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Podcast

AI Transformation Without Change Management is Useless ft. Mike Russell

45:21 min

The only thing more important than embracing AI transformation for legal teams today is being able to communicate the change and manage it. In this episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Mike Russell, Head of Global Legal Operations at Expedia Group, to explore just how legal operations is spearheading this movement.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How to position change management as the most critical skill in legal operations
  • The framework for evaluating AI tools in legal departments
  • Why measuring "lawyer hours saved" alone is an incomplete metric
  • How to structure listening tours across global legal operations
  • The strategic vision for self-serving legal agents that reduce human touchpoints
  • How to navigate the law firm relationship evolution in an AI-enabled market
  • The governance framework that separates productivity gains from legal liability
  • Why legal operations should hire for curiosity and adaptability over experience
  • How peer-driven adoption accelerates AI implementation across legal teams
  • The opportunity to position legal operations as the first hire after general counsel in growing companies

 

Tune in for the play-by-play on building and managing AI-enabled departments.

Highlights:

00:00
Introduction

02:09
From Law Firm IT to Global Legal Operations: A Three-Decade Journey

04:33
Breaking Down the Legal Ops Evolution

07:54
Why Change Management Defines Legal Ops Success

08:30
Mike’s Legal Ops Success Playbook

13:48
Building AI-Enabled Legal Operations Teams

15:30
Is Saving Lawyer Hours a Valid Metric?

19:21
The New Skills: Hiring for Legal Ops Today

About the Contributors

Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno's Director of Legal Solutions as well as a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. With over 15 years of experience in criminal defense and public service, he founded and led Texas' largest rural public defender office, which serves a 12-county area. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (cum laude) and Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Stephens currently serves as a Board Member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) and sits on multiple State Bar of Texas committees. His expertise spans the intersection of legal practice and technological innovation in the justice system.

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Adrian Cea

Adrian Cea is Steno's Social Media Manager, leading content strategy, audience engagement, and digital brand-building across platforms. He also produces and co-hosts Between the Briefs, Steno's podcast covering the intersection of legal technology, court reporting, and the future of litigation. With a background spanning content creation, field marketing, and sales at companies like Sell Better and Chili Piper, Adrian brings a multi-disciplined lens to making complex legal tech topics accessible and engaging.

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