In this episode of Further Comments, Horace and Damien is joined by Nick Abrahams from Norton Rose Fulbright. Nick shares his unconventional career journey, from working in a big law firm in Sydney, studying at USC Film School, to becoming a Hollywood studio executive and then a technology lawyer in Australia. The discussion explores what it takes to be a successful lawyer, the unique perspective gained from varied career paths, and the significance of purpose. They also delve into the evolving role of lawyers in the age of AI, the importance of human expertise, and the future of legal tech.

Don't miss Nick's insights on navigating the intersection of law and technology and the optimistic future for the legal profession.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:30 Nick Abrahams' Career Journey
00:57 The Hollywood Experience
02:36 Return to Law and Teaching
04:52 The Two Speeds of the Legal Profession
08:03 Purpose and Passion in Careers
12:22 AI and the Future of Law
16:56 The Role of Lawyers in the Age of AI
20:19 The Role of Risk in Business
21:06 AI Solutions in Legal Practice
21:54 Client Control and Law Firm Adaptation
22:23 Quantifying Risk in Legal Work
23:23 Accenture's Approach to Risk Management
24:52 AI in Contract Review
26:13 Balancing Accuracy and Efficiency
35:25 The Future of Legal Training with AI
38:10 Client Relationships and Legal Tech Integration
42:10 Optimism for the Future of Law

Join Damien Riehl and Horace as they kick off Season 2 with an in-depth discussion about the intersection of Big Tech and Big Law.

They explore the recent news of Freshfields partnering with Google for generative AI, the potential of AI to disrupt legal services, and the impacts of large language models on the industry. They also delve into the future of law firms, the evolving role of legal tech companies, and the broader societal implications of AI-driven legal services.

00:00 Big Tech and Big Law
00:46 AI's Impact on Legal Industry
01:21 The AI Tsunami
02:52 Future of Legal Bots
03:18 Challenges of Data Collection
03:57 Human Element in AI
07:29 AI Reasoning and Interpretability
13:53 Big Players in Legal Tech
19:32 Specialized Legal Models
22:08 Adobe's Move into Legal Tech
23:46 The Unauthorized Practice of Law and Big Tech
24:49 Legal Tech Companies and the UPL Debate
27:06 Legal Information vs. Legal Advice
28:57 The Future of Legal Services and AI
35:27 Strategies for Law Firms, Incumbents, and Startups

In the finale episode of season 1, Damien Riehl and Horace Wu delve deep into the impact of large language models, agents, and the rapidly evolving landscape of legal tech.

Recorded live from a New York City park, they discuss their experiences from Legalweek, the future of legal startups, the role of VCs, and how AI is transforming workflows. Explore themes like knowledge management, the integration of proprietary data, and the potential revolution in providing legal services. Whether you’re from a law firm, in-house counsel, or a legal tech vendor, this episode offers key insights into navigating the future of the legal industry.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:10 Reflections on Legal Week
00:31 Marketing Highlights and Critiques
01:17 The Role of Large Language Models
01:53 VC Expectations and Industry Challenges
03:01 Differentiation in Legal Tech
04:24 Importance of Proprietary Data
06:39 Capturing Expert Knowledge
08:13 The Future of Legal Workflows
17:48 In-House Counsel and Knowledge Management
20:43 The Buzz Around Agents and Workflows
23:49 Pivoting to Jane on Day 30
24:27 The Role of AI in Legal Tech
25:42 Public vs. Private Data in Legal Tech
26:46 The Value of Legal Tech Products
28:13 Buyer Behavior in the Legal Tech Market
31:04 The Competitive Landscape of Legal Services
32:57 Core, Cream, and Commodity Legal Work
35:31 Future Actions for Legal Tech Players
38:14 Optimism and Pessimism in AI Development
42:35 Legal Information vs. Legal Advice
44:41 Conclusion