Checklists

Legal Tech Evaluation

scott.downing@steno.com (Scott Downing) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Proposing new technology at a law firm means building a case that leadership can't dismiss. The research you do before the meeting determines how the meeting goes. Use this checklist to get it right.

Responsible AI Adoption

scott.downing@steno.com (Scott Downing) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:15:00 GMT

The ABA's December 2025 Task Force on Law and Artificial Intelligence Year 2 Report made clear that the legal profession has moved past debating whether to use AI. The question now is whether you're using it in a way that holds up professionally, ethically, and legally.

AI Legal Research

scott.downing@steno.com (Scott Downing) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:45:58 GMT

AI is a fast and effective way into a body of law. It's also structurally limited in ways that aren't always visible. Incomplete research doesn't look like a mistake, it just looks like research. Use this checklist to make sure nothing slips through.

AI Prompt Writing

scott.downing@steno.com (Scott Downing) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:42:06 GMT

The quality of what you get from an AI tool depends almost entirely on what you put in. These habits will help you write prompts that produce output you can actually use.

AI-Ready Depositions

scott.downing@steno.com (Scott Downing) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:31:17 GMT

AI works best when you set it up to succeed. Use this checklist before, during, and after your next deposition to get more out of every transcript.

Contextual AI Analysis

scott.downing@steno.com (Scott Downing) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:56:01 GMT

AI analyzes exactly what you give it and nothing more. How you frame your request determines what the tool finds. Use this checklist to set up every AI analysis session so the output is actually useful to your case.

Jury Trust and Credibility

scott.downing@steno.com (Scott Downing) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:50:01 GMT

Jurors form impressions early and rarely revise them. The facts, evidence, and witnesses you present only land if you've already earned the jury's trust. Use this checklist to build credibility before it matters most.

Post-Deposition Analysis

scott.downing@steno.com (Scott Downing) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 15:41:42 GMT

A deposition transcript is only as useful as what you pull out of it. Work through these steps after every deposition to make sure nothing actionable stays buried.