For another perspective on tech—this time with a focus on law schools, students, and new lawyers—Dennis and Tom welcome Professor Nicole Morris of Emory University School of Law. With her strong connection to future generations of lawyers, Nicole offers insights into the state of tech competence amongst aspiring legal professionals, and, surprising…

As you may have discovered on your own, genAI tools are ready and enthusiastic with their outputs, but may be woefully ill-informed, in spite of the snappy replies they spew out with unfettered confidence. So, what is being done to remedy this issue? Dennis and Tom explain how Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) combines AI’s LLMs with more curren…

As genAI continues to edge into all facets of our lives, Dr. Megan Ma has been exploring integrations for this technology in legal, but, more importantly, how it can help lawyers and law students hone their legal skills. Dennis and Tom talk with Dr. Ma about her work and career path and many of the latest developments in legal tech. They take a dee…

Lawyers have long been hesitant to adopt technology, but the rapid advancements in generative AI have sparked a new curiosity in many attorneys. Are we heading toward a mindset shift in the profession and a swift increase in tech use? Dennis and Tom welcome Cat Moon to the podcast to get her take on the current state of AI and other technologies in…

Piquing curiosity in legal technology is the first step to helping lawyers engage with and acquire modern tech for their practice. Dennis and Tom welcome Caitlin McCabe to hear her perspectives on inspiring interest and enthusiasm for technology in the legal world. Caitlin discusses her role at BARBRI and how they continue to leverage technology to…

Amy Conroy has found that communicating the “why” behind data science is critical to helping lawyers understand and appreciate what role it can play in legal practice. Dennis and Tom welcome Amy to discuss her expertise in data, legal AI, and many other aspects of legal technology. Amy shares insights on problem-solving tactics for everyday tasks, …

How can technology help self-represented litigants have better outcomes in our legal systems? Amanda Brown considers exactly that on a daily basis in her role at the Lagniappe Law Lab, a justice tech non-profit in Louisiana. Dennis and Tom talk with Amanda about her perspectives on the justice gap and legal technology and how tech adoption, collabo…

The all-too-common deterioration of internet platforms seems to lead users through a bait and switch that leaves them with little more than a bunch of crap. Why do platforms tend to start off with appealing, engaging features that eventually disappear? Dennis and Tom talk about a recently coined term, which, for the purposes of this podcast, they c…

When Jackie Schafer started learning about AI in 2020, she had an intuitive feeling that it was going to bring big changes to the legal profession. Since then, she has worked with AI to improve legal writing technology for greater efficiency and accuracy. Dennis and Tom talk with Jackie about her perspectives on broader legal technology, competency…

Is there a need for the legal tech community together for more informal chats about the latest happenings in the industry? Dennis envisions chat sessions, group Zooms, unconferences, and more, but Tom isn’t so sure those types of get-togethers would be appealing to him. They hash out their thoughts on encouraging conversations and idea sharing in t…

To gain a new perspective on technology from outside the US, Dennis and Tom welcome UK-based legal business consultant Jack Shepherd. Jack offers his thoughts on how European tech approaches may differ from that in US law firms and talks about competence, tech learning, collaboration, AI trends, and more. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots…

Blogs were a colorful, dynamic part of the internet in their heyday, but how do they fit into our world today? Dennis and Tom take a hard look at the latest trends in legal blogs and whether this form of social media/information sharing is still successfully maintaining its corner of internetland. They discuss their own blogging habits, or lack the…

There’s a new iPad on the market… Do lawyers need it? New, shiny tech is always a temptation for Dennis and Tom, and right now they’re mulling over this latest Apple offering and whether its potential uses for attorneys make it worth the investment. They discuss reviews, new upgrades, uses in legal practice, laptop/phone/tablet comparisons, and mor…

For tech trends from an in-house perspective, Dennis and Tom welcome Dennis Garcia of Microsoft to their Fresh Voices series. In-house teams are riding the new wave of AI technologies along with the rest of us, but there are unique aspects to their roles in the legal world. Dennis Garcia discusses his team’s approach to AI and other emerging tools,…

What if, instead of tech competence being this scary, overwhelming thing, we showed lawyers how to engage with technology in a more lighthearted, even playful, way? The reality is—tech competency doesn’t have an endpoint, but the process of continuous learning shouldn’t be dull and confusing. Sarah Glassmeyer joins Dennis and Tom to talk about her …

The second brain is a source of carefully curated information, but what’s the best way to access and interact with that wealth of content day to day? Dennis and Tom unpack the concept of “The Daily Me”—customized daily news—and whether it could be a solution for keeping up with content stored in a second brain. In their next segment, the guys promp…

Dennis has been ever the optimist about all things GenAI, and Tom was perhaps a bit more skeptical, but have they both changed their tunes? The guys hash out their current perspectives and share how they are applying GenAI in both their work and personal lives. They also caution lawyers to really learn the ins and outs of GenAI tech so they can use…

