MyShingle Comments on California Task Force Proposals

Here are the comments that I filed in response to the California Task Force’s Proposals  on Access to Justice Through Innovation of Legal Services. I took the time because it’s so important for solo and small firm lawyers to weigh in – there are enormous opportunities here.  Speaking on behalf of the MyShingle constituency, MyShingle…

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Future Fridays: Killing Solo Softly: My Future is Now Talk

This past May, I had the honor of speaking at the highly-regarded  Future is Now Conference  which is sponsored by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. The conference talks were recently posted – and while I commend you to watch all of them (as well as the ones from previous years which I binge-watched…

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Can Lawyers Innovate If They Don’t Own It?

I came across this article from Fast Company about the  50 Best Workplaces for Innovators.  Unfortunately, the article simply lists the companies rather than describing what characteristics make them innovative. And so I got to thinking: when it comes to law, can innovation truly come from within? Or do you have to own it to…

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Solos & Smalls – Time to Weigh in On Changes to California

Last week, the State Bar of California released for public comment several proposals for regulatory reforms developed by the California Task Force on Access Through Innovation of Legal Services. Designed to spur innovation and expand access to justice options, the task force proposed three key reforms Narrowing restrictions on the unauthorized practice of law (UPL)…

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PART II : AI Tools for Solo and Small Law Firms

Generally, today’s AI tools for solo and small law firms break down into three categories: (1) legal research and issue spotting; (2) law practice automation and marketing tools and (3) substantive legal issues arising out of the use of algorithmic, AI-driven platforms in legal matters ranging from criminal defense, employment, insurance, custody defense and others…

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Part I: The Basics – What is AI?

Let me begin this series on AI in Legal Research and Law Practice with a foundational discussion of what artificial intelligence is and why it’s such a hot topic right now.  John McCarthy, a computer scientist credited as the father of artificial intelligence defined AI is “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines” –…

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