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Facilitator Guide

Technology and Innovation in Law Firms

What’s covered

  • Categories of legal innovation
  • Innovation functions and roles at law firms
  • Technology and Firm Economics
  • Adoption and Training Challenges
  • Risks and Professional Responsibility

Before the session

Prepare the Attendees

Send the attendees an invitation for the session. Include this link, which has the videos and exercise they’ll need to prepare.

https://www.hotshotlegal.com/discussions/technology-and-innovation-in-law-firms/attendee

Prepare Yourself

Watch the videos and read the exercise so you’re familiar with the Hotshot material.

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    Course

    Technology and Innovation in Law Firms

    An examination of the major categories of legal innovation, the real tensions technology creates with traditional law firm economics, the practical challenges firms face in adopting new tools, and the risks that come with operating in a technology-driven legal environment.

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    Exercise

    PDF

During the session

Part 1: Knowledge Check

 Ask attendees these questions to ensure they understand the topic:

  •  What is legal innovation and what are some examples of legal innovation in law firms?
  • How does legal technology create tension with traditional billable hour economics?
  • Why do sophisticated clients care about whether their outside counsel uses legal technology, and what kinds of pressure are they applying?
  • What challenges do new technology present with associate training?
  • What are a lawyer's professional responsibilities when using AI tools for client work?
  • How are firms managing confidentiality and data security risks presented by AI use?

Part 2: Group Exercise

 Lead a group discussion based on the exercise. To encourage collaboration, divide the attendees into groups to discuss the exercise, then have a representative from each group summarize their views to the larger group. Call on people to share their thoughts and ask others to respond.

Tip for remote sessions: use your web conferencing system's breakout room feature to divide people into groups.

Part 3: War Stories and Firm Specifics

 Share your own experiences and guidance, including:

  • Anecdotes and war stories (e.g., about a near-disaster or a tough negotiation)
  • General practice tips (dos and don'ts)
  • Firm-specific guidance and practices

After the session

To continue learning, attendees can check out related courses in Hotshot’s Business of Law topic.