A trusted depth of data helps genAI infuse into the legal world more effectively and accurately, but not all genAI is up to scratch. Dennis and Tom talk with Emily Colbert about current AI uses in legal, with particular focus on the integration of AI into the Practical Law tool from Thomson Reuters. Emily discusses the importance of human experts a…

Creative thinking and design elements can help you elevate your legal practice and develop more meaningful solutions for clients. Dennis and Tom welcome Tessa Manuello to discuss her insights on legal technology with a particular focus on creative design adaptations for lawyers. Tessa discusses the tech learning process for attorneys and explains h…

The core of what Quinten Steenhuis does at Suffolk University’s Legal Innovation and Technology Lab is find new ways to help poor people gain access to legal help to work toward closing the justice gap. Dennis and Tom talk with Quinten about his work in this space to learn more about legal tech’s uses and potential for solving large-scale problems …

Temptation to immediately buy all the new, shiny, ever-evolving technology can be very difficult to overcome. If you struggle with restraint in your tech purchases, Dennis and Tom are here to help. The guys talk through how to assess your true needs, allocate your tech budget, and make smarter technology purchases. Later, the guys answer the questi…

Reducing the risk of legal malpractice is important to every attorney, and Carmin Ballou is an expert on the subject, along with a broad knowledge of the latest tools and innovations in legal technology. Dennis and Tom welcome Carmin to their Fresh Voices series to learn about tech that can help attorneys reduce risk in their law firms. They discus…

Anyone can and will make predictions about the coming year, but Dennis and Tom tend to shy away from the crystal ball in favor of resolutions and goal setting. The guys discuss last year’s resolutions and their success or lack thereof on each one. Then, they jump into the now and share what they hope to accomplish in 2024. Spoiler alert: AI is fron…

The year-end tradition returns! Dennis and Tom welcome Debbie Foster for their annual Pardon the Interruption episode. This year, the trio play “Toss-Up”––debating opposing sides on legal tech issues, “What’s the word?”––a fill-in-the-blank for trending tech topics, and “Hot or not?”––categorizing the coolness of 2023’s legal tech trends. As yet un…

What does it really take to make document automation work well? Many firms are intimidated by the initial heavy lifting in document automation, but it’s worth the effort! Catherine Bamford is an absolute expert on the subject, along with other legal practice automations that bring huge time savings to modern law firms. Catherine joins Dennis and To…

Another fresh voice! If we don’t have diverse groups in the legal world, we may miss the mark on many issues facing the profession. Flo Nicholas of DEI Directive joins Dennis and Tom to offer her perspectives on legal technology and how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices benefit the legal community. Flo offers up her expertise in thes…

The AI hype cycle is pretty much all Dennis and Tom (and everybody else) hears about these days, so what happened to the other “hot” tech we were excited about barely a year ago? After a little digging, the guys find out that other tech does, in fact, still exist! They talk through current happenings in crypto, blockchain, NFTs, the metaverse, and …

Note-taking is typically a significant part of a lawyer’s life—in meetings, research, client conversations, and more. There are numerous ways to approach this simple task, but is there a *best* way? Dennis and Tom examine several note-taking methods to unearth the most advantageous techniques for your practice. Later, the guys address a listener qu…

Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are busily announcing their latest products, and Dennis and Tom are a little underwhelmed. But, rather than ignoring the new stuff altogether, the guys lean into their tech-infused ennui and ponder the reasons behind their “meh” responses. They discuss the latest products from Big Tech, talk about product improv…

Dennis and Tom’s second brains are still evolving, and the guys have updates to share on both their current progress and future goals. Listen in for their latest thoughts on tools for this project and new uses for AI. Later on, listen in for a round of “Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down,” focused on whether the world needs an AI version of Dennis. Thoughts?…

Technology adeptness doesn’t have to look exactly the same from law firm to law firm. Kristin Hodgins joins Dennis and Tom to share her thoughts on the latest trends in legal technology and effective approaches to tech competence. She also discusses her career path, the distinction between access to justice and access to legal services, ChatGPT, an…

Is our current approach to legal tech education helping or hurting lawyers? Dennis and Tom think through this question out loud, pondering whether lawyers can truly learn what they need to know through the typical legal tech conference session or CLE class. The guys might not agree, but they hash out their thoughts on learning opportunities, tech e…

Nick Rishwain joins the guys as another fresh voice on the current happenings in legal technology. Nick shares his approach to helping attorneys understand and make the most of legal tech and discusses areas where competence still has a long way to go. Later, Dennis & Tom pick his brain on AI, blockchain, collaboration, exciting new startups, socia…

