#58: Community is key as there is no Magic Bullet with OU Law's Kenton Brice

Technology advancements have drastically transformed how we live, communicate, and conduct business globally. The legal profession is no exception, and lawyers have become increasingly interested in utilizing technology to improve their services. In light of this, we are delighted to welcome Kenton Brice, Interim Director of the Law Library and Director of Technology Innovation at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, to today's podcast. In our discussion, he shares his insights on leveraging technology to streamline the legal workflow and enhance efficiency. Kenton's experience will be a valuable guide for all the attorneys embracing technology to succeed in their legal careers.

In his roles, Kenton leads the Law Library, the OU Law Center for Technology & Innovation in Practice, and the College's Digital Initiative. He teaches courses and workshops on legal research, technology in practice, and innovation at the College and speaks at multiple conferences. Through his efforts, OU Law is the first and only law school in North America to receive the Apple Distinguished School award and has been listed as a Top 20 Most Innovative Law School multiple times.  Kenton is a 2018 inductee into the Fastcase 50 and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Before his current role, Kenton practiced with a small firm in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, where he received honors as the Texas Appellate Lawyer of the Week and was inducted into the Texas Bar Pro Bono College.

Join Kenton and me as we talk about the following three questions and more!

Three Main questions

1. What are the top three reasons attorneys should attend the ABA TECHSHOW?
2. What are the top three things law students and new attorneys should know when using technology?
3. What are the top three tech devices or software new attorneys should purchase for their practice beyond a computer, a phone, and a printer?

In our conversation, we cover the following and much more:

[00:05] Tech Setup - Kenton's current tech setup.

[08:39] ABA Tech Show - Kenton highlights the wide range of legal technologies available in the show, emphasizing the importance of the community and the technology. He further stresses the value of in-person networking and the opportunity to connect with people from all sectors of the legal ecosystem.

[13:40] Tech Tips for Law Students and New Lawyers - Top three things law students and new attorneys should know when using technology.

[19:20] Software for New Attorneys -  We delve deeper into client portals, electronic payments, and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems while discussing software that new attorneys should get for their practices.

[29:36] Business Mindset - Importance of understanding ROI when investing in technology.

[34:23] More on Mindset -  Don't be afraid to adapt. Maintain a flexible and adaptable mindset. Fail often, fail fast.

[37:59] Devices and Tools - Other than the basics (a computer, phone, and printer), what other technological equipment should a new lawyer invest in for themselves?

 

RESOURCES

Connect with Kenton:

E-mail: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kentonbrice

ABA Tech Show: techshow.com/

Equipment mentioned in the podcast:

Apple AirPods Pro: apple.com/airpods-pro/

Audio Technica ATH-M50X headphones: audio-technica.com/en-eu/ath-m50x

Bose noise-canceling headphones: bose.com/en_us/products/headphones/noise_cancelling_headphones.html

CalDigit TS hub: caldigit.com/ts3-plus/

27-inch Dell monitor: dell.com/en-in/shop/dell-27-monitor-se2722h/apd/210-azhl/monitors-monitor-accessories

iPhone 14 Pro: apple.com/iphone-14-pro/

iPhone: apple.com/iphone/

Logitech C920 webcam: logitech.com/en-ch/products/webcams/c920-pro-hd-webcam.960-001055.html

Mac XDR: apple.com/shop/product/HMUA2VC/A/lg-ultrafine-4k-display

MacBook Pro: apple.com/macbook-pro-14-and-16/

Magic Touchpad: apple.com/shop/product/MK2D3AM/A/magic-trackpad-white-multi-touch-surface

Mechanical keyboard (wireless, Mac-compatible) from Logitech: logitech.com/en-us/products/keyboards/mx-mechanical-mini-mac.920-010831.html

Mechanical keyboard (wireless) from Logitech: logitech.com/en-us/products/keyboards/mx-mechanical.html

MOBDIK Paperfeel Screen Protector: amazon.com/gp/product/B07WHNJ9H8/

Plexicam: https://www.plexicam.com
34-inch Samsung monitor (single screen): samsung.com/latin_en/monitors/ultra-wide/premium-curved-monitor-with-greater-viewing-comfort-perfect-multi-tasking-34-inch-lc34f791wqlxzp/

SanDisk 128GB USB Drive Ultra Dual Drive Luxe Type-C: amazon.com/SanDisk-128GB-Ultra-Dual-Type-C/dp/B09PQJWMHJ/

Shure SM7B microphones for recording: shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm7b?variant=SM7B

Yeti Blue microphone (upgrading to a Shure SM7B): bluemic.com/en-us/products/yeti/

 

Software & cloud services or apps mentioned in the podcast:

Camo app: reincubate.com/camo/