Hi and welcome to the last Orange Rag newsletter of 2024, which is packed with food for thought in the shape of videos and interviews with legaltech leaders from across the globe.
We’ve asked legaltech heads from private practice, legal operations and quasigovernment bodies for their assessment of the milestones of 2024, and what we have to look forward to in 2025.
To summarise, 2024 has largely been a year of GenAI experimentation, as law firms in particular get their house in order. It’s interesting how much focus there (rightly) is now on data management.
Early wins include established vendors like Microsoft Copilot, while in the UK Jylo, spun out of UK law firm Travers Smith by Shawn Curran, in particular gets namechecked as helping IT heads to progress their GenAI agendas.
Many firms have focused this year on foundational upgrades such as moving core systems to the cloud; rationalising their supply chains; modernising disaster recovery; and preparing for AI integration by ensuring their data is clean and ready. There is a cultural shift in the making and Mike Haven, who we can reveal will shortly take over as global head of legal operations at Meta, told us in a video interview in this newsletter: “Lawyers are starting to become interested in areas that they never really dipped their toes into before.”
It’s a hugely exciting time and while progress in rolling out GenAI initiatives has been slow and steady the people we’ve spoken to don’t give off any air of Gartner’s disillusionment. We’re also reminded that solving the vast access to justice crisis is at a potential tipping point.
Have a listen and make sure you get in touch with us with your views and to share any of your own forecasts on [email protected]