Episode 86, Assisting Lawyers with Implementing Technology Into Their Practice, Debbie Foster of Affinity Consulting Group!
Release Date: 04/16/2024
The Tech Savvy Lawyer
๐ง Can't find time to read lengthy legal tech editorials? We've got you covered. As part of our Tech Savvy Lawyer Labs initiative, I've been experimenting with cutting-edge AI to make legal content more accessible. This bonus episode showcases how can transform written editorials into engaging podcast discussions. Our latest experiment takes the editorial "" and converts it into a compelling conversation between two AI hosts who discuss the content as if they've thoroughly analyzed the piece. This Labs experiment demonstrates how AI can serve as a time-saving alternative for legal...
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Hey everyone, welcome to this bonus episode! As you know, in this podcast we explore the future of law through engaging interviews with lawyers, judges, and legal tech professionals on the cutting edge of legal innovation. As part of our Labs initiative, I am experimenting with AI-generated discussionsโthis episode features two Google Notebook.AI hosts who dive deep into our latest Editorial: "" If youโre a busy legal professional, join us for an insightful, AI-powered conversation that unpacks the editorialโs key themes, ethical challenges, and practical strategies for safeguarding...
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Our next guest is Matthew Veale, a European patent attorney and Patsnap's Professional Systems team member. He introduces the AI-powered innovation intelligence platform, Patsnap. Matthew explains how Patsnap supports IP and R&D professionals through tools for patent analytics, prior art searches, and strategic innovation mapping. Furthermore, Matthew highlights Patsnap's AI-driven capabilities, including semantic search and patent drafting support, while emphasizing its adherence to strict data security and ISO standards. He outlines three key ways lawyers can leverage AIโnote-taking,...
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Seth Price, founding partner of Price Benowitz LLP and CEO of BluShark Digital, shares deep insights on leveraging technology to scale law firms. He highlights Salesforce, Clio, and Smart Advocate as essential tools, discussing their specific roles in case management and marketing automation. Seth outlines the evolution of digital marketing for lawyers, stressing the importance of content, links, and local reviews in SEO strategy. He offers tips for interpreting Google Analytics and staying ahead of algorithm changes. Concluding with advice on future-proofing practices, Seth urges law firm...
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My next guest is the Honorable Judge Scott Schlegel, a nationally recognized judicial innovation and technology leader. With extensive courtroom and technological experience, Judge Schlegel offers valuable insights into how attorneys can effectively leverage artificial intelligence and legal technology to enhance their workflows. He emphasizes the importance of avoiding common pitfalls while maintaining the highest standards of professional responsibility. Judge Schlegel also underscores the critical need to keep the human in the loop, advocating for a balanced approach that upholds efficiency...
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Our next guest is Hilary Bowman, Co-Winner of the 2025 ABA Startup Alley Competition and CEO of Querious. She shares how lawyers can use AI tools like Querious to make client interactions better and more efficient without losing their personal touch. She explains the common challenges lawyers face in client conversations that led to the creation of Querious. Hilary also discusses the steps Querious has taken to address lawyers' concerns about security, privacy, and ethics, ensuring the platform follows professional rules and keeps client information safe. Join Hilary and me as we discuss...
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Join me as we talk with, Katie Fawkes, Director of Marketing at Ecamm. We discuss how lawyers can leverage Ecamm, a live streaming and video production studio for Mac, to enhance their practice. She outlines the top three ways legal professionals can use Ecamm, including remote depositions and virtual hearings. The discussion compares Ecamm to Zoom, highlighting Ecammโs advanced functionality. Katie addresses critical security and privacy concerns, offering reassurances for sensitive legal communications. Also, Katie shares expert tips for creating impactful video content, emphasizing how...
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I'm joined by Jacqueline Schafer, Founder and CEO of Clearbrief.ai. Jacqueline shares key insights into how legal professionals can effectively leverage AI. She outlines three essential expectations from legal AI assistants: robust security, accurate and verifiable citations, and seamless integration into legal workflows. Jacqueline addresses common misconceptions about AI, encourages responsible use, and highlights Clearbrief's unique features, including its seamless integration with Microsoft Word and AI-driven document analysis. With a focus on ethics, usability, and innovation, Jacqueline...
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Our next guest is Erich Dylus, an attorney and programmer who founded Varia Law, a consulting and programming firm focused on autonomous technology, and CamoText, a fully offline text anonymization tool for secure and compliant AI workflows. In this episode, Erich shares practical strategies for protecting client data in the age of AI, explains how CamoText helps lawyers anonymize sensitive information before using large language models (LLMs), and outlines best practices for maintaining confidentiality. He also offers clear advice on choosing the right AI LLM for specific legal tasks. Tune in...
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Meet Cat Moon, Co-Director of the Vanderbilt AI Law Lab, legal educator, and a leading innovator in legal tech. Today, Cat shares strategies to encourage lawyers and students to embrace innovation, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, collaboration, and experimentation. She discusses handling resistance to technology, cultivating critical tech mindsets, and tailoring tools to individual needs. Cat highlights her favorite platforms, such as ChatGPT and Slack. She also explores emerging technologies such as generative AI and quantum computing and underscores lawyers' ethical responsibilities...
info_outlineDiscover how modern tools and strategic approaches can revolutionize your law firm's efficiency and accuracy. Join my next guest, Debbie Foster of Affinity Consulting Group, as we explore innovative solutions and receive expert insights from industry leader Debbie Foster to help you stay ahead in the ever-evolving legal landscape!
Debbie is a seasoned expert with 23 years at Affinity, where she excels in strategic project management, team leadership, and client relations. Her career began in 1994, revolutionizing efficiency in a fine-dining Italian restaurant and managing cultural change in a chain of dry-cleaning stores. With a background as an emergency medical technician, Debbie's exceptional triage skills and her superpower of building relationships with challenging personalities make her an invaluable asset. She thrives on working with her team to achieve strategic goals, ensuring remarkable client experiences and a positive workplace culture.
Join Debbie and me as we discuss the following three questions and more.
- What are the top three areas where attorneys are underprepared with their firm software needs?
- What are the top three software utility programs that lawyers should use?
- What are the top three areas of legal practice that need more innovation, and what should an average attorney do?
In our conversation, we cover the following:
[00:51] A Peek into Debbie's Tech Setup
[03:27] Three Key Software Areas Where Attorneys Often Fall Short
[12:13] Top Three Software Utility Programs Every Lawyer Should Use
[20:22] Top Three Areas of Legal Practice Needing Innovation and How Attorneys Can Address Them
Resources:
Connect with Debbie:
- Email: ๐ง [email protected]
- LinkedIn: ๐ linkedin.com/in/debbiefoster/
- Website: ๐ affinityconsulting.com
Hardware mentioned in the conversation:
- Focusrite audio interface: focusrite.com/categories/audio-interfaces
- Logitech Brio 4K webcam:logitech.com/en-us/products/webcams/brio-4k-hdr-webcam
- Shure MV7 microphone:shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/mv7
Software & Cloud Services mentioned in the conversation:
- Actionstep: actionstep.com/
- Calendly: calendly.com/
- Carpe Diem:carpediemparalegals.com/
- Centerbase: centerbase.com/
- Cleo: cleo.com/
- Daylite (by Marketcircle): marketcircle.com/
- DocuSign: docusign.com/
- Doodle:doodle.com/en/
- HubSpot: hubspot.com/
- Lawmatics: lawmatics.com/
- PandaDoc: pandadoc.com/
- SaneBox: sanebox.com/
- Scribe: scribehow.com/ (This appears to be a web-based program so your operating system should not matter โ I should be trying this out and report in the future).