Malbek

• Lead and manage the legal function.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and COO with respect to all legal matters.
• Regularly contribute to Malbek’s product development efforts. 
• Provide structured and ad hoc legal support as needed across the enterprise.
• Recommend, design, and implement new processes and procedures to improve and better align  processes with strategic business and product development objectives.
• Regularly contribute to Malbek’s content marketing efforts by authoring long-form thought leadership pieces and participating in webinars and podcasts.
• Work cross-functionally with product marketing, content producers, designers, and sales leaders on lead demand generation strategy and marketing campaign development efforts.
• Lead and/or moderate webinars, podcast episodes, and in-person events with prospects, customers, partners, and other members of the legal and legal technology communities.

General Counsel

•	Lead the legal function with a focus on data privacy, contracting, and intellectual property. 
•	Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and COO with respect to all legal matters.
•	Provide ad hoc legal support as needed across the enterprise.
•	Recommend, design, and implement new processes and procedures to improve and better align contract templates and processes with strategic business and product development objectives.
•	Regularly contribute to Malbek’s content marketing efforts by authoring long-form thought leadership pieces and participating in webinars and podcasts.
•	Regularly contribute to and provide advice regarding ongoing product development initiatives.
•	Work cross-functionally with product marketing, content producers, designers, and sales leaders on lead demand generation strategy and marketing campaign development efforts.
•	Lead and/or moderate webinars, podcast episodes, and in-person events with prospects, customers, partners, and other members of the legal and technology communities.

Director of Legal and Evangelist

Albany Law School

I teach "Technology and Law Practice Management" - a course designed to be an introduction to the evolving world of legal technology and its transformative impact on modern legal practice. The course explores how technology is reshaping the legal profession. The course incorporates hands-on experience with tools alongside strategies for how to best use the tools that students in the class are asked to experiment with.

Adjunct Professor of Law

Proxy

Advisory Board Member

The Colleges of Law

I teach "Technology for Legal Professionals".  This course is a Masters-Level intensive course in legal technology. Students gain first-hand experience using a variety of technologies commonly used in the practice of law alongside learning best practices for using technology in an effective and productive way.

Adjunct Faculty

WordRake

-Key business leader and advocate for WordRake.
-Led market research efforts and engaged in discussions with legal leaders.  
-Responsible for leading various marketing, business development, and branding initiatives. 
-Designed and directed social media outreach and campaigns.
-Co-led competitive analysis and positioning efforts.
-Directly assisted in a number of product development efforts.

Director Of Marketing And Business Development

Lookout

Negotiated, drafted and closed a variety of agreements, including distributor agreements, reseller agreements, customer and sales agreements, technology licensing agreements, and services agreements.
Developed, improve and maintain policies and agreement templates.
Maintained contractual records and documentation.
Assisted with managing company's contract management system.
Facilitated the resolution of business / legal issues and formulating recommendations using analysis, creativity and the development of new approaches to enable contract execution while safeguarding the company and creating a positive customer experience.
Built and managed processes and workflows that can scale globally.
Kept abreast of U.S. and international law that may affect the business.
Advised on special projects as needed, including new product development and expansion into new international markets.
Contribute to cross-functional teams as a trusted advisor, creative problem-solver and strategic thinker.

Legal Counsel

Salary.com

Served as strategic advisor to the CFO and CEO with regards to data privacy, information security, strategic transactions, commercial transactions, employment law, and intellectual property matters.
Led and directed all legal operations, processes, and procedures for the company and provided general legal guidance and support to all departments across the company.
Closed deals worth $200K and more.
Supported sales teams and all other functions by managing, drafting, reviewing, redlining, and negotiating both standard and non-standard agreements including, but not limited to SaaS, data privacy, marketing, professional services, independent contractor, and distributor contracts.
Improved upon existing organizational contracting processes and templates to improve workflow.
Maintained contractual records and documentation, such as receipt and control of all contract correspondence, contractual changes, and other documents for all projects.
Worked with finance to ensure adherence to broader finance and risk requirements 
Reviewed and maintained the company’s internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the company’s legal obligations. 
Reviewed and developed as needed relevant processes, policies, and procedures relating to the company’s contracting and other internal practices.
Coordinated and managed outside counsel on an as-needed basis for various ad-hoc matters.
Facilitated the resolution of business / legal issues and formulating recommendations using analysis, creativity and the development of new approaches to enable contract execution while safeguarding the company and creating a positive customer experience all in accordance with company policies and procedures.
Provided the sales team (and any other teams as needed) with training, education, and documentation on any and all relevant legal matters.
Responded to ad hoc requests for legal assistance/legal research.

