The CLM Rx

Anastasia Boyko shares her unique career journey, starting from being an immigrant from Ukraine to her current role in legal education innovation. She discusses the need for change and improvement in the legal profession, particularly in the way legal work is done and how legal professionals are prepared. Boyko emphasizes the importance of practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding oneself in the legal profession. She also highlights the role of AI in legal practice and the need for legal education to adapt to the changing landscape. In this conversation, Anastasia Boyko and Kami Paulsen discuss the importance of self-reflection and curiosity in building a successful career in the legal field. They emphasize the need for lawyers to develop a broad skill set beyond legal expertise, including empathy, relationship-building, and problem-solving. They also highlight the value of understanding the business side of law and the ability to anticipate and navigate complex organizational dynamics. The conversation explores the role of legal education in fostering these skills and suggests innovative approaches, such as courses on legal tech and mindful lawyering. Overall, the key takeaways include being curious, knowing oneself, pursuing knowledge in desired areas, being effective rather than focusing on being right, and embracing empathy and relationship skills.

Chapters

00:00 Anastasia Boyko's Unique Career Journey

03:19 Challenging Inefficiencies in the Legal Profession

05:29 Improving the Way Law Firms Operate

09:10 The Problem-Solving Nature of a Law Degree

17:26 The Impact of AI on the Legal Profession

23:00 Preparing Students for a Variety of Career Paths

26:57 Understanding Oneself in the Legal Profession

30:10 The Importance of Practical Skills and Self-Knowledge

31:45 The Importance of Self-Reflection and Curiosity

34:06 Developing a Broad Skill Set for Success

35:27 Understanding the Business Side of Law

41:23 Innovative Approaches in Legal Education

45:32 Being Effective vs. Being Right

49:13 Learning from Others

54:51 Intentional Choices in Legal Careers

For more great lessons from the field, and all the CLM content, connect with us here: 

• The CLM Rx Book
• The CLM Rx YouTube Channel
• The CLM Rx LinkedIn
• Kami Paulsen LinkedIn
• Anastasia Boyko LinkedIn

If you implement Contract Lifecycle Management Software ("CLM"), have purchased CLM, are considering purchasing CLM, or expanding your existing CLM footprint, this channel is for you! Kami speaks to CLM practitioners, CLM Vendors, and visionaries on the most pressing topics in the space. She shares practical advice based on her 15 years implementing various CLM software tools for organizations of all sizes, in every vertical. 

In this conversation, Laurie Ehrlich shares her journey in the legal operations field and her experience implementing technology in the contracting process.  Laurie also discusses the development of playbooks and the use of data to drive decision-making and process improvement. She highlights the need for tools that can extract relevant information from contracts and streamline the contract review process. Overall, Laurie's approach is focused on efficiency, automation,and data-driven decision-making. Laurie discusses her experience with data-driven legal operations and the importance of using data to tell a story and make informed decisions. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:30 Laurie's Career Journey

03:17 Transition to Legal Operations and Process Improvement

08:14 Importance of Playbooks and Process Documentation

14:58 Translating Contracts and Operationalizing Agreements

21:35 The Value of Playbooks in CLM Implementation

28:25 Reducing Task Switching and Streamlining Contract Review

33:53 Data-Driven Decision-Making and KPIs

35:58 The Power of Data in Legal Operations

38:03 Improving Contract Processes with Data

40:11 Data-Driven Security Breach Response

46:10 Selecting the Right CLM Tool

01:00:38 Empowering Legal Professionals with Technology

For more great lessons from the field, and all the CLM content, connect with us here: 

• The CLM Rx Book
• The CLM Rx YouTube Channel
• The CLM Rx LinkedIn
• Kami Paulsen LinkedIn
• Laurie Ehrlich LinkedIn

If you implement Contract Lifecycle Management Software ("CLM"), have purchased CLM, are considering purchasing CLM, or expanding your existing CLM footprint, this channel is for you! Kami speaks to CLM practitioners, CLM Vendors, and visionaries on the most pressing topics in the space. She shares practical advice based on her 15 years implementing various CLM software tools for organizations of all sizes, in every vertical. 

