Legal Current
Legal Current is a podcast from Thomson Reuters, Legal, that features information and commentary on the business and practice of law.

Global Lawyer Hackathon Addresses Climate Change

Hundreds of lawyers around the world are participating in a unique global “hackathon” to create new contracts and model laws to help fight climate change.  The Chancery Lane Project aims to create legal frameworks to enable and encourage businesses and communities to have a positive impact on the environment, and envisions a world where every contract and law enables solutions to climate change.

Becky Clissmann, environmental law editor at Practical Law, discusses the project and how it engages legal professionals to empower businesses and communities to help meet goals of net zero emissions.  

Direct download: Chancery_Lane_Project_Climate_Change_Legal_Hackathon_2.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Small law firms have had to endure not only the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the legal market, but also the additional challenges of being a small business during the current conditions.

The 2020 State of the U.S. Small Law Firms Report looks at how small firms are faring against the recent challenges.  Mark Haddad, general manager of the Small Law Firm Segment at Thomson Reuters discusses the report’s findings, and how the current situation also presents opportunities for firms. 

Direct download: 2020_State_of_the_US_Small_Law_Firm_Market.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:08am EDT

The tremendous disruptions caused by COVID-19 may introduce a new term to the business lexicon: business divorce.  Many small, privately-held and family-owned businesses may not have anticipated the kind of business and personal stressors being brought on by the pandemic.

Lee Weinberg of Weinberg Gonser LLP discusses how “business divorces” may surge because of the COVID-19 situation.

Direct download: COVID-19__Business_Divorces.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

When the year began, 2020 had been expected to be a growth year for the Canadian legal market.  Now the outlook has changed to one of uncertainty.

But legal needs remain, and law firms and corporate legal departments still need to meet those needs, and therein remains potential opportunities. 

Thomson Reuters is offering the new 2020 State of the Legal Market in Canada Infographic which uses data from the Thomson Reuters 2019 Legal Tracker™ LDO Index and Acritas Sharplegal US, to identify main takeaways from the recently released 2020 State of the Legal Market in Canada report. Among these findings are how these and other strategic priorities have been identified and which are among them are the most important, according to the corporate law department officials surveyed.

Maria Cooley, head of Canada for Thomson Reuters, discusses the picture that is coming into focus for Canadian corporate legal department moving forward. 

Direct download: 2020_State_oif_the_Legal_Market_-_-Canada.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:08pm EDT

One of HighQ’s strengths is its versatility in solving a myriad of problems that law firms and legal departments deal with.  That has taken another leap forward with the introduction of HighQ 5.4.  

Stuart Barr, Chief Product & Strategy Officer, discusses the innovations in version 5.4, including seamless integration with Contract Express, allowing more powerful document automation. 

Direct download: HighQ_Announces_Version_5.4.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Legal technology is advancing at lightning speed these days, and HighQ is no exception.  The innovative cloud-based platform is continually bringing new innovations to the legal industry. Stuart Barr, chief product and strategy officer, discusses the some of the advances HighQ has introduced recently. 

Direct download: Continual_Innovation_at_HighQ_-_Stuart_Barr.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:25am EDT

It was just over a year ago that Thomson Reuters brought HighQ into the fold.  Irish McIntyre, head of Legal Software & Workflow at Thomson Reuters discusses what the past year has been like planning and executing strategies to continue to grow and improve HighQ’s innovative workflow platform.

Direct download: HighQ_Marks_OneYear_as_a_Thomson_Reuters_Business.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:30pm EDT

The legal industry faces an uncertain future in many respects, including efforts to advance gender equality.  Transforming Women’s Leadership in the Law is doing a series of webinars discussing the evolving circumstances due to COVID-19.  The discussions will include a renewed focus on the future of the legal industry along with practice methods to advance gender quality and support necessary cultural change. 

Lucinda Case, head of Legal Professionals, Europe, Thomson Reuters, discusses how the current environment is changing the conversation on how organizations can promote gender equality, and how the COVID-19 crisis has helped reveal the benefits of more inclusive recruiting and hiring practices.

Details on the webinar series can be found here: https://legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.co.uk/en/products-services/events/twll2020/webinar.html

Direct download: Webinar_Series_-_Transforming_Womens_Leadership_in_the_Law.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:28am EDT

Social media is skyrocketing, as people connect with friends and family as shelter-in-place and work-from-home continue.  But as we take advantage as these apps, it’s still important to be careful – others may be seeing the personal & professional information that you’re posting.

Robert Braun - co-chair of the Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell Cybersecurity and Privacy Group  -- says it’s important to make “Social Media Hygiene” part of your routine, and to think before you post.

Direct download: Are_You_Practicing_Good_Social_Media_Hygiene.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:24pm EDT

While women lawyers and lawyers of color have made many advances in the legal profession, there are still some areas that are particularly challenging.  Sports and sports law are among those.

Sharon Sayles-Belton, vice president of partnerships and alliances for Thomson Reuters, talked recently with two attorneys who have made inroads to help increase diversity in those areas. 

Demeka Fields is associate general counsel for the Minnesota Vikings.

Traci Branford is a partner at Stinson LLP in Minneapolis. She is also an advisory board member for Next Gen Leadership: Advancing Lawyers of Color.

Direct download: Women_of_Color_Attorneys_in_Sports__Sports_Law.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:46pm EDT