Corporate Counsel

Pearson

Supported global sales teams by reviewing, negotiating, redlining, drafting, and overseeing a variety of agreement and contracts with both domestic and global partners and customers and coordinating with  other legal and business functions as needed.
Frequently closed deals worth over $200K.
Provided Intellectual Property support and advice on a wide range of matters.
Recommended and implemented changes regarding improving deal processes and procedures and better alignment of deal terms and alignment with business strategic objectives.
Implemented, oversaw, and managed key contract policies, procedures, and processes.
Assisted with ad hoc Intellectual Property queries.
Managed content partner relationships on behalf of Rights & Permissions and Pearson with content suppliers.
Reviewed Intellectual Property and related inquiries and provided related counseling and support pertaining to countless contract matters including but not limited to licensing, partnership, consulting, non-disclosure, and  termination.
Assisted Rights & Permissions teams and business units in the execution and implementation of agreements from planning through approval to post-execution matters.
Coordinated and collaborated with Rights & Permissions Rights Management teams and Royalty Accounting Department to ensure accuracy in payment.
Assisted Rights & Permissions teams and business units in the execution of agreements from planning through approval to post-execution matters.
Maintained contractual records and documentation.
Assisted in maintaining contract database and maintaining key information on all contracts.
Improved upon existing organizational contracting processes to improve workflow efficiency.
Served as Pearson's Boston-area Global Diversity and Inclusion Advocate where I led development of an online student-focused tool focused on combating cyber-bullying.

Manager, Contract Negotiations

C&W Services

Provided direct support and counseling to sales teams by managing, drafting, reviewing, redlining, and negotiating both standard and non-standard agreements including, but not limited to, non-disclosure, master service, master license, independent contractor, consulting, professional service, supplier, and vendor contracts.
Maintained contractual records and documentation, such as receipt and control of all contract correspondence, customer contact information sheets, contractual changes, and other documents for all projects.
Assisted in maintaining contract database and maintaining key information on all contracts.
Worked with risk management department to coordinate contractual insurance requirements.
Worked with finance department to insure adherence to broader finance and risk requirements such as pricing and discounting policies, and other relevant requirements.
Communicated signed contracts to all relevant parties to provide contract visibility and awareness.
Responded to ad hoc requests for legal assistance/legal research.

Temporary Contracts Counsel

Velcro Group Corporation

Provided support to global sales offices by managing, drafting, reviewing, redlining, and negotiating both standard and non-standard agreements including, but not limited to non-disclosure, marketing, marketing affiliate, sweepstakes, professional services, independent contractor, manufacturing, software licensing (both on-premise and SaaS), customer/sales, supplier, joint development, and distributor contracts.
Closed deals worth $300K and more.
Improved upon existing organizational contracting processes to improve workflow efficiency.
Developed/revised contractual templates.
Maintained contractual records and documentation, such as receipt and control of all contract correspondence, customer contact information sheets, contractual changes, and other documents for all projects.
Worked with risk management department to coordinate contractual insurance requirements.
Worked with finance department to ensure adherence to broader finance and risk requirements such as revenue recognition, pricing and discounting policies, and other relevant requirements.
Worked with relevant sales and business team and advised regarding legal issues and risks related to various business transactions.
Served as the point of contact on contract database matters on behalf of the Legal Department.
Assisted with managing, developing, and implementing contract management system.
Maintained contractual records, documentation, and corporate governance materials.
Advised regarding company’s corporate structure.
Drafted and analyzed corporate bylaws, board of directors, and shareholder resolutions. 
Assisted with corporate re-structuring matters arising from mergers and acquisitions and other related transactions.
Provided training to employees.
Communicated signed contracts to all relevant parties to provide contract visibility and awareness.
Responded to ad hoc requests for legal assistance/legal research.

Contracts Counsel

Provided support to global sales offices by managing, drafting, reviewing, redlining, and negotiating both standard and non-standard agreements including nondisclosure, marketing, marketing affiliate, professional services, independent contractor, manufacturing, software licensing (both on premise and SaaS), customer/sales, supplier, joint development, and distributor contracts.
Maintained contractual records and documentation, such as receipt and control of all contract correspondence, customer contact information sheets, contractual changes, and other documents for all projects.
Developed/revised contractual templates.
Worked with risk management department to coordinate contractual insurance requirements.
Worked with finance department to insure adherence to broader finance and risk requirements such as revenue recognition, pricing and discounting policies and other relevant requirements.
Worked with relevant sales and business team and advise regarding legal issues and risks related to various business transactions.
Ensured proper completion of a wide variety of agreements.
Monitored compliance by company employees with established procedures.
Ensured that signed contracts are communicated to all relevant parties to provide contract visibility and awareness.

