In this episode, Ted and guest Jen Leonard explore how law firms can innovate while maintaining core values. Jen challenges traditional approaches, emphasizing the shift from tool adoption to fostering sustainable change. They discuss the importance of empathizing with end users and tech teams when integrating technology. The conversation explores the balance between the cost of not investing (CONI) and return on investment (ROI) in AI adoption. Learn about AI's impact on legal services, the role of optimism in tech integration, and balancing fear with progress. Tune in to see how you can shape the future of the legal industry!

In this episode, Jen shares insights on how to:

• Innovate within traditional legal structures
• Integrate human-centered approaches in legal technology
• Address challenges in law firm business models
• Overcome structural impediments to legal innovation
• Empathize with stakeholders during organizational change

Key takeaways: 

• Applying design thinking in legal practice, with a focus on empathy and understanding clients' needs, is key to driving sustainable innovation in the legal industry.
• The traditional law firm partnership model hinders innovation by requiring consensus among many stakeholders with conflicting interests, slowing decision-making and change.
• Corporate legal departments are better positioned to drive innovation than law firms due to their seamless integration with the business and closer alignment with its goals.
• Despite the need for C-suite roles in business transformation, law firms struggle to attract top talent due to professional conduct rules (like Rule 5.4), which limit ownership and equity opportunities for non-lawyers.

About the guest, Jen Leonard:

Jen Leonard is the Founder of Creative Lawyers. Her consulting firm works with law firms to cultivate innovative cultures, build nimble and collaborative strategies for navigating a volatile environment, and promote skills and mindsets that drive change. Before launching her business, Jen was the first Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of the Future of the Profession Initiative at Penn Carey Law. She continues to teach courses at Penn, including Design Thinking for Lawyers, Generative AI in Law Practice, Law Firm Business Strategy, and Attorney Well-Being as Ethical Obligation. Jen practiced law for ten years after graduating from Penn Carey Law and writes and speaks frequently about legal innovation.

“We as lawyers can learn from how other industries have transformed themselves.” – Jen Leonard

Connect with Jen Leonard:

Website: https://www.creativelawyers.net/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferaleonard

2030 Vision: AI and the Future of Law: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2030-vision-ai-and-the-future-of-law/id1751625159

Fast-Tracked: Emergent Issues in the Legal Profession: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fast-tracked-emergent-issues-in-the-legal-profession/id1732522546

Connect with Ted Theodoropoulos:

Website: https://getinfodash.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedtheo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getinfodash/podcasts