Technology

Why You Should Care About Legal Tech

Technology is going to change everything (even the practice of law), you'll see,

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shutterstock_287194124Last week, I published an exchange with Monica Enand, CEO and founder of Zapproved. One of the commenters left me a note that I responded to in the comments section but would like to address right here as well:

In what way is it relevant to people who practice law?

In other words: why should I care? It’s a good question: why should you care about legal technology? Shouldn’t you care more about doing whatever it takes to advance in your firm, make partner or move in-house? You’re not a software developer, you’re a lawyer. Why should you give a sh!t about legal tech? It’s a fair question.

It’s funny because the same day I published that conversation I got the following email from an associate at a big law firm which read (in part):

I just feel like it’s important for me as a young lawyer to keep abreast of legal tech developments, because I suspect they will play an increasing role in the practice of law moving forward.

Well put.

I remember when I was in high school, one of my friends was learning to write code and, as some friends and I were giving him a hard time about spending his free time reading about Java for Dummies (or something like that), he said, “Technology is going to change everything, you’ll see.”

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Said friend now makes a lot of money (much more than Biglaw money) working for Google. What was preventing me or my friends from learning how to code? Cynicism. The exact kind of cynicism that asks the question, “Why should I care about legal technology?”

Young lawyers, who are probably more adept with technology than partners and senior associates, are missing out on huge opportunities because of cynicism. It’s going to be the lawyers who figure out how to harness and build new technology who are going to own the future.

I realize that I could publish articles and conversations on more spicy topics than ediscovery or contract management. But I honestly believe that technology is going to “change everything” for lawyers. That’s why I’m here for the Legaltech show this week, that’s why I’ll continue to bring you insights from the people who are building the next generation of software and legal technology.

What’s in it for you? Everything.

Ignore at your own peril.

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Zach Abramowitz is a former Biglaw associate and currently CEO and co-founder of ReplyAll. You can follow Zach on Twitter (@zachabramowitz) or reach him by email at zach@replyall.me.

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