Building Newlaw

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Dr. George Beaton, Beaton Research + Consulting Executive Chairman, preeminent NewLaw author and thought leader.  Peter, Natalie and George discuss Remaking Law Firms: Why & How  (authors: George Beaton & Imme Kaschner) and dive deep into Dr. Beaton’s law firm diagnostic tool, stealth innovation and skunkworks, how other professionals can help build NewLaw firms, etc.   CPD Lawyers that have completed the S01E05 BNL CPD can claim a 30 minute Professionalism CPD credit. To access the S01E05 verification examination click this link.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Dr. George Beaton, Beaton Research + Consulting Executive Chairman, preeminent NewLaw author and thought leader.  Peter, Natalie and George discuss Remaking Law Firms: Why & How  (authors: George Beaton & Imme Kaschner) and dive deep into hurdles to change, what law firms will look like in 2025, law firm metrics, etc. CPD Lawyers that have completed the S01E04 BNL CPD can claim a 35-minute Professionalism CPD credit. To access the S01E04 verification examination click this link.    

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Casey Flaherty, a former outside and inside counsel known for creating the Service Delivery Review, a tool that facilitates communication between law firms and clients. The interview focuses on Casey’s new book “Unless You Ask,” which helps law firms use conversations to improve their working relationships with clients.  In the interview, Casey points out that building client-centric law firms is laudable but doesn't always offer an immediate return on investment. 

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Erin Cowling, Flex Legal Network’s (“FLN”) co-founder and senior counsel.  Peter, Natalie, and Erin discuss FLN, whether freelance lawyering is NewLaw, and how on-demand lawyers could change the legal landscape.   CPD Lawyers that have completed the S01E03 BNL CPD can claim a 20 minute Professionalism CPD credit. To access the S01E03 verification examination click this link.  

Peter Aprile and Nathalie Worsfold interview Jordan Furlong.  Jordan is a leading global legal market analyst and the interview focuses on Jordan’s new book Law Is A Buyer’s Market: Building A Client-First Law Firm.  In the interview, Jordan shares how clients are influencing the changes that law firms must make to prosper.  CPD Lawyers that have completed the S02E07 BNL CPD can claim a 35 minute Professionalism CPD credit.  To access the S02E07 verification examination click this link.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Morgan Borins, Caravel Law’s Director of Disruption (formerly Cognition LLP).  Peter, Natalie and Morgan discuss AfterSign, client-centric software solutions, roadblocks to building software, and lessons learned.  CPD Lawyers that have completed the S01E02 BNL CPD can claim a 30 minute Professionalism CPD credit. To access the S01E02 verification examination click this link.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Jordan Furlong, leading Canadian analyst of the global legal market.   Peter, Natalie, and Jordan discuss Jordan's first book, Law is a Buyer's Market: Building a Client-First Law Firm.  They dive deep into the business of law, law firm (mis)management, lawyer substitutes, and how law firms need to change to meet and manage the demands of the shifting legal marketplace. CPD Lawyers that have completed the S02E06 BNL CPD can claim a 25-minute Professionalism CPD credit.  To access the S02E06 verification examination click this link.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Dan Katz, associate professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, director of the Law Lab, and an affiliated member of CodeX at Stanford.  The group delves deep into Dan’s passion Fin (Legal) Tech (i.e., the financialization of law).  Fin (Legal) Tech takes a data-driven, rigorous, and quantifiable approach to risk assessment and predictive analysis. And why, should lawyers care?  Well, it’s simple: if lawyers can better predict outcomes, they can put skin in the game, and reap significant financial rewards. CPD Lawyers that have completed the S02E05 BNL CPD can claim a 55-minute Professionalism CPD credit.  To access the S02E05 verification examination click this link.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Joe Milstone and Bryan Friedman of Axiom Law, Canada.  Joe, co-founder of early NewLaw entrant Cognition LLP (now, Caravel Law), starts the episode off.  The group discusses Cognition's novel approach to the delivery of legal services, business development, scaling up, and the eventual sale to Axiom Global Inc.   Then, Bryan, director and general manager of Axiom's Canadian outpost, joins the conversation. The group discusses Axiom's operational structure, getting rid of the partnership model, the regulatory environment, and what the future of legal services in Canada looks like for traditional law firms, big and small. Lawyers that have completed the S02E04 BNL CPD can claim a 55 minute Professionalism CPD credit.  To access the S02E04 verification examination click this link.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Ken Grady, Lean Law Evangelist at Seyfarth Shaw LLP and professor at the Michigan State University College of Law. Data has become the fundamental unit for doing business, and, according to Ken, it is starting the become the fundamental unit for doing law. As a Lean Law thinker, Ken believes that data management is integral for successful law firms. He argues that law firms need to start collecting data now to be competitive in the future. Peter, Natalie, and Ken dig deep in what data management is, why it is important, and what tools are available to start collecting data. Ken explains the opportunities available to law firms once the data has been collected and cleaned, from providing data-driven answers to client questions to drafting better submissions, faster and more accurately. CPD Lawyers that have completed the S02E03 BNL CPD can claim a 45 minute Professionalism CPD credit.  To access the S02E03 verification examination click this link.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Derek Hopfner, co-founder of Law Scout.  Derek, along with his friends, Shane Murphy and Travis Houlette, started Law Scout after a (less than inspiring) BigLaw experience.   Law Scout has developed an online workroom where small businesses can easily hire pre-vetted lawyers and obtain high-quality legal work for a fixed-fee.  It seeks to remove the friction and cost uncertainty inherent in traditional law firm engagements. Peter, Natalie and Derek discuss Law Scout, its platform, attracting clients, lawyers, and the challenges of building a legal technology company.  The parties also have a heartfelt conversation about finding personal and professional fulfillment in building new stuff.   As the kids say, “ish gets real”.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Fred Headon.  Fred is the past President of the Canadian Bar Association and the current Chair of the CBA’s Legal Futures Initiative (the “Legal Futures”).  Legal Futures focuses on examining the nature, extent and consequences of the changing legal landscape and the future of legal services in Canada.  The group discuss Legal Futures’ role, research, and recommendations.  Fred also provides a unique perspective, as in-house counsel at Air Canada, on the role of the client in driving change in the legal industry.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Peter Carayiannis.  In 2012, Peter founded Conduit Law, a B2B firm offering on demand in-house counsel to business across Canada.  In March 2016, Conduit merged with accounting giant, Deloitte LLP, to form a new legal business in Canada called Deloitte Conduit Law LLP.  Peter, Natalie and Peter C. discuss Conduit’s “legal innovation”, client-centrism, the Deloitte affiliation process, and how NewLaw law firms need to show clients how much they care.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Seth Godin.  Yes, Seth Godin!!!!  S-E-T-H-G-O-D-I-N!!!!!!!  We believe that outside voices are key to the legal industry evolution.  And, as long time fans (…well…Stans to be more accurate), we believe Seth’s insight adds considerable value to the conversation.  Seth talks to us about the “lawyer narrative”, real v. perceived fear, making art, and the future of legal industry in the connection economy.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Adam La France.  Adam is Knomos' co-founder and CEO.  With support and funding from the Canada Media Fund, MaRS LegalX, and Microsoft Ventures, Knomos is quickly positioning itself as the next generation of legal research and knowledge management.  The group discuss Knomos' principled and pragmatic approach to its upcoming public offering, the competitive market and what sets them apart, and conclude with what advice Adam has for current and future lawyers navigating their way through the rapidly shifting legal landscape.

