By Manu Kanwar, Founder at LexSolutions & Co-Founder and Director at Majoto
Below are some notes and reflections since, after this great one day conference. Separately, I will write about the magic of the day; the atmosphere carefully curated; the sense of purpose, togetherness and collaboration; and the friendships solidified and started. Here though, are some of the key insights that I took away. Please feel free to add your own!
Some of the opening remarks:
Although a lot is changing in law, a lot is also not changing very fast or fast enough. True change must come by aligning with our purpose – and purpose (just as is the case for individuals) must come from within. Real change will only come from the inside out. The legal innovation community is on the inside and, by default, is the future of law – and therefore valuable and influential. Together, we can drive the change we want to see.
Think about the purpose we want to fulfil from the day. Think about the opportunity we individually and collectively have by being together on this day. Think about the value we can drive and derive for and from each other.
Important to reflect on the values which Marc May and Marco Mendola have built this event around and which prominently featured in its literature: “humility”, “empathy”, “collaboration”, “purpose”, “people-led”, “change”, “community”. Please hold them close as we go through the day.
Panel: putting people first, a career in legal ops
Emma Sorrell, Rhianne Armstrong, Mercy Chirau expertly moderated by Marc May
Many of us end up on the legal career escalator. It’s important to pause, reflect on our own purpose and perhaps get off.
In doing that, reach out to others in this space – ask, learn and share.
Many of us have had squiggly careers – follow the itch and your purpose. Just trying to do that will make your own work more valuable.
Diversity of mindsets is important. It helps to be a lawyer or know about the law, but by no means essential. In fact those coming from outside law have a great deal to offer.
Neurodiversity making legal ops more accessible:
Gemma Wilson gave a great talk about neurodiversity – the different types, how there is great diversity even amongst those of the same neurotype and the value that all of this diversity can offer.
The legal ops space is inclusive, supportive and collaborative, but a lot more can still be done. Gemma gave some great tips on how.
Stats show 20% of the workforce may be neurodiverse, but actually it’s likely to be much more.
If a process is broken, tech won’t fix it – double down on the requirements, especially inclusivity for all stakeholders. There’s never one size that fits all, how else can we make our solutions more accessible.
Jay Smith gave us an inspirational talk on his career journey. So much has changed since we all started our practice (including dictation machines, faxes and the processes around them), be open to change.
Take time to think about what fulfils you, your personal needs.
Reach out and find mentors, their help and the breadcrumbs your curiosity will lead you along a fulfilling journey
Valuable solutions come from listening hard to the problems and understanding the pain of stakeholders.
A great reflection on the meaning of ikigai and how it applies to us.
He talked movingly about the fulfilment from serving others and asking ‘how can I do that’, ‘how can legal innovation do that’?
Siân Ashton gave a fabulous presentation on change management models, the purpose and similarities across them and how she has adapted and used them to great success.
Always spend a lot of time an energy on the ‘why’ on listening and understanding the problems
Often to do that, you need to slow down, pause and reflect.
Build engagement across all stakeholders early and throughout the process and on an ongoing basis beyond – these become your change catalysts and champions.
We need to change our relationship to change – it’s always an ongoing process, it’s never ‘done’, never aspire to completion or perfection.
Implementing legal tech, is it possible to ‘fail fast’
Emily Cox gave a great talk on the application of this principle in legal tech.
Failing fast in tech generally works, where you create an mvp, get feeback and continually iterate.
Naturally it’s slower in law, where lawyers are cautious, the environment is regulated and presents risk and we’re all perfectionists
Maybe then it is slower to adopt and manage a ‘fail fast’ approach in legal tech, but that’s ok – as it’s not about the tech – it’s about the people and our ability to pivot.
This is done by deep conversations and pausing for reflection – and seeking ‘incremental development’.
Document failure and its learnings, manage expectations, remember that failures teach us whereas a fear of failure holds us back, get comfortable with discomfort.
Just trying to use the ‘fail fast’ approach is a helpful process and can deliver value.
Perhaps we need to learn to ‘fail fast’ and ‘failing fast’.
Client facing legal tech, a journey in collaboration
Antonia James talked us through her journey and some key wins building out a practice and significant revenues by collaborating with clients to create valuable solutions for them (and many others beyond).
Efficiency in innovation is an obvious starting point, but collaboration is the key to long term success.
Early on her journey, Antonia took responsibility to look at every single touch point between the firm and its clients. This was an incredibly insightful exercise.
Client listening is the most important marketing activity and it’s important to consider all stakeholders – who may not be clients, but end users of clients.