Whitney Stefko Dover shares her career journey from a trial attorney, entrepenuer, and most recently working at the forefront of AI. She emphasizes the importance of a human-centered approach,involving people in the process, and slowing down to speed up. Whitney discusses the process of implementing AI in the legal industry and the importance of education and change management. 

Some key insights:

She emphasizes the importance of a human-centered approach and involving people in the process. 

Slowing down in the beginning of a project is crucial for successful outcomes. Identify repetitive tasks that can be automated using AI

Involve stakeholders in the decision-making process. 

Educate and communicate the benefits of AI to overcome fear and misinformation

Start with personal use cases to get comfortable with AI tools

Share success stories and experiences to encourage adoption of AI in organizations

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:20 Transition from Trial Attorney to AI 05:33 Using Predictive Analytics in a Subscription Box Business 08:27 The Importance of a Human-Centered Approach in AI 12:38 Slowing Down to Speed Up: Key to Successful Projects 27:39 Involving Stakeholders in the AI Decision-Making Process 30:09 Personal Use Cases: Meal Planning and Research Assistance 36:19 Overcoming Fear and Misinformation about AI 40:45 Encouraging Adoption of AI through Success Stories

For more great lessons from the field, and all the CLM content, connect with us here: 

• The CLM Rx Book
• The CLM Rx YouTube Channel
• The CLM Rx LinkedIn
• Kami Paulsen LinkedIn
• Whitney Stefko Dover LinkedIn

If you implement Contract Lifecycle Management Software ("CLM"), have purchased CLM, are considering purchasing CLM, or expanding your existing CLM footprint, this channel is for you! Kami speaks to CLM practitioners, CLM Vendors, and visionaries on the most pressing topics in the space. She shares practical advice based on her 15 years implementing various CLM software tools for organizations of all sizes, in every vertical. 

In this conversation, Rich Bracken discusses his background and journey to becoming a speaker on emotional intelligence. He shares how a personal health transformation and a trip to the emergency room led him to discover the importance of emotional intelligence. Rich emphasizes the need for empathy and understanding in change management within organizations. 

Kami & Rich explore the four pillars of emotional intelligence and how to harness it for transformational change within organizations: self-awareness, self- management, social awareness, and relationship management. 

The conversation highlights the impact of emotional intelligence on communication, change management, and overall well-being. By focusing on personal growth and understanding, individuals can improve their relationships and achieve greater success. 

Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background

09:02 Involving Stakeholders and Seeking Feedback

21:58 Demonstrating Empathy and Understanding

27:24 Celebrating Milestones and Recognizing Efforts

31:06 Enhancing Emotional Intelligence

34:23 Self-Awareness and Relationship Management

38:54 The Adult Passing Period and Time Management

41:28 Empathy and Effective Communication

47:02 Social Awareness and Psychological Safety

53:37 Emotional Intelligence in Change Management

56:43 Living in Alignment and Being Your Best Self

59:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

For more great lessons from the field, and all the CLM content, connect with us here: 

• The CLM Rx Book
• The CLM Rx YouTube Channel
• The CLM Rx LinkedIn
• Kami Paulsen LinkedIn
• Rich Bracken LinkedIn
• The CLM Rx PLAYLIST curated by Rich Bracken

If you implement Contract Lifecycle Management Software ("CLM"), have purchased CLM, are considering purchasing CLM, or expanding your existing CLM footprint, this channel is for you! Kami speaks to CLM practitioners, CLM Vendors, and visionaries on the most pressing topics in the space. She shares practical advice based on her 15 years implementing various CLM software tools for organizations of all sizes, in every vertical. 