Contracts Administrator

Director of Legal @ Malbek | Legal Tech Author and Commentator | Fastcase 50 2022 Honoree | Legal Tech Startup Advisor and Investor

Hey. I’m Colin. I am the General Counsel of Malbek, CLM for the Enterprise. I am a man on a mission. 

My mission is helping people make sense of legal tech—where technology and the law intersect to drive real change. 

As an educator, writer, and advocate, I explore how innovation is reshaping the legal landscape and share insights to help you navigate this dynamic space.

I actively work to grow and support the legal tech community. 

I authored The Legal Tech Ecosystem, a foundational guide to understanding the industry, co-wrote CLM for Dummies to make Contract Lifecycle Management accessible, and edited the comprehensive Handbook of Legal Tech. 

Additionally, I’ve contributed articles, spoken on podcasts, and hosted webinars to unpack the role of technology in law.

I aim to empower legal professionals to embrace technology and realize its potential to improve the legal industry. 

Change and innovation are not just buzzwords to me—they’re the driving forces behind my work.

As Director of Legal and Evangelist for Malbek, a leading Contract Lifecycle Management platform, I stay on the frontlines of legal tech innovation. I also advise startups, invest in emerging technology, and look for ways to propel the industry forward.

Here are a few specific highlights of my work:

1) Author of The Legal Tech Ecosystem – An essential guide for understanding the foundations of legal tech and its key players.

2) Editor of the Handbook of Legal Tech – A comprehensive exploration of the distinct sectors shaping the legal tech landscape.

3) Co-author of CLM for Dummies – Breaking down Contract Lifecycle Management into practical, approachable concepts for legal professionals at every stage.

4) Judge for the American Legal Technology Awards – Highlighting and celebrating groundbreaking advancements in legal innovation.

5)  Columnist for Today’s General Counsel – Delivering in-depth analysis and actionable strategies on the intersection of technology and legal operations.

Every role I take on reflects my dedication to advancing the legal tech community and showing what’s possible when technology and the law work together.

My journey started with candid conversations with pioneers in legal tech. I continue to share those experiences and what I’ve learned on my website, colinslevy.com.

For updates, follow me here, on my website, or on platforms like Threads, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

Whether you’re curious about legal tech, just starting out, or building something new, I’d love to connect. 

Please reach out!

Colin Levy

Time for some blunt talk. 

I am over hearing and reading the same tired narrative from SO many highly successful leaders:

The only way to achieve financial success is to sacrifice everything. Give up your time. Give up your relationships. Give up your hobbies. Give up your life. All because your company must come first.

Fuck. That.

I have spent my career working in legal tech across roles that demanded real commitment: in-house counsel, legal tech advocate, writer, speaker, and now General Counsel at Malbek. 

I wrote The Legal Tech Ecosystem while working full time. I built a voice in this field through years of writing, interviewing innovators, and publishing pieces that unpack the future of the legal profession. 

And I did all of it without sacrificing the rest of my life. I learned to set boundaries. I learned to protect my time. I learned that saying yes to everything is a shortcut to becoming no one.

I have seen burnout up close, both in myself and in the leaders around me. I know what it looks like when the work becomes the identity and the identity becomes the prison. I also know that it does not have to be that way.

You can push your career forward without losing yourself. You can build meaningful influence without torching your evenings, your weekends or your relationships. You can achieve financial success without buying into the false choice between being a high performer and being a whole person.

The belief that you must trade your life for your livelihood is not wisdom. It is a culture problem. It is a system problem. It is people mistaking self-destruction for dedication.

Success should not cost your health, your relationships or your joy. Sustainable success comes from clarity, boundaries, curiosity, and the courage to reject a narrative built on sacrifice theater.

You can be successful, even wildly successful, and still have a life. My career is proof. Anyone telling you otherwise is defending a myth they needed to believe to justify their own choices.

I’m Colin, General Counsel of Malbek - CLM for the Enterprise and author of The Legal Tech Ecosystem. 

#legaltech #innovation #law #business #learning

Colin S. Levy

General Counsel @ Malbek - CLM for Enterprise | Adjunct Professor of Law | Author of The Legal Tech Ecosystem | Legal Tech Advisor and Investor | Named to the Fastcase 50 (2022)

Often one's biggest frustration with Generative AI isn't understanding what it can do, it's getting it to actually DO what you want it to do.

So I ran an experiment.

I asked Claude to create a comprehensive guide for writing effective prompts, using document review as a practical example. 

Here's what I've found effective AI prompting really comes down to:

→ Being specific about your desired output format
→ Providing context about your use case
→ Breaking complex tasks into clear steps
→ Including examples when possible
→ Iterating based on results

The difference between a vague request and a well-structured prompt can save hours of back-and-forth.