We are launching a new segment, Ask BNL, to give the NewLaw community an opportunity to ask us, past guests, or upcoming guests any questions and contribute to the podcast.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Rohit Parekh.  Rohit is Grapple Law's co-founder.  He is also counsel at Deloitte Conduit Law LLP. Grapple Law is an online CPD platform designed to optimize the user's experience and learning.  The group delves into Rohit's experience working at Conduit Law (now Deloitte Conduit Law LLP) and the ways in which a NewLaw environment provided Rohit with the inspiration and freedom to create a better way for lawyers to learn.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Samuel Witherspoon, founder, and CEO of Miralaw.  Peter, Natalie, and Sam discuss Miralaw's new product offering, Thistoo, a consumer-focused family analytics platform designed to guide users through the separation and divorce process.  The group dives deep into Sam's experience as a legal technologist and entrepreneur, including the hurdles, competition, and how Thistoo is trying to help people gain access to justice.

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Andrew Currier, co-founder of PCK IP.  Peter, Natalie, and Andrew are three people that are, arguably, way too excited about the power and application of workflows in law.  The group provide listeners with a crash course on workflows: what they are, why you should use them, and how to implement them.  Also, Peter, Natalie, and Andrew share Counter Tax Lawyers' and PCK IP's path to freedom, efficiency, and quality and explain why, even with all the pain and suffering, "nobody would go back now".

Peter Aprile and Natalie Worsfold interview Dr. George Beaton, Beaton Research + Consulting Executive Chairman, preeminent NewLaw author and thought leader.  Peter, Natalie and George discuss Remaking Law Firms: Why & How  (authors: George Beaton & Imme Kaschner) and dive deep into Dr. Beaton’s law firm diagnostic tool, stealth innovation and skunkworks, how other professionals can help build NewLaw firms, etc.