From AI to UX: Exploring Key Innovations in Legal Tech
Yesterday was notable for legal-tech with CTS Group's Tiger Eye's Blueprint update, LexisNexis' new cloud solution, Freeths and Henchman partnership, and more. Key themes focused on merging AI with legal practices for improving productivity and efficiency, evolving legal-tech norms globally.
Welcome to your Law Tech briefing for Oct 13, 2023, covering what happened in legal tech recently.
TLDR; Listen instead:
Have less than a 1 min? Three takeaways from yesterday
- Embrace AI for Legal Process Optimization: AI developments are continuously boosting knowledge extraction, drafting processes, and overall attorney productivity. As seen through partnerships like Freeths and Henchman, AI is becoming an indispensable asset in legal practices. Legal knowledge workers should embrace these innovations for effective process optimization.
- Adapt to Cloud-Based Solutions for Efficient Data Management: Innovative solutions like 'Lexis Everyfile' showcase how cloud-based systems can help capture and manage data more efficiently. Law firms should adapt to these technologies for easier, secure, and collaborative data handling.
- Increase Technical Education in Legal Sector: With the integration of technology in the legal sector growing, the focus has pivoted towards equipping future legal practitioners with the required technical capabilities. Legal institutions should effectively integrate technology into their curricula, preparing upcoming professionals for a tech-centered legal environment.
Briefing
Here's what happened in legal tech recently...
CTS Group's subsidiary, Tiger Eye, unveiled an updated version of its knowledge management tool, 'Blueprint'. Meanwhile, LexisNexis launched a cloud-based matter management solution, 'Lexis Everyfile', hosted on Microsoft Azure. In an interesting development, renowned legal services provider Freeths formed a strategic partnership with Henchman, aiming to boost attorney productivity with AI. Legal-tech powerhouse Relativity made a strategic alliance in Australia to increase exposure of e-discovery among law students.
Trends
The day's key theme was broadly inclined towards tech innovation and AI breakthroughs. The upgraded Blueprint system reinforces iManage compatibility and simplifies lawyerly processes. Henchman's AI is set to boost Freeths' knowledge extraction and drafting process, signaling the intensifying relationship between AI and legal process optimization. AI developments weren't limited to process optimization, with Lexblog launching 'Lou,' an AI-based blogging assistant, improving bloggers' productivity and content quality.
Analysis
The fusion of AI technologies with legal practices shows no sign of slowing down. Legal tech companies are steadily making AI the centerpiece of their innovations, reiterating the rise of AI as an indispensable ally in law practice. Innovative cloud-based solutions like Lexis Everyfile are helping law firms capture and manage data more efficiently, demonstrating the need for adaptable, collaborative platforms. With the heightened focus on maximizing productivity and the growing adoption of AI, it's clear that legal technology is moving beyond traditional boundaries. Enterprises exploring these new avenues may invite a more modern, automated future for the legal sector. Ultimately, these trends symbolize a paradigm shift in legal standards - a welcome disruption that's anticipated to dramatically refine legal practices globally. This wave of technological breakthroughs proves that the legal tech industry is dynamic; it's simultaneously meeting current needs while preparing for future demands. Relativity's partnership with UNE Law School in Australia emphasizes the importance of equipping future legal practitioners with technical capabilities, showing the increasing integration of technology into the curricula. Watch this space - the intersection of technology and law is expanding, and traditional education must keep pace. Additionally, yesterday's governmental developments spotlight a growing concern around data privacy and AI regulation, reminding us that ethical and legal considerations of technology are crucial in a rapidly digitizing world. These latest advancements reflect the industry's relentless pursuit of improved efficiency, inclusivity, and user experience.
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Key stories
App4Legal, a leading legal tech company, has announced a seven-figure funding round led by UAE's Aditum Ventures to propel its AI-driven tech innovations and growth across Europe. The investment comes as App4Legal holds top rank as a software editor for Legal Practice Management and Document Management on Gartner Capterra and other review platforms, based on ease of use, functionality, value for money, likelihood to recommend, and customer support. App4Legal offers services to over 1,400 diverse organizations in 67 countries, envisioning a transformative impact on legal professionals by advocating constant innovation, trust, and transformation of the legal industry narrative. The strategic investment will provide the fintech firm an opportunity to increase its footprint in Europe.
Spain – EU’s first AI regulator (Technology's Legal Edge)
Spain has set a precedent by forming Europe's first independent AI regulator: the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA). Formed through inter-ministerial cooperation, the agency represents Spain's proactive stance in the face of ongoing EU discussions on AI regulation, closely linked to its Digital Agenda 2026 and National Strategy for AI. The strategy emphasizes development along six major axes, upholding principles of human supervision, transparency, data governance, and non-discrimination. While primarily enforcing EU AI Act rules, AESIA will also focus on making people aware of AI's societal consequences. Spain's move to create a dedicated AI entity diverges from the UK's approach of assigning AI duties to existing regulators. It will be informative to see how other EU members respond and whether Spain's peculiar moves influence them.