A new Kennedy-Mighell Report game has begun. The premise? Dennis has a whole lot of ideas, and Tom just loves pointing out their flaws. The guys introduce a new segment called “Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?” Dennis, in his ever-springing optimism, shares his latest notions, and Tom uses his practical, skeptical reasoning to determine whether they have …

What makes it so difficult for some lawyers to embrace technology? Fear, confusion, and that feeling that they just can’t ever catch up create a wall that many attorneys can’t seem to break down. Dennis and Tom bring on Amani Smathers, another “fresh voice,” to learn how she encourages technology adoption among legal professionals. She also covers …

Despite Tom’s attempted prohibition of ChatGTP on this podcast, it’s weaseled its way in once again. The guys take a hard look at where ChatGPT is really at right now, discussing both its capabilities and its limitations as of yet. Dennis shares insights from the hundreds of experiments he’s tried with ChatGPT and explains where this tech still fal…

We hate to say it again, but tech competence in the legal profession is still significantly lacking. Dennis and Tom talk with Ivy Grey about her unique approach to helping lawyers understand and use technology. Ivy connects tech with substance to help the less-than-tech-savvy lawyer embrace necessary tools and fulfill their ethical responsibilities…

Legal technology is essential to the fight for access to justice, opening up a multitude of new possibilities for addressing legal needs. Dennis and Tom continue their “Fresh Voices” series by talking with Tiffany Graves about her knowledge of the pro bono space and how tech-powered solutions are helping expand access to legal services. Tiffany dis…

Whether you’ve got a summer trip planned or not, it’s always a good time to start a really great book. Dennis and Tom talk through their personal summer reading goals and how they approach the curation of book lists that hit business and pleasure in equal measures. Later, what the heck is the Fediverse? Twitter’s slow death has us all a bit annoyed…

Actually, Tom’s gonna blast the idea of “spring” tech cleaning right out of the water. In reality, your technology pieces most likely need more than once-a-year maintenance to stay in top condition, so the guys lay out their tips and favorite products for both the physical and digital aspects of tidying up your tech. Later, Copilot is slated to bri…

In light of the recent Internet Archive lawsuit, Dennis has some serious questions about what it and other recent happenings may mean for the future of online content. Will we see an increase in lost access to data or permanently deleted content? Tom doesn’t necessarily think so, but the guys dig deeper into this topic to hash out their thoughts on…

Technology has become the main driver for increasing access to justice, and there are huge opportunities for legal service providers to leverage both existing and emerging tech to reach new clients. Dennis and Tom welcome Natalie Knowlton to discuss the current state of legal services, the justice gap, and ways technology is helping attorneys provi…

Continuing with their “Fresh Voices On Legal Tech” interview series, Dennis and Tom welcome Chase Hertel to hear his take on direction and trends in the legal tech space. Chase discusses his career path and offers tips for helping attorneys engage with technology to improve their practice. They dig into the potential uses and dangers of ChatGPT and…

If you missed this year’s ABA TECHSHOW conference, tune in with Dennis and Tom! They guys talk with Allison Johs and Jen Lee about key takeaways from their sessions and the latest tech news and trends featured at the conference. They also discuss which developing tech they’re most excited about and share their top tech recommendations for fellow at…

In a brand new interview series, Dennis and Tom welcome Kristen Sonday to hear her perspectives on the latest developments in the legal tech world. Kristen talks about her platform at Paladin connecting lawyers to pro bono work; weighs in on ChatGPT, AI, tech adoption, and more; and shares her top tip for using technology in legal practice. As alwa…

With ChatGPT splashing across headlines pretty much everywhere, what’s left for us to know about this new and almost ridiculously hot tech? Dennis and Tom give their two cents on all the buzz that is ChatGPT, discussing thoughts on its many exciting and (possibly) concerning capabilities and its potential within the legal world. Later, have you eve…

Information governance, or IG, is the new term (and then some) for records management—now encompassing the entire life cycle of information from creation to disposition. Dennis and Tom talk lawyers through the basics of an effective IG framework and the need for us to understand up-to-date best practices and legal obligations for data privacy, secu…

As Southwest Airlines learned the hard way, failing to replace your old technology can really come back to bite you in the butt. The guys discuss some of the myriad issues related to outdated tech, from global down to personal levels, and then bring the topic home to lawyers to explain how to stay on top of your firm’s technology maintenance and re…

With 2023 underway, the guys take a minute to see how they did on last year’s tech resolutions and talk through goals for the new year. Tune in for their approach to crafting resolutions with small steps and measurable victories. And, bottom line, don’t feel bad about giving up on a resolution that just isn’t bringing value to your life. As always,…

If you know you know… will there be another Tom-a-riffic victory? Debbie Foster is back for Dennis and Tom’s legal technology year-in-review. The trio use their traditional “Pardon the Interruption”-inspired format to review legal tech developments in 2022. Tune in for their thoughts on the most important tech for lawyers, workflows and automation,…