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
Results of the Bloomberg Law DEI Framework with Molly Huie
Teaching Law Students Business Design Skills - Jessica Erickson and Josh Kubicki
Ian Nelson, Sarah Glassmeyer, and Margaret Naughton on the Next Generation of CLE
The Legal Design Book with Astrid Kohlmeier and Meera Klemola
Innovation Adoption - The Law Firm Field of Dreams
Mary O'Carroll - The Power of Community in Driving Change
Zen and the Art of Process Improvement - Tiffany O'Neil, Alana Carson, and Jack Godsey
Joseph Raczynski - The Red and Blue Pill Matrix of AI and Emerging Legal Tech
April Brousseau - Innovation in the Legal Industry Can't Be a Side Gig
Leigh Vickery on Creating Top-Shelf Customer Experience in Legal
Shailini George on Law Students Doing Well and Being Well
Maya Markovich and Ivy Grey on Creating More Value with the Time You Have
Eugene Giudice on Reflections During a Pandemic
AALL's Emily Florio and Diane Rodriguez on Leading an Association Remotely
The Delta Model Lawyer with Cat Moon and Alyson Carrel
How COVID Changed Law Students' On Campus Interview Experiences with Law360's Kerry Benn
Law and Cultural Psychology with R&G Insights Lab's Dr. Caitlin Handron
Unicourt's Josh Blandi on Improving Access to Federal, State, and Local Court Data
Molly Huie on Bloomberg Law's New DEI Framework
Jennifer Leonard of Penn Law's Future of the Profession Initiative
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