In Post 133, Legal Evolution is proud to feature excerpts of Lucy Bassli’s new book, The Simple Guide to Legal Innovation: Basics Every Lawyer Should Know (2020). When it comes to legal innovation, many practicing lawyers find themselves in an awkward position.  Clients and law firms value responsiveness and problem solving, thus there are big rewards for lawyers who fill their days with wall-to-wall legal work. Yet, the more a lawyer adheres to this…

A story for the New Year.  Maybe you can relate. I recently turned 57 years old.  Although I am dismayed and disappointed by many things happening in our republic, and impatient with an industry, profession and educational complex that is supposed to operate in the public interest, whatever quantum of cynicism I possessed went away in 2019. Moreover, it happened quickly, albeit many of the pieces were put into place more a decade ago.…

For frustrated legal innovators, one of the missing pieces might be found in this new book on trust. Todd Henderson and Salen Churi, two law professors, have written a deep analysis of trust — its cultural history, social mechanics, economic elements, and of course how it relates to law and regulation.  As they put it, the goal of the book is “to establish trust as a lingua franca for discussion of issues that are…

This week, I’m pleased to welcome back occasional contributor Dan Currell, who in today’s feature post reviews the recently published book, The Trust Revolution, by M. Todd Henderson and Salen Churi. See Post 130. Dan’s return provides an opportunity to explain his mysterious title (Former Managing Director, AdvanceLaw) in the right side bar.  Dan’s current title is Senior Advisor in the Office of Finance and Operations at the U.S. Department of Education. …

Law firm innovation takes many forms. We need a tool to de-risk and demystify the process. The above graphic is the Maker’s Matrix©, which is a tool I created to more efficiently categorize, prioritize, and resource innovation projects.  This is because innovation in law firms is a nascent field with lots of hype and headlines but remarkably little structure.  See, e.g., Bruce MacEwen, “Who’s your Chief Innovation Officer, ” Adam Smith, Esq., Nov.…

“I make innovation less risky and more accessible to the many brilliant lawyers in our firm.” — Anusia Gillespie I am pleased to introduce today’s guest contributor, Anusia Gillespie, who currently serves as Director of Innovation at Eversheds Sutherland (US).  As demonstrated in Post 128, Gillespie has the full innovator’s tool box:  multiple perspectives (law, design, business operations, technology, and strategy), systems thinking, intellectual courage, astute observation, and the patience and confidence to learn…