The full guide, shared below, covers everything from basic prompt structure to advanced techniques for complex document analysis.

I hope it helps you!

#legaltech #innovation #law #business #learning

AI Prompting for Document Analysis

I am done watching and reading the same breathless declarations flood my feed from people who should know better.

AI will fix everything.

AI will replace everyone.

AI will transform every corner of every industry if we just get out of the way.

ENOUGH.

I have spent my career at the intersection of law and technology working with tools that actually move the needle. 

I have seen what AI can do well and  I have also seen where it fails, where it misleads and where it becomes a shiny distraction rather than a meaningful solution.

AI is powerful. AI is useful. But AI is not magic.

I built my career by asking hard questions, pushing past hype, and reminding teams that technology is a means, not a mission. 

I have seen leaders invest in systems that promised transformation only to deliver confusion because no one bothered to ask the most important questions: 

What outcome are we chasing and is this even the right tool to get us there?

Chasing AI for the sake of chasing AI is not strategy. It is noise. It is performative innovation. It is what happens when people confuse novelty with progress.

You can embrace AI without worshipping it. You can leverage it without surrendering judgment. You can build better legal and business functions without assuming that every problem deserves a model or a chatbot or an automation layer.

AI should support thinking, not replace it. It should expand human capability, not become a crutch that excuses bad decisions or shallow planning.

The belief that AI is the solution to all problems is not vision. 

It is wishful thinking. It is a failure to do the harder work of defining goals, diagnosing root causes, and choosing the right tools for the right jobs.

Real progress comes from clarity, intentionality, experimentation, and knowing that sometimes the most effective solution is not AI at all.

You can lead with intelligence, not hype. You can innovate with restraint. You can build strong, modern teams without handing every challenge to a model and hoping for the best.

I’m Colin, General Counsel at Malbek and author of The Legal Tech Ecosystem. 

And I am here to remind this profession that AI is a but a tool, not a doctrine.

#legaltech #innovation #law #business #learning

I thrive at the intersection of law and technology, serving as the Principal Legal Insights Strategist at 8am, the team behind 8am MyCase, LawPay, CasePeer, and DocketWise, a company that empowers professionals with innovative software and fintech solutions. With a decade of law practice and twenty years of experience in the legal tech industry, my multi-faceted expertise enables me to bridge the gap between technology and the legal profession.

In my current role, I provide valuable insights for driving strategy, disseminate industry knowledge across teams, and foster industry relations. Externally I educate lawyers on leveraging technology to enhance their practices, improve efficiency, and deliver superior client service.

My contributions to the field include authoring/co-authoring three books: Cloud Computing for Lawyers (ABA, 2012), Social Media for Lawyers (ABA, 2010), and Criminal Law in New York (Thomson Reuters, 1999). Additionally, I write regular legal tech columns for the ABA Journal, Above the Law, and The Daily Record. I am also a frequent speaker at legal conferences nationwide, where I advocate for the integration of legal technology in the practice of law.

Principal Legal Insight Strategist

College of Law Practice Management

Fellow

ABA Journal

I write a monthly legal technology column for the ABA Journal

Columnist

Above the Law

I write a legal technology column for Above the Law

The Daily Record (Rochester, NY)

I've written a weekly legal technology column for the Daily Record since 2008.

MyCase

I exist where law and technology intersect. I am the bridge between technology and the practice of law both internally at MyCase and externally with lawyers.  I provide legal Subject Matter Expertise (SME) insight internally and externally, leverage legal industry relationships to establish law school and legal clinic programs,  and educate lawyers on using technology to streamline their law firms, increase efficiencies, and provide better client representation. I've written (or co-authored) 3 books: Cloud Computing for Lawyers [ABA 2012], Social Media for Lawyers [ABA 2010], and Criminal Law in New York [Thomson Reuters 1999]). I also write regular legal tech columns for Above the Law, ABA Journal, and The Daily Record, and frequently speak about using legal tech in the practice of law at legal conferences across the country.

Senior Director, SME & External Education

Legal Technology Evangelist

Monroe County Bar Association

Member Board of Trustees

Founder and Chair of the Technology Committee

Thomson Reuters

I co-authored "Criminal in New York," a legal treatise, with Judge Karen Morris.

Author

American Bar Association

I authored "Cloud Computing for Lawyers" which was published by the ABA in 2012.

I co-authored "Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier" with Carolyn Elefant. It was published by the American Bar Association in 2010.

Book Author

Bloomberg Law

I wrote a monthly legal technology column.

