This week on The Geek in Review, Marlene Gebauer and Greg Lambert talk with Curt Meltzer, principal of Meltzer Consulting, LLC. Meltzer has over 40 years of experience in the legal and legal tech industry. He discusses his interest in pro bono and community outreach programs in law firms and legal tech companies. He notes that while 95% of AmLaw 200 law firms highlight pro bono work on their websites, many legal tech companies do not prioritize these efforts.
Meltzer emphasizes that pro bono and community work is good for business. It enhances company culture, helps with recruiting and retaining top talent, and strengthens customer relationships. He argues that legal tech companies should consider emulating their law firm clients' community programs. This could include donating software or services, allowing employees paid time off for volunteer work, or collaborating directly with organizations that law firm clients support.
Meltzer highlights LexisNexis and Thomson Reuters as leaders in the legal tech industry for their work promoting access to justice and the rule of law around the world. However, he notes that companies of any size can contribute, whether through recognizing employees who volunteer or donating resources. He published a list of 41 legal tech companies that do highlight community outreach on their websites to raise awareness, though he found 39 companies with no mention of such efforts.
Meltzer sees both opportunities and challenges ahead. Private equity investment in legal tech companies may prioritize short-term profits over community programs. However, companies that do not respond to customer interest in their pro bono and corporate social responsibility initiatives risk losing business to competitors. Overall, Meltzer aims to foster conversations about strengthening the relationship between the legal tech community and the broader community. Corporations that embrace ESG programs and give back to the communities they serve will thrive.
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Twitter: @gebauerm, or @glambert
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Music: Jerry David DeCicca
Transcript
E18 - Nicholas Alexiou - Professional Development Needs for Law Students
Episode 17 - Scott Mozarsky on Litigation Financing and Its Ties to Knowledge Management
Podcast Episode 16 - New AALL Executive Director Vani Ungapen
Episode 15 - Brandi Hester and the Modern Role of a Legal Applications Developer
Episode 14 - Jeff Marple and the Art of Incremental Change; Plus "Free PACER"?
Episode 13 - Laurent Wiesel on Litigation Analytics
Ep.12 - Augmented Eternity, Engineered Epiphany, and Alameda
Episode 11 - Jae Um on Innovation, Emotions, and Emojis
Episode 10 - Lex Machina, Kira Systems, and Gov't Updates
Episode 9 - Getting Law Students Familiar with Legal Tech
Episode 8 - Emily Rushing Covers CI, CRM, and Collaboration
Episode 7 - Tom O'Connor Wonders What's Going on at ILTA
Episode 6 - Law Librarian Helps Streamline a Texas Court
Episode 5 - AALL Conference, Vendors, Privacy, & John Waters
Episode 4 - Understanding How to Place the Focus on Others
Episode 3 - Let’s Discuss Impact-Conscious Design
Episode 2 - Being a Legal Information Startup
Episode 1 - Living the "Non" Life in Law Firms
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