2026: Learning. Networking. Some Fun. And Some Sobering Moments
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
The Cost of AI Usage: Time To Throw In The Unrestrained Towel
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
Law Firms Are Buying AI: But Are They Really Using It?
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
ILTACON 2026: Separating Wheat From Chaff
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
To Use AI Slop, Or Not To Use AI Slop
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
IBM’s 2026 Data Breach Report: Houston, We Have A Problem
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
NetDocuments For Plaintiffs’ Lawyers: It’s Pretty Cool
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
Lawyer Laterals: Free Agents with No Comp Caps
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.
The Blickstein Group Law Firm COO Survey: The More Things Change, The More Some Things Stay The Same
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