Freelance Columnist

I operate at the intersection of law, technology, and innovation strategy. A former litigator turned legal tech and AI expert, I now serve as Principal Legal Insight Strategist at 8am, the team behind 8am LawPay, MyCase, CasePeer, and DocketWise.Inside the company, I provide insight on the legal market, law firm operations, and how AI is impacting the practice of law. I advise on AI implementation within our products, author legal industry reports, and guide teams on how to communicate with lawyers so that our technology solutions and messaging align with their needs and realities. My role bridges market knowledge, product strategy, and effective engagement with the legal profession.Outside the company, I educate the legal community on adopting technology to improve efficiency and client service. I’ve authored (or co-authored) three books, including Cloud Computing for Lawyers and Social Media for Lawyers (ABA Publishing), and Criminal Law in New York (Thomson Reuters). I also write columns for the ABA Journal, Above the Law, The Daily Record, and the 8am Blog, and speak frequently at leading conferences such as ABA TECHSHOW, Legalweek, and ILTACON on topics including AI ethics and legal innovation.Specialties: AI in Law • Legal Technology • Innovation Strategy • SaaS Growth • Legal Market Analysis • Product Strategy • Messaging &amp; Positioning • Legal Operations • Compliance • Industry Reports • Public Speaking

Nicole Black

Law schools are still studying AI like it’s a theoretical problem. Meanwhile, their graduates are already using it.

For nearly two decades, legal education has watched change happen from a safe distance. Even as tech reshaped every part of our lives, most schools stuck to the same playbook: lecture, exam, repeat.

The result? Lawyers learning about the tools that define modern practice after they graduate.

A few highlights from my latest Daily Record column:
  🔷 Only one-third of law schools currently offer AI-related courses.
  🔷 Students are forming AI societies because their schools won’t teach it.
  🔷 A few standouts like Fordham University School of Law, ASU, and Suffolk University Law School now require AI training for first-years.
  🔷 And University of North Carolina School of Law recently ran a “trial-by-bot” with ChatGPT, Grok, and Anthropic serving as jurors. (Spoiler: it didn’t go well — but at least they tried.)

Law schools need to stop studying the problem and start preparing students for an AI-first world. Teach them how these tools work, where they fail, and how to use them responsibly.

AI isn’t on the horizon. It’s already part of legal work. Schools that adapt will serve their students well. The ones that don’t will keep graduating lawyers trained for a world that no longer exists.

AI in Law & Legaltech Expert | Legal Innovation & Strategy | Principal Legal Insight Strategist at 8am, the team behind LawPay, MyCase, CasePeer, & DocketWise | Lawyer, Author, Journalist, Speaker | WSET 2 Wine Certified

After practicing law for a decade, blogging helped me build a path to the next stage of my career.

Shouting into the ether was something I really enjoyed doing. Even better, it opened doors, helping me build a network in legal tech, and lay the foundation for everything that followed, including writing three books along the way: ABA-published books "Social Media for Lawyers" and "Cloud Computing for Lawyers," and "Criminal Law in New York," a Thomson Reuters treatise.

I recently joined Kevin O'Keefe on his LexBlog, Inc. podcast to talk about that journey and how it developed over the years. 

We discussed how consistent writing helped me transition from practicing law into legal tech, eventually bringing me to MyCase. 

From there, the company went through three acquisitions, ultimately becoming part of AffiniPay, which is now 8am. Each stage expanded both the work I was able to do and the tools we offer lawyers.

We also talked about 8am's move to a unified brand and our first customer conference, Kaleidoscope, which Kevin attended.  

We definitely covered a lot of ground! If you’re interested in how publishing can influence a legal career, it's worth a listen. More info in the comments 👇

(1) Feed | LinkedIn

JSESSIONID

li_at

Lawyer, CEO and Founder at LexBlog

LexBlog, Inc.

Unpopular opinion: 2025 wasn’t a year of legaltech "Innovation." It was about consolidation, cash, and stretching the rules.

It seemed like we spent the last 12 months chasing "Agentic AI" and a wave of new AI startups. But looking back at the stories that actually defined 2025, the reality was much more interesting.

🎙️ I recently had the pleasure of joining Victor Li on the ABA Legal Rebels podcast, and we broke down 2025's legaltech trends and discussed why this year was often defined by turbulence more than clear-cut progress.

Here is the reality of 2025:

🔹 Cash drowned out the code: Record funding and unprecedented M&As often overshadowed the actual tech updates.

🔹 The "Non-Lawyer" Era is here: Illinois is letting non-lawyers handle family/housing law, and Big Law is openly exploring private equity funding.

🔹 Students had to lead: While schools stalled on guidance, students barged ahead and formed their own AI societies to close the gap.

