Join Damien Riehl and Horace as they kick off Season 2 with an in-depth discussion about the intersection of Big Tech and Big Law.

They explore the recent news of Freshfields partnering with Google for generative AI, the potential of AI to disrupt legal services, and the impacts of large language models on the industry. They also delve into the future of law firms, the evolving role of legal tech companies, and the broader societal implications of AI-driven legal services.

00:00 Big Tech and Big Law
00:46 AI's Impact on Legal Industry
01:21 The AI Tsunami
02:52 Future of Legal Bots
03:18 Challenges of Data Collection
03:57 Human Element in AI
07:29 AI Reasoning and Interpretability
13:53 Big Players in Legal Tech
19:32 Specialized Legal Models
22:08 Adobe's Move into Legal Tech
23:46 The Unauthorized Practice of Law and Big Tech
24:49 Legal Tech Companies and the UPL Debate
27:06 Legal Information vs. Legal Advice
28:57 The Future of Legal Services and AI
35:27 Strategies for Law Firms, Incumbents, and Startups

In the finale episode of season 1, Damien Riehl and Horace Wu delve deep into the impact of large language models, agents, and the rapidly evolving landscape of legal tech.

Recorded live from a New York City park, they discuss their experiences from Legalweek, the future of legal startups, the role of VCs, and how AI is transforming workflows. Explore themes like knowledge management, the integration of proprietary data, and the potential revolution in providing legal services. Whether you’re from a law firm, in-house counsel, or a legal tech vendor, this episode offers key insights into navigating the future of the legal industry.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:10 Reflections on Legal Week
00:31 Marketing Highlights and Critiques
01:17 The Role of Large Language Models
01:53 VC Expectations and Industry Challenges
03:01 Differentiation in Legal Tech
04:24 Importance of Proprietary Data
06:39 Capturing Expert Knowledge
08:13 The Future of Legal Workflows
17:48 In-House Counsel and Knowledge Management
20:43 The Buzz Around Agents and Workflows
23:49 Pivoting to Jane on Day 30
24:27 The Role of AI in Legal Tech
25:42 Public vs. Private Data in Legal Tech
26:46 The Value of Legal Tech Products
28:13 Buyer Behavior in the Legal Tech Market
31:04 The Competitive Landscape of Legal Services
32:57 Core, Cream, and Commodity Legal Work
35:31 Future Actions for Legal Tech Players
38:14 Optimism and Pessimism in AI Development
42:35 Legal Information vs. Legal Advice
44:41 Conclusion

In this episode of 'Further Comments,' hosts Damien and Horace welcome Helder Santos from Bird and Bird to discuss the firm's decision to roll out the Gen AI platform, Legora.

They explore the pilot process, decision-making factors, and the blend of technology with traditional law practices. Helder shares insights into the cooperation between startups and established legal entities, the challenges and successes in adopting AI, and the evolving marketplace. They also touch on the influence of AI on billing models, access to justice, and the importance of transparency.

If you're fascinated by the evolution of generative AI usage in law firms, you won't want to miss this episode.

00:00 Introduction: Helder Santos from Bird and Bird

00:53 Choosing Legora: The Decision-Making Process

02:54 Build vs. Buy: Strategic Considerations

05:54 Integrating AI: Challenges and Successes

08:21 Evaluating AI Vendors: Criteria and Transparency

11:42 Adoption and Training: Lawyer's Perspectives

17:23 Future of AI in Law: Optimism and Challenges

23:24 Closing Thoughts