Takeaways from Legalweek 2023
on Topics: Conferences | Legal Tech
Legalweek 2023 was an excellent week-long event, punctuated by world-renowned speakers, CEOs, and legal industry leaders.
On the heels of announcing the launch of the UniCourt Enterprise API, Legalweek was also the perfect opportunity for UniCourt to share with the legal community how an API-first approach to legal data is a gamechanger for law firm business development, litigation strategy, and docket management.
Before Legalweek officially started on Monday afternoon, Rhys Dipshan reported in Legaltech News on “Pre-Show News, Hiring, and Product Roundup” with a great feature on the press release announcing the UniCourt Enterprise API:
“On March 15, data analytics provider UniCourt announced the launch of UniCourt Enterprise API, a suite of data connectors for federal court data. According to a press release, the new offering looks ‘to automate the discovery and delivery of structured legal data and analytics’ for a host of different legal use cases.
In the release, UniCourt CEO and Co-Founder Josh Blandi explained now the API suite looks to differentiates from others in the market. ‘Our focus has always been on developing a highly customizable and flexible API structure. We are an API-first company This means that our platform was purpose-built from the ground up to be truly plug-and-play. The UniCourt Enterprise API includes sample code, a Python library, and proprietary tools that enable data-dependent business initiatives to get up and running on day one,’ he said.”
In this post, we’ll share some of our key takeaways from the keynote speakers, the general sessions at Legalweek, and close out with some of our favorite pictures of the UniCourt Team in New York City.
Generative AI at Legalweek 2023
Throughout Legalweek, the buzzwords dominating discussions and surfacing for mentions were generative AI, or gen AI, and Chat GPT.
From the keynote speakers to the sessions and even on the exhibit hall floor, gen AI and the implications of Chat GPT-4, especially after it recently passed the bar exam with a score approaching the 90th percentile of test-takers, were present all across Legalweek.
One of the most interesting discussions on this topic started on the first day of Legalweek 23, with a wide-ranging panel on “Reshaping the Legal Profession: Thriving in the Age of Generative AI & ChatGPT,” and an impressive set of speakers:
- Danielle Benecke, Founder/Director, Machine Learning Practice, Baker McKenzie
- Aaron Crews, Chief Product and Innovation Officer, UnitedLex
- Ilona Logvinova, Associate General Counsel, McKinsey & Company, Inc.
- Jeff Reihl, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, LexisNexis
- Foster Sayers, General Counsel & Chief Evangelist, Pramata
This session was standing room only and so widely sought after that the ALM programming team stopped speakers mid-session so they could remove a sliding wall to open up an entire adjacent room as an overflow section.
To kick off the discussion, Jeff Reihl shared some fascinating stats on generative AI from a survey LexisNexis conducted with 1,176 US lawyers, 1,239 law students, and 1,765 consumers:
- 39% of lawyers, 46% of law students, and 45%of consumers agree generative AI tools will significantly transform the practice of law.
- 86% of lawyers were aware of generative AI tools
- 51% of those lawyers have or plan to use these tools for their work
- 84% believe these tools will increase efficiency of lawyers, paralegals, or law clerks
- 44% of law students als believe that generative AI will change law schools and the way law is taught and studied
One of the key takeaways from early on in this discussion, both for lawyers who are excited and/or afraid of the implications of generative AI, came from Danielle Benecke, who noted that when talking about artificial intelligence or machine learning models that it is important to center on the crucial difference between AI/ML that can augment versus automate.
From Danielle’s perspective, the true value of gen AI for the legal industry is in augmenting legal services, not automating away legal work or replacing lawyers.
If you weren’t able to attend Legalweek, but want to watch the full discussion, ALM is offering this talk in the Law.com CLE Center for purchase. If you were able to attend in person, but missed the first part of the conversation, check your inbox for the “complimentary access for the ChatGPT workshop,” and enjoy!
Legalweek 2023 Keynotes
The person we all wanted to hear from at Legalweek, including our CTO and Co-Founder, Prashanth Shenoy, was none other than LeVar Burton — an icon and a fixture in many homes across the United States and the globe from his work on the Reading Rainbow, his beloved character in Star Trek, and much, much more — who remains one of the best orators and storytellers of our time.
While there were many memorable stories and impactful statements that LeVar Burton shared with the audience at Legalweek, the one-liner that stood out among the rest for the legal industry is that “We don’t spend enough time in our imaginations.”
Though this statement may be true for most of us, generally speaking, it is profoundly true in the context of the legal industry as it relates to legal professionals and legal technology. Governed by a productivity model tied to the billable hour and the constant search for increased profitability, the legal industry churns away using the same processes as before because it rarely takes a pause to jump off the moving legal services train to imagine a better path forward.
One of the other great takeaways from the first keynote session came from LeVar Burton’s live interview with Gina Passarella, Editor-In-Chief of American Lawyer and Global Legal Brands of ALM Media, LLC, where Gina asked LeVar, “A lot of people in this room sell change. How would you suggest framing storytelling to prepare for the no?”
In response, LeVar imparted to the change agents in the room, “Do not be attached to the outcome of the story. The best that you can do is stand in your truth and let the consequences be what they are.” For change to occur, storytelling needs to come from an authentic place to have maximum impact.
In addition to LeVar Burton, ALM also had another excellent keynote speaker for the final day of Legalweek: PayPal CEO, Dan Schulman, who was interviewed by Stephanie Wilkins, Editor-In-Chief of Legaltech News.
In the interview with Stephanie, Dan shared a number of excellent insights on how technology and AI are shaping the future of business, key qualities of effective leaders, and what Democracy is all about.
Here are some of our favorite quotes from Dan Schulman throughout the interview.