All stories
Tiger Eye relaunches Blueprint with cloud capabilities and new features (Legal IT Insider)
CTS Group's subsidiary, Tiger Eye, has relaunched its knowledge management product, Tiger Eye Blueprint. The updated system is fully REST compatible with the iManage platform, offers flexible authentication, and streamlines document submission and approval for lawyers. A new feature allows firms to link and unify different knowledge assets. This relaunch signals the start of a new phase for Blueprint, with additional features anticipated in the future.
Legal IT Insider and Cosmonauts have initiated an event, The Say Gap, to confront inequality and diversity issues in the legal sector. Its inaugural event on December 1 will concentrate on improving women's public speaking skills in the industry, with training provided by Ginger Leadership Communications. The initiative aims to increase self-awareness, empathy, and the representation of women in senior legal positions.
LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions has introduced Lexis Everyfile, a web-based matter management application hosted on Microsoft Azure. The tool manages matter metadata not captured by traditional systems, using Lexis' Visualfiles system database. It offers data capture, MI reporting, contact management, and process management tools. The application, already in use by a top 50 UK law firm, integrates with Microsoft 365 applications and is available on the Azure marketplace.
Lexblog Offers Early Access to Lou – AI Enabled Publishing Assistant (Dewey B Strategic)
Lexblog, a platform for legal bloggers, has introduced a new feature named Lou, powered by OpenAI's ChatGPT technology. Lou functions as an administrative assistant, aiding lawyers in generating ideas, suggesting titles, and reducing publishing time, while also improving post readability. The AI tool can also assist with social media updates and adjust content tone. Lexblog provides training on AI blogging best practices and is currently offering limited early access to Lou.
National law firm Freeths has teamed up with legaltech company Henchman to boost lawyer productivity using AI. Henchman's technology will help extract insights from knowledge repositories and streamline complex drafting processes. This partnership is part of Freeths' dedication to enhancing its lawyers' capabilities through innovation and knowledge tools, enabling them to provide superior advice to clients.
LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions has introduced Lexis Everyfile, a web-based matter management application hosted on Microsoft Azure. The application, designed to streamline legal transactions, offers features including data capture, MI reporting, contact and date management, and process management. Lexis Everyfile aims to fill technology gaps in law firms and is accessible from any device.
Tiger Eye, a partner of iManage, has announced the relaunch of its knowledge management product, Tiger Eye Blueprint. The revamped system now features full REST compatibility for the iManage platform, flexible authentication, a user-friendly design, and knowledge bundling to connect various assets. It also integrates with iManage, using the same security features. The relaunched product is expected to be adopted in Q1 2024.
Relativity, a legal technology firm, is collaborating with The University of New England (UNE) School of Law in Australia to offer e-discovery education to law students. This is the first partnership of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region under Relativity’s Academic Partner Program. The program, which is already established in 116 schools, provides students with practical experience using RelativityOne for complex litigation. The goal is to equip future lawyers with advanced technical skills to improve their job prospects post-graduation.
Most CISOs confront ransomware — and pay ransoms (Legal Dive - Latest News)
A Splunk survey reveals that 90% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) reported experiencing at least one major cyberattack in the past year, with ransomware being a prevalent form. 96% of these attacks were ransomware, significantly impacting over half of the businesses. Despite the US government's advice against it, more than 80% of the organizations paid the ransom, prompting talks of a potential ban on such payments.
Vodafone has selected US eDiscovery vendor Everlaw to improve its litigation, investigations, and compliance procedures. The cloud-based platform will help Vodafone manage corporate data, ensure compliance, and increase the efficiency of its legal operations. The platform's AI software will enable Vodafone to rapidly process and analyse data from millions of documents, aiding collaboration within the company or with external counsel.
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Training Lawyers to Learn By Doing: How AltaClaro is Closing the Practical Skills Gap (Fringe Legal)
Abdi Shayesteh, founder and CEO of AltaClaro, has reinvented legal training by addressing the skills gap through experiential learning. The platform utilizes simulations, expert feedback, and data insights to improve and personalize education for associates. By offering hands-on training, AltaClaro aims to bridge the gap between technology and legal education, empowering lawyers to adapt and thrive in the evolving legal industry.
Legal services provider, Harbor, has appointed Nick Kadochnikov as Head of AI and Advanced Tech Engineering. Kadochnikov brings extensive experience in AI, machine learning, and natural language processing from his previous roles as Director of AI Engineering at William Blair and a 20-year tenure at IBM. His primary role at Harbor will be to lead the development of AI solutions to improve operational efficiency and service delivery.
California’s Delete Act won’t hit most companies on privacy (Legal Dive - Latest News)
California Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted the Delete Act, instructing the state's privacy protection agency to establish a consumer portal for data deletion requests. The law targets approximately 500 data brokers who must register with the agency by the end of next year. Non-compliance with deletion requests will lead to a daily penalty of $200 per consumer.