Vaishali Gopal, an expert in innovation in the legal space, shares her career journey  and insights on implementing technology and process improvements in legal  teams. She discusses her experience at Pramata, where she worked on contract  review, sales solutions, and product development. She then transitioned to her current role at COUNSELECT, where she helps legal teams with innovation and  transformation. Vaishali emphasizes the importance of understanding business  problems and designing solutions that enable different stakeholders. She also highlights the need for adoption by design and optimizing existing tools before  considering new technology.

In this conversation, Kami Paulsen and Vaishali Gopal  discuss the role of centers of excellence in contracting and the importance of  process and talent in driving innovation in legal teams. They also explore other  areas of innovation in legal, such as litigation management tools and spend  management with outside counsel. They highlight the shift in how legal  departments are run, with a focus on being more business-focused and strategic.  They discuss the need for legal teams to understand the business in depth and  collaborate with stakeholders to drive change. The conversation concludes with a  summary of the top areas to focus on for innovation in legal departments:  understanding the service portfolio, investing in knowledge management, and  leveraging technology.

Chapters 

00:00 Introduction and Career Background 

11:42 Transition into Innovation and Transformation 

15:47 Getting Started with Innovation and Transformation 

20:10 The Role of Centers of Excellence in Contracting 

24:32 Exploring Innovation in Legal: Litigation Management and Spend Management

30:31 The Shift Towards Business-Focused and Strategic Legal Departments

39:19 Key Areas to Focus on for Innovation in Legal Departments

Takeaways 

Understanding business problems and designing solutions that enable  different stakeholders is crucial in the legal space. 

Adoption by design and optimizing existing tools should be prioritized before considering new technology. 

Implementing innovation and transformation in legal teams requires a comprehensive approach that considers various areas, such as  technology, contracts, matter management, and operating models. Setting up a center of excellence for contracting can be done through baby steps, starting with simpler areas like NDAs and gradually  expanding to more complex contracts. Centers of excellence are valuable  in automating and optimizing contracting processes. 

Process and talent are key factors in driving innovation in legal teams. 

Other areas of innovation in legal include litigation management tools and  spend management with outside counsel.

Legal departments are shifting towards being more business-focused and  strategic. 

Understanding the service portfolio, investing in knowledge management, and leveraging technology are important areas to focus on for innovation  in legal departments. 

For more great lessons from the field, and all the CLM content, connect with us here: 

• The CLM Rx Book
• The CLM Rx YouTube Channel
• The CLM Rx LinkedIn
• Kami Paulsen LinkedIn
• Vaishali Gopal LinkedIn

If you implement Contract Lifecycle Management Software ("CLM"), have purchased CLM, are considering purchasing CLM, or expanding your existing CLM footprint, this channel is for you! Kami speaks to CLM practitioners, CLM Vendors, and visionaries on the most pressing topics in the space. She shares practical advice based on her 15 years implementing various CLM software tools for organizations of all sizes, in every vertical. 

In Episode Number 11 of The CLM Rx, tune in to hear Eva Calle’s unique story about how she moved into the world of contract lifecycle management. Her background as a legal assistant and contract attorney in Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico, for industrial supply chain informs how she manages client relationships today. Eva brings over 20 years of experience in legal and operational excellence to her role as a Customer Success Manager at DocuSign.

In this episode we talk about post implementation activities and how to be successful. Eva shares her industry insights about what to consider during an implementation. We discuss how implementation decisions can drive adoption and growth. And, Eva provides her expert guidance on how to use your CSM relationship to manage up through change. Customer Success Managers are your champion within the organization and can be a valuable asset to leverage within the Enterprise.

For more great lessons from the field, and all the CLM content, connect with us here:

• The CLM Rx Book: https://a.co/d/8XA2xYC
• The CLM Rx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-clm-rx/
• Kami Paulsen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamipaulsen/
• Eva Calle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evacalle/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theclmrx

If you implement Contract Lifecycle Management Software ("CLM"), have purchased CLM, are considering purchasing CLM, or expanding your existing CLM footprint, this channel is for you! Kami speaks to CLM practitioners, CLM Vendors, and visionaries on the most pressing topics in the space. She shares practical advice based on her 15 years implementing various CLM software tools for organizations of all sizes, in every vertical.

