AI in Legal Practice: The Comprehensive AI Strategy Guide
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AI has taken over legal in a way lawyers didn’t expect. But what if lawyers and AI could evolve alongside each other? In this episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Joe Stephens and Adrian Cea sit down with Steve Embry of embryLaw LLC, national litigator and renowned legal tech writer, to explore the collision between artificial intelligence and traditional legal practice.
The Verification Paradox: How the time saved using generative AI tools may be offset or entirely negated by the time required to verify outputs
Why senior lawyers must understand AI regardless of personal preference
How to train the next-generation of litigators without over-reliance on AI
The billing model crisis generative AI creates and what’s going to replace it
Why market differentiation matters when it comes to AI implications
Why the real risk isn’t technology failure; it’s creative stagnation
AI isn’t all it’s cut out to be - this episode reveals what it is.
“I would get calls from time to time about cases in the jurisdiction where I practiced and about particular judges. I would say, 'I don't have a clue. I haven't had a case here in 20 years.’ So here I was, working remotely and, in a sense, completely disconnected from the local court environment. I was operating in a much more expansive, national context, which led me to understand the value and potential of technology.”
“I know how law firms work. I know law firm bureaucracy. I know how consensus decisions are not made in law firms. I know the tensions. I know how lawyers and litigators sweat in the middle of the night. All of those things, I think, impact the use and value of technology in very fundamental sorts of ways.”
"When I first started, I was trying to write about everything legal tech. There was just so much happening, and it was exciting. But it quickly became overwhelming. It felt like I was drinking from the proverbial fire hose, trying to keep up with every new product, every new development in the space.”
“I think the hottest take on the industry right now is sort of the rush to embrace generative AI tools. The glossing over of real issues, the failure to sort of understand the distinction between artificial intelligence generally and generative AI specifically, the notion that all AI is generative AI, so only generative AI solutions will work for what the book we need to have done.”
LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/welcome-back-docket-now-between-briefs-newsletter-steno-inc-quxie
00:00
Intro
02:00
Steve’s Journey: From Mass Tort Defense to Legal Tech Commentary
04:27
How to Find Your Unique Voice in Legal Technology Writing
07:34
Above the Law: Staying Focused Amid Legal Tech Overload
10:38
Steve’s Analysis of Legal AI Today
17:43
Why AI Efficiency Gains Get Consumed by Validation
25:04
Strategic Mentorship Over Tool Reliance & Training the Next Generation
31:15
Writing as the Foundation of Excellent Legal Practice
35:56
What We Lose When AI Eliminates the Struggle of Creative Work
39:29
Steve’s Hot Take: The Dangerous Conflation of AI and Generative AI in Legal Practice
42:22
Key Takeaways & Closing Thoughts
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.
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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