The Kennedy-Mighell Report

As you may have discovered on your own, genAI tools are ready and enthusiastic with their outputs, but may be woefully ill-informed, in spite of the snappy replies they spew out with unfettered confidence. So, what is being done to remedy this issue? Dennis and Tom explain how Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) combines AI’s LLMs with more current external information, addressing problems arising from outdated LLM data. The guys talk through some of their favorite tools that employ RAG effectively and offer insights into their uses for attorneys. 

Later, could AI-adoption be diminishing a lawyer’s hard-earned expertise? Dennis and Tom dive into this common fear shared by many traditionally-minded attorneys, focusing on ways to leverage AI not to replace, but enhance their legal practice.

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #372

A Segment: AI and RAG: Hate the Name, Love the Application

B Segment: A question from our AI Chatbot

Parting Shots:

As genAI continues to edge into all facets of our lives, Dr. Megan Ma has been exploring integrations for this technology in legal, but, more importantly, how it can help lawyers and law students hone their legal skills. Dennis and Tom talk with Dr. Ma about her work and career path and many of the latest developments in legal tech. They take a deep dive into a variety of burgeoning AI tools and trends, and Dr. Ma discusses how her interdisciplinary mindset has helped her develop a unique perspective on the possibilities for AI in the legal profession and beyond. 

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Dr. Megan Ma is a Research Fellow and the Associate Director of the Stanford Program in Law, Science, and Technology and the Stanford Center for Legal Informatics (CodeX). 

Show Notes KMR Episode 376:

Lawyers have long been hesitant to adopt technology, but the rapid advancements in generative AI have sparked a new curiosity in many attorneys. Are we heading toward a mindset shift in the profession and a swift increase in tech use? Dennis and Tom welcome Cat Moon to the podcast to get her take on the current state of AI and other technologies in the legal world. Drawing from her expertise in working with both practicing attorneys and law students, Cat shares insights on experimentation in her AI-focused lab work, collaboration strategies, tech education, and the vital importance of humble curiosity. 

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Caitlin “Cat” Moon is the Director of Innovation Design for the Program in Law and Innovation at Vanderbilt Law School.

Show Notes KMR Episode 375:

Piquing curiosity in legal technology is the first step to helping lawyers engage with and acquire modern tech for their practice. Dennis and Tom welcome Caitlin McCabe to hear her perspectives on inspiring interest and enthusiasm for technology in the legal world. Caitlin discusses her role at BARBRI and how they continue to leverage technology to help law students study for the bar exam. She talks about her career path and her excitement for innovation and learning in the practice of law. 

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Caitlin McCabe is a project manager at BARBRI Global.

Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #374

A Segment: Fresh Voices in Legal Tech with Caitlin McCabe

B Segment: More with Caitlin McCabe

Parting Shots:

Amy Conroy has found that communicating the “why” behind data science is critical to helping lawyers understand and appreciate what role it can play in legal practice. Dennis and Tom welcome Amy to discuss her expertise in data, legal AI, and many other aspects of legal technology. Amy shares insights on problem-solving tactics for everyday tasks, the rise of data-driven legal practice, collaboration tools, and much more. 

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #372

A Segment: Fresh Voices on Legal Tech with Amy Conroy

Law School 2.0

Mishcon de Reya

B Segment: More with Amy Conroy

Parting Shots:

How can technology help self-represented litigants have better outcomes in our legal systems? Amanda Brown considers exactly that on a daily basis in her role at the Lagniappe Law Lab, a justice tech non-profit in Louisiana. Dennis and Tom talk with Amanda about her perspectives on the justice gap and legal technology and how tech adoption, collaboration, and promoting further tech growth can help improve access to justice for underserved populations. 

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #371

A Segment: Fresh Voice Amanda Brown

B Segment: Continue with Fresh Voice Amanda Brown

Parting Shots:

Perplexity AI

Readwise

Gemini

How Can Law Professors Effectively Teach AI Literacy to Law Students, by Dennis Kennedy

The all-too-common deterioration of internet platforms seems to lead users through a bait and switch that leaves them with little more than a bunch of crap. Why do platforms tend to start off with appealing, engaging features that eventually disappear? Dennis and Tom talk about a recently coined term, which, for the purposes of this podcast, they call “encrappification”, and what, if anything, can be done to stop it. 

Later, the guys discuss the pros and cons of employing general use AI platforms versus legal-specific AI tools. 

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #371

A Segment: Entering the Era of En****tification

B Segment: ChatGPT asks us a question

Parting Shots:

When Jackie Schafer started learning about AI in 2020, she had an intuitive feeling that it was going to bring big changes to the legal profession. Since then, she has worked with AI to improve legal writing technology for greater efficiency and accuracy. Dennis and Tom talk with Jackie about her perspectives on broader legal technology, competency, collaboration, and more. She also gives insights into her experience founding Clearbrief and offers tips on how to integrate the latest technology into legal practice for both beginners and seasoned tech users. 

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Jacqueline Schafer is the founder and CEO of Clearbrief, an AI-powered legal writing tool. 

Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #370

A Segment: Fresh Voices - Jackie Schafer

•  Clearbrief.ai - https://clearbrief.com 

B Segment: More with Jackie Schafer

Parting Shots:

Is there a need for the legal tech community together for more informal chats about the latest happenings in the industry? Dennis envisions chat sessions, group Zooms, unconferences, and more, but Tom isn’t so sure those types of get-togethers would be appealing to him. They hash out their thoughts on encouraging conversations and idea sharing in the legal tech community and which collaboration approaches might appeal to a wide range of people. 

Later, ChatGPT asks a question about whether the era of generative AI has really fully made it into the legal world, and the guys talk about its impacts, or lack thereof, in different aspects of the profession.  

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Show Notes - Kennedy-Mighell Report #369

A Segment: Online Unconferences and Virtual Get-Togethers

B Segment: ChatGPT asks us a question

Parting Shots:

To gain a new perspective on technology from outside the US, Dennis and Tom welcome UK-based legal business consultant Jack Shepherd. Jack offers his thoughts on how European tech approaches may differ from that in US law firms and talks about competence, tech learning, collaboration, AI trends, and more. 

As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends.

Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions.

Jack Shepherd is Principal Business Consultant at iManage, where he improves legal practices by focusing on client needs and motivations and finds realistic strategies to help users get the most out of legal services and legal technologies.

Show Notes:

Daniel Yim - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwlyim/

Rémy Bonnaffé - https://www.linkedin.com/in/remybonnaffe/

Jenny Hotchin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyhotchin/

Alistair Wye - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistairwye/

The Peter Attia Drive Podcast

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