Conan Hines
Amy Monaghan had an insightful conversation with Conan Hines, the Director of Legal Technology at Fried Frank, at ILTACON 2024. They explored the current landscape of legal tech and AI in law firms. If you missed it, you’ll find a recap of Amy and Conan’s conversation here.
The Power of Networking and Knowledge Exchange
Conan Hines emphasized the value of ILTACON as a hub for networking, engaging with vendors, consultants, and peers, and sharing knowledge to accelerate legal technology strategies. He mentioned that while the conference sessions are informative, the real impact comes from these direct interactions. For Conan, this opportunity to collaborate and understand industry trends is key to developing effective tech strategies.
The Role of AI and the Legal Tech Hype
A significant part of the conversation revolved around the role of AI, specifically generative AI, in legal tech. Despite the hype, Conan noted a tempered down atmosphere this year, which he believes is beneficial. Conan expressed a pragmatic view on AI tools, stating that he values their practical applications over their theoretical possibilities.
Vibrancy and Investment in Legal Tech
Conan observed a new vibrancy in the legal tech market, fueled by the conversation around AI. He acknowledged that although AI can sometimes be overhyped, it has positively influenced law firms to double down on their tech investments and capabilities. This enthusiasm is pushing firms to look beyond just adopting new technology, focusing instead on building their internal capabilities to effectively use these tools.
Challenges and Roadmap for the Future
Reflecting on his role at Fried Frank, Conan shared that his primary goal is team-building. Having started with no dedicated team, he is now looking to recruit ambitious professionals who are ready to innovate and drive impactful projects. The insights gained at ILTACON will help shape the firm’s technology roadmap, with a focus on assembling a strong team before embarking on significant tech implementations.
Solving Real Problems with Technology
Amy and Conan discussed the importance of addressing real-world issues with legal tech solutions. Amy highlighted that clients are looking for solutions that genuinely address their needs, rather than getting caught up in the hype. Data strategy and digital transformation remain crucial areas, with firms focusing on getting their data structures right as a foundation for future AI and tech initiatives.
The Future of Legal Tech: Beyond AI Hype
Looking ahead, Conan believes the focus will shift from the so-called AI revolution to what he terms a “legal engineering revolution.” He sees the future of legal tech centered around better design and implementation, enhanced by design thinking and solid data foundations. While AI will play a role, the real transformation will come from how well firms can integrate these technologies into their workflows to solve practical problems and improve efficiency.
Final Thoughts
Conan’s interview at ILTACON underscored the importance of practical, thoughtful integration of technology in the legal sector. While the excitement around AI is undeniable, the real challenge and opportunity lie in leveraging these tools to address tangible issues faced by law firms today. As ILTACON continues to be a platform for knowledge exchange, it’s clear that conversations like these will shape the future of legal tech.