Podcast Episode 33: A Human-Centered Approach to Technology Integration in Law Firms with Jen Leonard

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Jen Leonard

In this episode, Ted and guest Jen Leonard dive deep into how law firms can drive innovation while staying true to their core values. Jen challenges the traditional approaches, highlighting the need to move beyond merely adopting new tools to fostering lasting change. They emphasize the importance of empathizing with both end users and tech teams during technology integration. The discussion also covers the delicate balance between the cost of not investing (CONI) and the return on investment (ROI) in AI adoption. Discover how AI is reshaping legal services, the critical role of optimism in tech adoption, and how to navigate the tension between fear and progress. Tune in to learn how you can influence the future of the legal industry!

In this episode, Jen provides insights on how to:

  • Drive innovation within established legal frameworks
  • Incorporate human-centered approaches in legal tech
  • Tackle challenges in traditional law firm business models
  • Overcome barriers to legal innovation
  • Show empathy towards stakeholders during organizational changes

Key takeaways:

  • Applying design thinking in legal practice, with an emphasis on empathy and understanding client needs, is crucial for driving meaningful innovation in the legal field.
  • The traditional partnership model in law firms often slows innovation, as it requires consensus among multiple stakeholders with differing interests, leading to delayed decision-making and change.
  • Corporate legal departments are better positioned to lead innovation due to their closer alignment with business goals and seamless integration with the broader organization.
  • Law firms face challenges in attracting top talent for business transformation roles due to professional conduct rules, such as Rule 5.4, which restrict ownership and equity opportunities for non-lawyers.

About the guest, Jen Leonard:

Jen Leonard is the Founder of Creative Lawyers. Her consulting firm works with law firms to cultivate innovative cultures, build nimble and collaborative strategies for navigating a volatile environment, and promote skills and mindsets that drive change. Before launching her business, Jen was the first Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of the Future of the Profession Initiative at Penn Carey Law. She continues to teach courses at Penn, including Design Thinking for Lawyers, Generative AI in Law Practice, Law Firm Business Strategy, and Attorney Well-Being as Ethical Obligation. Jen practiced law for ten years after graduating from Penn Carey Law, and writes and speaks frequently about legal innovation.

“We as lawyers can learn from how other industries have transformed themselves.” – Jen Leonard

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