In this episode of The CLM Rx Podcast, Randy Friedman is joining us. He has a rich background in mathematics and AI. He explains the technical aspects of generative AI, how they work together to process and generate content like text, images, and sound. He will share his knowledge about contract intelligence, the rise of AI and the disruptive impact of AI in the industry. The application of artificial intelligence and neural networks; particularly in the context of contract analysis and data processing, can present both opportunities and challenges. When applied properly it can do things that we, as people, cannot do.

The key takeaways from this episode:

• To perform effectively, AI models like GPT-3 or DALL·E rely on a combination of technologies, including transformers, retrievers, and other components. 

• It's important to recognize that AI is not magic but rather a mathematical and technological system. It requires careful engineering and training to produce meaningful results.

• The use of AI models also raises ethical concerns, such as bias in training data and potential misuse. It's important to use AI responsibly and address these ethical challenges.

• The field of AI is continually evolving, with researchers working on improving models, reducing biases, and making AI more accessible and useful for a wider range of applications.

For more great lessons from the field, and all the CLM content, connect with us here: 

• The CLM Rx Book: https://a.co/d/8XA2xYC
• The CLM Rx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-clm-rx/
• Kami Paulsen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamipaulsen/
• Randy Friedman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyjayfriedman/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theclmrx

If you implement Contract Lifecycle Management Software ("CLM"), have purchased CLM, are considering purchasing CLM, or expanding your existing CLM footprint, this channel is for you! Kami speaks to CLM practitioners, CLM Vendors, and visionaries on the most pressing topics in the space. She shares practical advice based on her 15 years implementing various CLM software tools for organizations of all sizes, in every vertical. 

For the CLM implementation to be successful, empower the business users and remove their fear. Otherwise, they will go against it. And the only way to do this is to educate them. There’s so much anxiety and fear about failure in picking the right solutions. What may contribute to this conundrum is that there’s so much data and noise in the market and the users are less educated about CLM. Matt Patel, an Enterprise Software Professional and Co-founder of Malbek, joins us today to share his expertise in CLM implementation and his valuable insights about how to start CLM, selecting the right tools, and dealing with failure.

“Don't look for a vendor that says yes to everything, right? If somebody says yes to everything, that's like God's gift to CLM, and the best thing on the planet, but that doesn't exist. So it's okay to see some nos on the list and not being the vendor because they may not have everything you possibly want. In fact, everything you have on your list, you probably don't need anyways.”

• Matt Patel

Hear more about:

• The fear of failing in picking the right solutions and the fear about selecting a vendor, implementing it and failing.

• The two generations of CLM platforms: older ones built 10-20 years ago, and newer ones built in the last 5-7 years. The older platforms are feature-rich but may require significant IT support and customization. The newer platforms are no-code, configurable solutions that are more cost-effective and user-friendly.

• Focusing on the negative use cases, the pricing and the pitfalls where the fear occurs and examine how the CLM platform performs under the hood. Building live templates and testing integrations can help understand the ownership experience.

• Customer success management becoming more prominent, providing ongoing support, usage monitoring, and assistance in making the most out of the CLM system.

• The fear of buying CLM for being costly.  You are going to get what you pay for. CLM is an enterprise solution. 

• The importance of limiting customizations and the fear of having to replicate a process. Let these tools streamline and make best practices based CLM solutions that just work and are easy to administer and use.

• Organizations leveraging SI firms and partners. The modern tools are more about process design and making customers change the way they currently do things to align with best practices so that their future maintenance and administration is easier.​​

• Tips about how to be successful in your CLM implementation once the vendor has been picked.