Building out subscriptions for stickiness is a very valuable proposition, following SAAS style models.
Learn fast – consider products according to time, cost and quality – never compromise on quality.
Consider giving fee earners fee credits for their involvement.
Start with friendly clients, create pilots and consider what value to offer them for their important feedback.
One size doesn’t fit all and enabling change is not a one time event!
Marc May talked us through his own career journey from army to law to legal ops; and challenges he faced along the way.
Taking time to reflect on our journeys is important.
Options to those doing law degrees are largely (a) solicitor (b) barrister (c) a career outside law on the back of the degree.
Offering legal ops as a course and obvious path would be useful. Currently only offered in some places at masters level.
Many of our journeys into legal ops has been accidental.
There is much value to be offered by legal ops professionals in delivering consultancy and solutions.
Perhaps we should standardise the job titles, the learning and the career path?
Let’s go back and talk to uni’s, offer more diversity to those wanting to attend conferences (as often they are priced out) and share info between us. A collaborative effort to drive value through this is key.
Why legal tech means nothing without legal design
Marco Mendola moderated a great interactive panel session with Anna Posthumus Meyjes and Odin van Eijk
User centricity and empathy is key – necessitates understanding at an emotional level and drives better quality of advice and service.
Accessibility and inclusivity is key – consider this in terms of fonts, colours, gendering, structure, design, volume of words etc.
Consider all stakeholders – for greater adoption, use and value.
How to bridge (more) tech and design: (a) communication (of boundaries and wishes on both sides) to reinforce the bridge; (b) be like pizza – create opportunities for easy, informal connection and collaboration.
It’s all about relationships.
Panel: Legal innovation: the one ring to rule them all – empathy and culture to drive transformation
Laura Marinello, Chris Williams, Marco Mendola and me, brilliantly moderated by Emily Cox
A great panel discussion – no notes, I’m afraid as I was on the stage, but from recollection:
It’s all about the culture, from alignment of stakeholders to the adoption of the tech.
Inclusivity and belonging is so important – people need to feel heard and seen and need to have an internal desire to contribute and collaborate.
Give people autonomy as well as belonging.
And also competence (balance between the ability to succeed and being sufficiently challenged). See the self-determination theory here.
Wellbeing, mental health, innovation, diversity, quality, strategy, value – are all interrelated and we need to take a systemic approach.
The 4A’s for Purposeful Alignment might have got a mention! Awareness. Acceptance. Autonomy. Adoration (more info here)
The evolving legal ops team
Jodie Hosmer gave us a great talk on her own journey, successes and lessons learned.
Jodie had a squiggly career too and has throughout her life been asking “why?”
Early successes in disaggregation of processes to drive greater efficiency and collaboration.
Biggest challenge is behaviour change (back to the people, folks – your greatest asset, but also greatest challenge if not addressed intentionally)
Cognitive diversity is essential, actively seek it out.
Legal process design, user centric design and multidisciplinary teams all important to optimise legal service delivery.
Taking away work allocation from the lawyers, with the process focused more on efficiency and value (relying on data) is a quick win.
Data is so key to help with prioritisation, informing solutions and delivering ROI.
Framing the problem of understanding goals in the age of AI
Uwais Iqbal and Chris Williams led us through an informative journey around AI, low code no code and opportunities for collaboration between them.
AI is like an enthusiastic junior team member, who always needs supervision.
Great value in combining AI and low code to test and validate solutions.
Always do your homework to prepare solutions, particularly involving AI very carefully. The groundwork is key.
Not too many notes as was also dodging beachballs, saving my laptop and mopping up water! Thanks Chris!
In summary:
It’s always all about purpose, people, culture (in that order)… and then the tech.
Diversity is obviously better in legal ops than law generally, but much more we can do – we should actively seek out cognitive diversity and all this enriches the solutions and value.
Path to and through legal ops is generally squiggly, but to realise the value and opportunity for all involved and those coming up behind, perhaps we should share and standardise more intentionally. (Although it’s also true to say that those who consistently realign with their purpose, take risks and embrace change to arrive and work in legal ops will (as a result) be more determined and deliver greater value).
Spend more time than you think you need to listen, learn and understand – back to purpose and the why.
Identify and engage all stakeholders throughout and remember some of them won’t be obvious, eg being end users of clients; and some internal vs external stakeholders may have different needs or motivations.
Remember the values of this event and community: “humility’, “empathy”, “collaboration”, “purpose”, “people-led”, “change”, “community”.
Thanks to the kind sponsors, fabulous speakers, brilliant attendees and of course our amazing hosts, Marc and Marco. ❤️
