Evolving KM Episode 10: Lawyering in Your Sleep -- An Approach to Legal Product Development

Welcome to Evolving KM, a podcast series where we discuss how Knowledge Management is progressing and the impact that’s having on KM professionals. In each episode, we interview people who have either worked in or on the periphery of Knowledge Management We get their perspective on how this profession is evolving to meet the shifting demands of legal service delivery. 

Our guest today is Jason Dirkx, KM Counsel at Littler Mendelson. In his role at Littler, Jason contributes to the design and development of Littler’s Service Solutions, including Compliance HR and Littler LaborSmart, which automate aspects of legal services. Jason has prior experience as a software engineer and, in developing legal products, has found a way to combine his engineering and legal expertise. Jason has also been an ILTA volunteer for several years, currently as a member of the Program Planning Council and previously as a member of the ILTACON conference committee. 

Jason and Amy co-authored an article in an upcoming Peer-to-Peer Magazine, titled “Lawyering in Your Sleep -- An Approach to Legal Product Development.” The article addresses issues to consider in productizing legal services, which forms the basis for our conversation. We discuss how to “do less law” to quote Ron Friedmann, including what is driving legal product development, buy-in, planning for sustainment and support and the skill sets that will be needed for these projects. In their article and our podcast, Jason and Amy note their article touches on key issues at a high level. They invite you to continue the conversation through ILTA communities and programming!

Hosts:

Gwyn McAlpine oversees the knowledge management program at Perkins Coie LLP, an international law firm with 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices. Gwyn's focus is on creating value for clients by enabling attorneys to practice law more efficiently and collaboratively. In addition to more traditional KM initiatives, KM at Perkins Coie includes library and research services, internal and external collaboration, and AI and expert systems. Gwyn practiced corporate law for 10 years before fully transitioning to knowledge management. 
  
Amy Monaghan is the Practice Innovations Manager within the knowledge management group at Perkins Coie LLP. She works side-by-side with practice groups to further KM initiatives, particularly those involving artificial intelligence systems and other advanced technologies, such as document assembly, logic systems, workflow tools and contract analysis tools. Previously, Amy was in a similar role at Chapman and Cutler LLP. 

Speaker: 
Jason Dirkx, Knowledge Management Counsel at Littler Mendelson, P.C.