For more great lessons from the field, and all the CLM content, connect with us here: 

• Website: https://www.theclmrx.com
• The CLM Rx Book: https://a.co/d/8XA2xYC
• The CLM Rx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-clm-rx/
• Kami Paulsen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamipaulsen/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theclmrx

If you implement Contract Lifecycle Management Software ("CLM"), have purchased CLM, are considering purchasing CLM, or expanding your existing CLM footprint, this channel is for you! Kami speaks to CLM practitioners, CLM Vendors, and visionaries on the most pressing topics in the space. She shares practical advice based on her 15 years implementing various CLM software tools for organizations of all sizes, in every vertical. 

Spencer Ellsworth joins Kami Paulsen on this jam packed episode. 

“Do use it as an opportunity to kind of network with the vendors and get a chance to talk to them and get onto their radar as somebody who is looking for that legal technology. But I think that to the point about networking, like network with other people, go to the sessions that are actually being held on CLM. And hear those out because even though those are oftentimes being hosted by a specific vendor and the panelists that they've brought on board. There's something beneficial, like they've, especially in recent years like CLOC has intentionally tried to not be an opportunity for vendors to sales pitch during great sessions." ~Spencer Ellsworth

You’ll learn more about:

• The role of business analysts in CLM implementations, highlighting the importance of collecting requirements and documenting processes.

• The hype around AI in CLM and the real benefits of AI in CLM could be seen in predictive negotiations and redlining.

• The implementation of CLM AI is expected to simplify the integration process and make automation more accessible and cost-effective by removing barriers and reducing the need for coding and custom connections.

• The collaboration between the customer and the partner. The partner can offer recommendations based on their experience, but the customer's input and validation are crucial in defining the requirements and ensuring the CLM system meets their specific needs.

• Attending legal conferences like CLOC can provide valuable insights and knowledge for both ongoing CLM implementations and organizations with existing CLM systems.

For more great lessons from the field, and all the CLM content, connect with us here: 

• Website: https://www.theclmrx.com
• The CLM Rx Book: https://a.co/d/8XA2xYC
• IG: @the_clmrx
• The CLM Rx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-clm-rx/
• Kami Paulsen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamipaulsen/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theclmrx

If you implement Contract Lifecycle Management Software ("CLM"), have purchased CLM, are considering purchasing CLM, or expanding your existing CLM footprint, this channel is for you! Kami speaks to CLM practitioners, CLM Vendors, and visionaries on the most pressing topics in the space. She shares practical advice based on her 15 years implementing various CLM software tools for organizations of all sizes, in every vertical. 

Lily Schurra, an attorney, who has been in the legal ops and legal tech space for four years now, is here with me in today’s episode to share her experiences about CLM readiness progressing to  expanded usage of CLM improving efficiency and managing contracts effectively. Different roles, such as legal, IT, HR, and sales, have varying needs and interactions with the system. Stay tuned till the end for an insightful conversation about the journey from readiness to maturity.

“...because you can't, as one person or even a team of people, you can't imagine everything that people might need. And I mean, you obviously have to take things with a grain of salt, you can't fix everybody's problems all the time, like not every technology solution is going to do everything for you. But it really does help go a long way, if you could get the feedback of the users before you try to implement the change management.” 

Find out more about:

• Visualizations as powerful tools 

• Feedback from users is crucial in improving and refining technology solutions. 

• Documenting processes and creating playbooks are important readiness steps before implementing a CLM system. 

• Finding your niche and getting good at it and expanding from there instead of doing everything else all at once.

• The role of geography, language, and regulations in contracting and the value of partnerships and early adoption in driving product development.

For more great lessons from the field, and all the CLM content, connect with us here: 

• Website: https://www.theclmrx.com
• The CLM Rx Book: https://a.co/d/8XA2xYC
• IG: @the_clmrx
• The CLM Rx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-clm-rx/
• Kami Paulsen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamipaulsen/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theclmrx

If you implement Contract Lifecycle Management Software ("CLM"), have purchased CLM, are considering purchasing CLM, or expanding your existing CLM footprint, this channel is for you! Kami speaks to CLM practitioners, CLM Vendors, and visionaries on the most pressing topics in the space. She shares practical advice based on her 15 years implementing various CLM software tools for organizations of all sizes, in every vertical.