Our profession has always preferred to look backward, but 2025 was different. It forced us—ready or not—to look, and move, forward.

Catch the full breakdown below 👇

🙌 This week’s Legaltech Reality Check just dropped!

This round: a seemingly harmless LinkedIn search detonates into a four-figure “surprise,” courts keep inventing tech rules like it’s a competitive sport, and a robot takes a 66-mile victory lap that suggests the apocalypse may arrive at a brisk walking pace.

Here’s what’s on the docket:
◾️ Email templates save your sanity (and your inbox)
◾️ Body cams take a step even further into Black Mirror territory
◾️ Our entire legal AI stack may be one power blink away from absolute chaos

👉 Subscribe for your weekly dose of legal tech news, mild existential dread, and robot-overlord warm-ups.

🙏 Like the newsletter? Share it before Alexa straps on a body-cam, buys a pair of steel-toed combat boots, and starts training for Ironman.

Welcome! Welcome to the Legaltech Reality Check! Every week, you've got a front seat to the latest news in legal technology, privacy, our robot overlo

Open article: Legaltech Reality Check | December 5, 2025 by Nicole Black • 6 min read

Legaltech Reality Check | December 5, 2025

🤷🏻‍♀️There’s got to be a better way!

Judges are rolling out individual tech-related rules at a rapid pace, but the approach is scattered and often reactive. 

💡 Instead of making technology easier to use in litigation, these mandates frequently add uncertainty and unnecessary complexity.

In a recent Above the Law article, I explain why individual courtroom rules about tech are so problematic for busy litigators, especially in an era of rapid tech advancements :

🔹 Tech rules now vary widely from judge to judge, even on basic tools like social media.
🔹 A LinkedIn juror-research case that resulted in $10,000 in sanctions shows how easily a lawyer can violate a standing order despite good-faith efforts.
🔹 AI “hallucination” concerns have produced an inconsistent mix of disclosures, limits, and outright bans, creating a maze of rules that busy litigators have to navigate.

The core problem isn’t that courts are offering guidance; it’s that the guidance is all over the place. 

The bottom line: Courts don’t need more individual mandates; they need consistent statewide or national standards. 

A unified framework would reduce confusion, support responsible use, and encourage lawyers to embrace new tools as practical assets rather than risks to navigate.

More info on the column below 👇

While I was making dinner last night, I found myself thinking about legal tech. 

I started with a laundry list of ingredients: chopped vegetables, sausage, tomatoes, beans, spinach, a pot warming on the stove, and a glass of Finger Lakes wine that kept the situation civilized. 

Nothing remarkable on its own. The real magic happened when I put it all together. It's the execution that takes a meal from so-so to satisfying.

I’ve been thinking about AI in law firms the same way. We now have plenty of “ingredients” to choose from: new tools, new guidance, new guardrails, and new expectations. 

However, the real value lies in how we choose to put AI to work in practice. 

The tools are only part of the equation. 

It’s the implementation and training decisions, application to workflows, and the consistency in practice that determine AI's impact on your firm's operations.

Whether you’re in a kitchen or a law office, ingredients absolutely matter. 

💡 But what you do with them matters even more.

🙌 This week’s Legaltech Reality Check just dropped!

This week: A robot with features straight from a bad brainstorm session 
 somehow made it past QA, an AI guide tries to steer lawyers gently toward common sense, and podcast guesting gets a legal marketing glow-up.

Here’s what’s on the docket:
◾️ A court learns the hard way that emojis and printers don’t mix
◾️ Lawyers are worried about AI confidentiality—but at least one read the actual terms
◾️ Turns out yelling into the internet void is a career strategy

👉 Subscribe for your weekly dose of legal tech news, existential discomfort, and robot overlord chaos.

🙏 Like the newsletter? Share it before Alexa leaks your ChatGPT queries and they become the most compelling evidence since OJ's gloves.

Legaltech Reality Check | November 21, 2025

🙌 This week’s Legaltech Reality Check just dropped!

This round: legal tech closed out 2025 hailing chaos as “innovation, In-house teams told BigLaw to "talk to the hand," and Miami unveiled an art installation that somehow made robot dogs feel like the least concerning part.

📌 Inside this week:
 ◾️ A new way to “read” legal content that the ethics rules would very much like a word about
 ◾️ Engagement letters getting an AI disclaimer glow-up
 ◾️ Proof that AI safety measures crumble when confronted with a man from Nantucket

👉 Subscribe for your weekly dose of legal tech news, mild existential dread, and robot-overlord welcomes.

🙏 Like the newsletter? Share it before Siri puts a billionaire’s head on herself and runs off claiming it’s performance art.

