February, 2025

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Zero-Based Drafting: Why contract templates are holding you back and how to ditch them to draft better contracts.

Colin S. Levy

Contract templates. Theyre fantastic. They save time! Theyre efficient! Solets ditch them for something different. Lets use Zero-Based Drafting. Templates are Great Lets get the obvious stuff out of the way first. Templates are wonderful and have a ton of benefits: Time and cost efficiency. Contract templates save time, money, and effort. Consistency across agreements.

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How to Start the Job Search: A Guide for New Attorneys

Martindale-Avvo

The post-call job market can seem overwhelming. New lawyers are everywhere, competing for the same positions. However, with a deep understanding of your own skill set, you can improve your marketability in the new attorney job search. Here are some tips to get started. Inventory Your Skills and Experience If youre fresh out of law school, you might assume you have no experience to highlight.

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Top 10 Reasons NOT to Use AI

Debevoise Data Blog

Because media is constantly urging us to use more AI, Professor Ethan Mollick s recent post that identified 5 Times Not to Use AI caught our attention. After dispensing with the obvious scenarios ( e.g. , using AI for illegal purposes, in high-stakes situations where errors could be catastrophic, or for decisions that ethically require human work), Professor Mollick offers five situations where he would not recommend using AI: When you need to learn and synthesize new ideas or information.

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Law Firm Domain Names 101: Choosing the Right One, SEO Benefits, and Ethical Considerations

Justia Legal Marketing & Technology blog

In todays digital-first world, your law firms domain name is more than just a web address its a crucial part of your brand, online visibility, and credibility. Choosing the right domain name involves strategic decision-making, from selecting the best extension to ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines. In this guide, well break down the key factors every lawyer should consider when selecting and managing a law firm domain name.

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No Objections: Better Case Management with AI for Paralegals

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Join this session to get a fresh look at how AI tools can help you work smarter, faster, and more effectively! Attorney and law professor Joe Stephens, J.D., will walk you through the complete journey of a legal case—from the first client meeting through the final outcome—while showing you how artificial intelligence can transform your daily work at each important step.

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The Best AI Time Tracking Tools for Lawyers

Clio

Accurate time tracking for lawyers is key, not just for billing but also for building client trust, staying compliant, and keeping the firm profitable. Yet, manual tracking can be tough to stay on top of when lawyers are focused on tackling important legal work for their clients. Despite the rise of automated time-tracking tools , research in our most recent Legal Trends Report found that the average lawyer records just 2.9 hours of an eight-hour day for billable workleaving 5.1 hours a day unbi

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Battle Royale: Alpha Modus Sues Walgreens for Patent Infringement

Brett Trout

Brett Trout In a high-stakes patent litigation case, Alpha Modus Corp. has filed a lawsuit against Walgreens Co. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleging infringement of three patents related to real-time retail technology. Alpha Modus CEO William Alessi has estimated damages in this case to be $500 million , or possibly even billions of dollars over the life of the patents.

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Ask Attorney Jennifer B: Are Text Messages Admissible in Divorce Court?

Martindale-Avvo

In my last post , I discussed how evolving technology will continue to influence our relationships and thus, impact family law. Technology has transformed the way we live and communicate, making face-to-face conversations and even phone calls increasingly rare. Many people now prefer texting as a primary mode of communication, finding it easier to write a quick message rather than to spend time talking.

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FINRA’s 2025 Regulatory Oversight Report on Artificial Intelligence

Debevoise Data Blog

On January 28, 2025, FINRA released its 2025 FINRA Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (the Report). As was the case in 2024, the Report highlights continuing and emerging trends in artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial services sector, among other topics. In this Debevoise Client Update, we review the Reports discussion of common generative AI (Gen AI) use cases, existing FINRA rules that are applicable to Gen AI technology, and FINRAs guidance for firms contemplating the use of Gen AI,

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Responding to Google Reviews: Best Practices for Law Firms

Justia Legal Marketing & Technology blog

Online reviews play a pivotal role in establishing your law firms credibility and attracting and retaining clients. However, simply accumulating reviews isnt enough how you respond to them is even more critical. By thoughtfully engaging with your clients’ feedback, you demonstrate that you value their opinions and are committed to their satisfaction.

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Anna Marra about legal project management: “It's not just about methodology, it's a lot about power skills”

Global LegalTech Hub

By Pablo Yannone Sancho , Journalist at GLTH Anna is a lawyer who decided not to be a lawyer. Yes, it is strange, but it happens sometimes. She wanted to become a lawyer, even since she was 12, but she left university and she started to hesitate about it. I thought it was a little bit boring, she claims. I thought what I really wanted to do was maybe not the safest choice, but to help people.

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Leverage Trellis Court Data To Identify More Investment Opportunities

Finance teams find Trellis to be particularly effective in conducting comprehensive due diligence on both individuals and businesses. With our court data solution, financial experts can access critical litigation insights, making it an invaluable resource for informed decision-making in the financial sector.

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Can Your Patent Lawyer Be Too Aggressive?