- “Leadership comes down to two things, the ability to define reality and inspire hope.”
- Be hungry, not ambitious. Hungry eats ambition all the time.”
- “AI is one of the most disruptive technologies upon us… AI models are now skewing towards creativity.”
- “Democracy is about rising above personal interests.”
- “Our values are not just words on the wall. Words without action are just propaganda. Taking action is a courageous thing.”
The common thread across both LeVar Burton and Dan Schulman’s keynotes was the value of storytelling, but also of listening to others to find common ground. From common ground and shared experiences, we can build a stronger foundation from which we can bring about change and beam up and into the future.
Highlights from Legalweek Panel Sessions
Legalweek this year featured some wonderful content, insights, and intelligence from the many panel sessions available to attendees, including the session sponsored by UniCourt.
UniCourt’s sponsored panel session this year, Investigations vs Monitoring: Strengthening Your Monitoring Program in the Pursuit of Less Investigations, was moderated by our CEO and Co-Founder, Josh Blandi.
The panel featured industry experts, including Eric Boger, Vice President, Solutions Evangelist of Ontic, Terance “Tery” Gonsalves, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP, and Deborah Solmor, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, TCS Education System. Unfortunately, Deborah was unable to attend due to the passing of a family member, and we want to again express our deepest condolences to her and her family during this time.
At the beginning of the conversation, when talking more broadly about investigations and monitoring, Eric Boger noted that “There’s no such thing as an indicator that is too small when you are putting together the mosaic of a concern.” Eric would go on to say that “It’s way cheaper to install a fire alarm, than put out a fire alarm,” and that Ontic is that fire alarm for many of the leading companies seeking to gather the protective intelligence needed to safeguard their employees, assets, and infrastructure.
As Tery Gonsalves shared from his experience as a former law enforcement officer and detective, now partner at AmLaw firm Alston & Bird, “The way we conduct investigations has significantly changed.”
From Tery’s perspective, “Real compliance, real monitoring, focused on the right issues, can reduce the number of internal and external investigations.” In the discussion, Tery reiterated that investigations are about gathering data, and while there are many great reasons for being proactive in monitoring potential compliance issues, he’s also a fan of being proactive because it’s cost effective.
Josh Blandi did an exceptional job of moderating the panel discussion, and left the audience with several pieces of wisdom along the way. From his vantage point of how the legal industry has arrived where we are today, Josh shared that “We have seen enormous advances in AI and what preceded that was advanced in Big Data. More recently we’re seeing advances in the use of APIs.” Forward-thinking companies such as Ontic are leveraging UniCourt’s APIs for real-time access to court data to power proactive monitoring in the search for less investigations and less severe investigations when they come to pass.
Whether you’re a legal department or compliance team seeking to be more proactive, or a law firm attempting to better protect your clients’ interests, the core takeaway from this panel is don’t skimp out on your fire alarm — get the data you need and ensure that you have the people, processes, and technology in place to make use of it effectively.
On top of UniCourt’s sponsored panel, there were numerous other great panel sessions and educational opportunities for attendees. Here are some of our other favorites from Legalweek 2023.
Data-driven lawyering: Maturing best practices to combine firm and public data
- Logan Beirne, Clinical Lecturer in Law, Yale Law School
- Tim Fox, Director of Practice Intelligence and Analytics, Ogletree Deakins
- Damien Riehl, VP, Litigation Workflow and Analytics Content, Fastcase
Changing Nature of Legal Practice: Impact of ALSPs, Tech Companies and the Big 4
- Chris Bennett, Senior Account Manager, Onit
- Vedika Mehera, Innovation Advisor, Orrick
- David O’Hara, Director – Legal Business Solutions, PwC
Meeting Expectations & Defining Success in Client Development
- Justin Hectus, CIO, KP Labs
- Jardanian Josephs, Global Director of Legal Operations, Reed Smith
- Kruti Mehta, Chief Client Value Officer, Steptoe & Johnson LLP
- Eva Reichenvater, Global Director, Marketing and Business Development, Orrick
- Ari Treuhaft, President & COO, Litify
Transforming the Business & Practice of Law by Mastering the Art of People, Process & Technology
- Dawson Horn, Associate General Counsel, Litigation, AIG
- Jardanian Josephs, Global Director of Legal Operations, Reed Smith
- Melissa Mason, Director of Legal Operations & Strategy, McKinsey & Company
- Jeffrey Salling, Chief of Staff & Senior Director, Legal Operations, Moderna
- Barry Solomon, VP, M&A Integration, Litera
Team UniCourt in New York City
Of the many reasons why Legalweek 2023 was an exceptional event, what stands out above the rest was the ability to see old friends in person, getting to speak with clients and partners on-site, and hanging out with Team UniCourt for an entire week!
Here are some of our favorite pictures from our time together in NYC.
The team enjoyed an excellent time at Quality Meats in NYC, joined by Elaine Dick of BakerHostler and Brad Blickstein of Baretz & Brunelle.
There’s nothing like a good afterparty at a legal industry conference, and one of our favorite after hours events at Legalweek was put on by Priori and Thomson Reuters.
As a group of undeniable foodies, who just so happen to love sushi, Team UniCourt capped off Legalweek with dinner at Kaiseki Room by Yamada.
Learn More About UniCourt and the UniCourt Enterprise API
Didn’t get a chance to connect with us at Legalweek 2023 and want to learn more about what sets UniCourt apart as a Legal Data as a Service provider?
Curious about how your law firm can leverage the UniCourt Enterprise API for business development, litigation strategy, and docket management?
Contact Us and we’ll schedule some time for you to speak with one of our API experts.