Open article: Legaltech Reality Check | December 12, 2025 by Nicole Black • 6 min read

Legaltech Reality Check | December 12, 2025

✅ Lawyers now have another helpful resource for approaching AI with care and structure. 

Last month, the Illinois ARDC released "The Illinois Attorney’s Guide to Implementing AI," a practical document that addresses the questions many legal professionals consider as they incorporate AI into their day-to-day work.

The Guide offers many useful resources, including:
▶️ A GAI Terms of Use Checklist for reviewing vendor contracts
▶️ A Sample Notice of Artificial Intelligence Practices for client communication
▶️ A Sample Use of GAI Tools Policy to set expectations within a practice
▶️ A Sample Informed Client Consent Form for matters involving AI tools

As I explain in my latest Daily Record article, lawyers aren’t expected to become AI experts, but do need a consistent way to classify information, evaluate risks, and confirm that a vendor’s safeguards meet their professional obligations. 

This guide does the trick, emphasizing thoughtful, informed use rather than broad claims about what AI might offer the profession. Even if you don’t practice in Illinois, the recommendations and templates are helpful for lawyers seeking to implement AI into their firms.

At the end of every year, I round up my ABA Journal articles. My goal for this column has always been to help legal professionals navigate change and choose the best legaltech tools for their firm's needs. 

As I explain in this year's articles, key challenges for software buyers included consolidation across the industry, active acquisition activity, and a steady wave of AI announcements that sometimes moved faster than anyone could absorb.

Top issues I covered included:

✔️ AI and access to justice
✔️ The evolution of eDiscovery tools
✔️ Findings from the 8am 2025 Legal Industry Report
✔️ Lead intake and client-communication tools
✔️ A roadmap for adopting generative AI in small firms
✔️ Software options for immigration, bankruptcy, and PI practices
✔️ ILTACON takeaways
✔️ Whether legal tech is any closer to improving access to justice

Even for those of us who closely track these updates, 2025 has moved quickly. Hopefully, my articles helped cut through the noise and provided clear, practical takeaways for legal professionals navigating a crowded software landscape.

Next month, my final article of the year will provide a roundup of the year’s legal tech news highlights. 

🎙️ And later today, I’ll be recording an episode of the ABA Journal’s Legal Rebels Podcast with my editor, Victor Li, to talk through these trends and predict what to expect in the year to come, so stay tuned!

Assistant Managing Editor, ABA Journal | Author and former attorney

The other day, I was putting the finishing touches on a few rooms in our house.

🤔 It got me thinking about how small changes can make a big difference, whether you’re decorating a space or choosing tech for a law firm. 

I pulled up the original real estate listing photos to compare them to the updated rooms. It was amazing how a new paint color, different furniture placement, and a few thoughtful details completely revamped the space.

Legal tech works the same way. Firms don’t necessarily need a major overhaul to see meaningful results. 

Progress often comes from smaller, more intentional steps: choosing tools that fit into firm workflows, setting them up carefully, supporting the team as they learn the software, and making reasonable adjustments once everything is in place.

💡 In both settings, thoughtful approaches and careful planning go a long way. Small, well-considered decisions can have a huge impact.

Excited to share that I’ll be joining Joshua Carter and Jared Correia for this 8am webinar next week:

Getting Started with AI: Practical Tools and Real-World Use Cases for Legal Professionals
 📅 December 9, 2025
 ⏰ 12:00 pm CT

This webinar is for legal professionals who are curious about AI but not sure where to begin. Topics covered will include:

✔️ A plain-language overview of core AI concepts
✔️ Practical examples of how tools like ChatGPT can help with marketing, research, drafting, intake, and workflows
✔️ A short “homework” exercise you can do the same day to start building lasting habits

I’m looking forward to the conversation with Josh and Jared, and I’m especially grateful to Sarah Schneider and Brittany Hoffmann from 8am for all the planning and behind-the-scenes work to bring this together.

If you’re looking for a grounded starting point with AI, you can register below 👇

Social media mining for evidence has been part of litigation for years. Ethics committees across the country have made it clear that lawyers may view publicly available information about witnesses, jurors, etc. as long as they don’t use deception to get behind a privacy wall. 

▶️ The gray area has always been passive notifications when researching jurors, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, and ethics committees across jurisdictions do not fully agree on whether those notifications are considered prohibited contact.

A recent order from the Northern District of California shows why that distinction still matters. 

Judge Orrick’s Standing Order bars the use of LinkedIn for juror research because the platform sends automatic profile-view notifications. Even if the viewer’s identity isn’t shown, the notification itself is treated as contact.

💡 The broader point is simple: when researching jurors online, you have to consider both the ethics guidance in your jurisdiction and any local rules or judge-specific orders that apply in your case. 