Brett Trout

Brett Trout In a word, yes. In the intricate realm of patent litigation, the choice of legal representation can significantly influence the outcome of a case. While you want your patent lawyer to zealously represent your interests in court, having a lawyer who is too aggressive can backfire spectacularly. A recent court order in the case of Symbology Innovations LLC v.

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Lawyers face judge’s wrath after AI cites made-up cases in fiery hoverboard lawsuit–theregister.com

lennyesq

Talk about court red-handed Thomas Claburn Demonstrating yet again that uncritically trusting the output of generative AI is dangerous, attorneys involved in a product liability lawsuit have apologized to the presiding judge for submitting documents that cite non-existent legal cases. The lawsuit began with a complaint filed in June, 2023, against Walmart and Jetson Electric Bikes over a fire allegedly caused by a hoverboard [PDF].

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The Second Year Blues: Tips for Second-Year Law Firm Associates

Martindale-Avvo

They call it “the second-year blues” a phase in your career when you move on from the thrill and anxiety of being a first-year associate to the greater uncertainty and expectations of your second year. What can you do to manage, or better yet, thrive? Consider reinforcing your knowledge base, gathering a supportive people network, and taking care of your mental health.

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AI Discovery Battles Heat Up as AI Developer Ordered to Produce Training Data

Debevoise Data Blog

After many rounds of motions to dismiss, intellectual property cases against AI developers are moving into the discovery phase. As we previewed in our 2024 AI year in review , one of the big areas to watch in 2025 will be how much discovery courts are prepared to order into the inner workings of AI companies, especially in the face of arguments that discovery would reveal trade secrets or would be overbroad in cases based on specific claimed works.

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The Tech-Savvy Paralegals Playbook: How To Leverage AI

Speaker: Allison Mears, Adela Wekselblatt, and George Socha

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal industry, and paralegals are at the forefront of this transformation. As AI becomes more integrated into legal workflows, paralegals can streamline their daily tasks, enhance efficiency, and add greater value to their firms and organizations. But what exactly does AI mean for paralegals today—and how can you leverage it to your advantage?

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Understanding the User Journey to Attract More Leads – Part One

Justia Legal Marketing & Technology blog

Did you know that potential clients don’t always land on your law firm’s homepage first? They might discover your site through a page explaining DUI laws, a blog post about child custody, or even a video testimonial from a past client. This is their user journey the path they take before contacting you and understanding it is crucial for attracting more leads.

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Some Comments on Today’s Thomson Reuters v. Ross Copyright Ruling

Eric Goldman

[A surprising ruling from Judge Bibas (sitting as a district court judge by designation) in the Thompson Reuters v. Ross case, because he reverses himself on numerous points (all in favor of the copyright owner). I sent the following comments to a reporter.] I have multiple problems with the ruling: 1) I disagree that individual headnotes each can be copyrightable.

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Why You Need a Patent Attorney Skilled in Both Prosecution and Litigation

Brett Trout

Brett Trout In the world of intellectual property, securing a patent is just the beginning. The real challenge often lies in defending that patent. The key is crafting you patent not only for breadth, but with an eye toward litigation. The more you prepare your patent for trial, the less likely you are to end up there. The goal is for competitors to look at your patent and decide they would rather stay out of your market or pay you a licensing fee than try to fight your patent in court.

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Luminance Raises $75 Million in Series C Funding Round Led by Point72 Private Investments

Legal IT Professionals

Luminance, the pioneer in Legal-Grade AI, today announced that it has raised $75 million in a Series C funding round, taking the total amount raised in the last 12 months to over $115 million. The oversubscribed round was led by Point72 Private Investments, with participation from Forestay Capital, RPS Ventures and Schroders Capital, as well as existing investors including March Capital, National Grid Partners and Slaughter and May.

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Smarter Patent Family Research: The Tools And Tactics You Need Now

Speaker: Andrew Klein

Are there mysteries lurking in your family tree? 🕵 No, not a long-lost half-brother - I'm talking about a patent family tree! IP paralegals need fast and easy ways to verify and report on essential data about foreign equivalents of US assets. Join us to master the global scope of key assets to support prosecution, portfolio management, litigation, licensing, competitive monitoring and more!

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Fixing Unconscious Bias in Law: Tips for Firms

Martindale-Avvo

Lawyers pride themselves on their commitment to reason and objective assessment of facts. But attorneys are human, harboring incorrect assumptions about others based on unconscious beliefs. Its natural for humans to have unconscious biases, but letting them go unchecked can lead to harm to individuals and communities. Shedding light on the phenomenon through education can help increase the vitality, relevance, and effectiveness of law firms as professional entities that serve the public.

Law
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An Early Win for Copyright Owners in AI Cases as Court Rejects Fair Use Defense

Debevoise Data Blog

In a ruling with potential implications for other pending generative artificial intelligence (AI) copyright cases, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware in Thomson Reuters Enterprise Centre GmbH & West Publishing Corp. v. ROSS Intelligence Inc. has granted summary judgment for Thomson Reuters on direct copyright infringement and related defenses, as well as fair use.