Those court-level instructions can be stricter than the ethics opinions you’re familiar with, and they control what’s allowed in that courtroom.

And it’s not enough for you to understand the rules. Anyone working on your behalf—consultants, investigators, staff—must be fully briefed before they run a single search. 

A quick review up front can prevent violations, protect juror privacy, and avoid turning routine background research into a costly problem.

I wrote about this issue for The Daily Record 👇 because it highlights a recurring theme: even though social media feels routine, juror research still requires careful attention to the rules that govern it.

Important research on the value - or lack thereof - of the perfect prompt. 

My take has always been that you just talk to GAI - no need to give it a persona, etc.  

Over time, you may notice you're entering the same instructions over and over for certain tasks. That's when you know you've got a repeatable prompt worth saving that you've created organically and painlessly.

The concept of the "perfect prompt" stalls GAI adoption, so don't even worry about it. 

Dive in, use it, and the rest will come.

Legalweek 2025 Innovator of the Year - Founder and CEO at Clearbrief.ai (2025 Finalist, Best Use of AI in Litigation, 2023 Litigation Product of the Year, 2022 New Law Company of the Year, Legalweek)

If you're trying to teach your lawyers how to prompt - heads up that a new study from the University of Pennsylvania (shoutout to my alma mater) established that starting your prompt by assigning a persona does NOT actually improve accuracy of the results.

Sigh. This is why I continue to have the (seemingly minority view) in legaltech that at least when it comes to litigators, products that require us to train lawyers in prompting techniques ultimately frustrate the user. My perspective (evident in Clearbrief.ai) is that the tech should just work consistently without needing the user to master prompting. 

Let the tech companies test and benchmark the prompts and end-to-end workflows. Let the lawyers lawyer. 

Keeping up to date in the prompting tips and tricks that actually improve LLM outputs is a full time job. Most lawyers (especially the ones who are not tech savvy) quickly get frustrated when prompting doesn't give them the results they want. A lot of back-and-forth with prompting might look like "usage," but it represents user frustration. 

Link to the study below.

#litigation #ai #prompting #llms

If you’re staring at a holiday gift list and coming up empty or hoping someone finally buys you something actually useful, my latest Daily Record article might help. 

A few hints at what’s inside:

🔹 Two books that explain today’s tech without inducing existential dread (hint: the authors are Richard Susskind and Matt Henshon)
🔹 A hotel-room charger that handles all your devices without the nightly cord shuffle
🔹 Headphones that do more than cancel noise (as if that's not enough!)
🔹 A tiny plane-friendly add-on that solves the seatback screen headache

Any others you'd add to the list?

Access to the article below. 👇

💡 "ChatGPT or Claude?" is the new Pepsi vs. Coke.

Most of us have a go-to LLM we use without thinking about it. You probably pay for it, too. I know I do.

I’m curious which one you reach for first.

Vote in the poll below and let us know. 📊 

If you chose "Other," tell us which tool you prefer in the comments.

And no matter what your vote was, why was it your top pick, and what do you usually use it for? 👇

❓ Have you tried Google NotebookLM yet?

It's a tool worth checking out.

Why it’s useful for legal work:
🔹  It only uses the materials you upload. No outside searching.
 🔹 You can work with PDFs, docs, web pages, videos, and more.
 🔹 It turns source material into practical outputs in seconds.

What you can generate with one set of materials:
✔️ Briefing docs
 ✔️ Podcasts or audio summaries
 ✔️ Slide decks and infographics
 ✔️ Mind maps, flash cards, quizzes
 ✔️ Blog-style summaries

Where this actually helps:
💡 Review CLE materials faster
 💡 Prep for expert witness topics
 💡 Get up to speed on new cases or statutes
 💡 Break down unfamiliar issues without handing over sensitive data

The key rule is simple: don’t upload confidential or sensitive information if you're using a free account.

If you already have a Google account, you can use NotebookLM for free.
 No waiting. No big rollout. Just a practical way to learn faster.

You can learn more from my latest Daily Record article along with a great example of useful NotebookLM content right here on LinkedIn 👇

Looking for LinkedIn tips? Look no further! This great post written by Allison Johs has you covered 👇

LinkedIn has changed, and the old “post and hope” strategy doesn’t cut it anymore!

Today, it’s all about relevance. Meaningful comments, consistent posts, and real engagement now matter more than ever if you want to stand out and build your network. 💬

Get practical tips on how to boost visibility and connect with the right audience in our latest blog.

Read the blog here ➡️ https://bit.ly/44eGRkG

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The Battle

Colin Levy

Nicole Black

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Colin Levy's LinkedIn Performance

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