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Justia Legal Resources: Small Business Legal Center

Justia Legal Marketing & Technology blog

Running your own business can be exciting and daunting in equal measure. Youll need to address financial and logistical concerns to make sure that the process goes as smoothly as possible. But youll also want to understand key legal issues in areas like business formation, employee relations, commercial property transactions, and more. Even a seemingly minor oversight could have major repercussions for a business and its owners or managers.

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Alternative Fee Arrangements (AFAs) for Legal Explained: Types & Examples

MatterSuite

The legal sector has long depended on hourly billing as the standard practice, but this is changing. Clients now expect flexible payment options, including flat fees, subscriptions, or installment plans. Alternative fee arrangements (AFAs) provide solutions such as the fixed tasks of drafting bills and making legal services more affordable. The situation benefits both clients and legal experts.

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AI for Paralegals: Everything You Need to Know (and How to Use It Safely)

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Ready to cut through the AI hype and learn exactly how to use these tools in your legal work? Join this webinar to get practical guidance from attorney and AI legal expert, Joe Stephens, who understands what really matters for legal professionals! What You'll Learn: Evaluate AI Tools Like a Pro 🔍 Learn which tools are worth your time and how to spot potential security and ethics risks before they become problems.

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How Failing to Keep in Touch with Your Patent Lawyer Can Cost You Your Patent 

Brett Trout

Brett Trout For inventors and businesses, patents are crucial assets that protect innovations from being copied. But patents come with responsibilitiesparticularly the timely payment of maintenance fees. Failing to heed emails from your patent attorney regarding payment of these maintenance fees can result in the permanent loss of your patent rights, as demonstrated by the unfortunate case of Robert Taillefer and Sylvain Fredette, inventors of the Froster ice resurfacing machine?

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Voting Is Closed, Results Are In: Here are the 15 Legal Tech Startups Selected for the 2025 Startup Alley at ABA TECHSHOW

ABA TECHSHOW

Voting has now closed and your votes have been tallied to pick the 15 legal tech startups that will get to participate as finalists in the ninth-annual Startup Alley at ABA TECHSHOW 2025 , taking place April 2-5 in Chicago. These 15 finalists will face off in an opening-night pitch competition that is the opening event of TECHSHOW, with the conferences attendees voting at the conclusion of the pitches to pick the top winners.

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DeepSeek’s iOS app is a security nightmare, and that’s before you consider its TikTok links–theregister.com

lennyesq

Brandon Vigliarolo INFOSEC IN BRIEF DeepSeeks iOS app is a security nightmare that you should delete ASAP, according to researchers at mobile app infosec platform vendor NowSecure. The org have assessed the security of the iOS version of DeepSeek – the third most popular app on the App Store as of writing found it transmits data in plaintext, uses outdated ciphers, and hardcoded encryption keys.

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The EU AI Act Countdown Is Over: First Wave of Requirements Now In Force

Debevoise Data Blog

The first wave of the EU AI Act s requirements came into force on 2 February 2025, namely: Prohibited AI: the ban on the use and distribution of prohibited AI systems, and AI Literacy: the requirement to ensure staff using and operating AI possess sufficient AI literacy. All businesses caught by the EU AI Acts jurisdictional scope which is potentially very broad and may even exceed the scope of the GDPR are now required to comply with these obligations.

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Case Closed: How to Optimize Your Legal Intake Process for Efficiency

Speaker: Anne Post, CEO North America, Xakia Technologies

Do you know that 40% of U.S. Legal Departments now have a formal legal intake process? With that in mind, where does your legal department stand today? Many legal teams still struggle with a flood of incoming requests, leaving everyone overwhelmed and frustrated. Implementing a formal legal intake process can seem like an obstacle between the business and the legal department, but it doesn’t have to be!

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Clio Duo Brings AI to Lawyers Doorstep

Lawyerist

Clio Duo, an advanced AI-powered tool built into Clios law practice management software, offers features designed to streamline your workflow and enhance productivity. Lets explore four feature categories: accessing matter details, retrieving client information, finding documents within a matter, and getting caught up on case details. Accessing Matter Details Clio Duo makes it incredibly easy to access matter details.

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Emerging Areas of Legal Practice: How Technology Has an Impact

Martindale-Avvo

When theres a palpable shift in society, industry, or the economy, practicing lawyers feel the effects. Thats true as advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and the activities of big tech firms raise concerns about intellectual property rights and data privacy. Learn about some of the big technology issues that are trending AOPs for 2025, and how these are developing into important practice areas for lawyers.

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9 Best Contract Management Software for Legal Departments

Percipient

Legal teams deal with contracts every single day, but keeping them organized is another story. Between tracking deadlines, chasing approvals, and making sure everything is airtight, contract management can quickly turn into a headache. Thats why contract management software exists. It keeps everything in one place, automates the boring stuff, and helps legal teams move faster without missing key details.

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How Law Firms Can Celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 with Action

MatterSuite

International Womens Day (IWD) is more than just a celebrationits a chance to create real change. Law firms can take action by encouraging women in leadership, offering mentorship programs, and ensuring equal opportunities for career growth. By adopting fair policies and promoting a culture of support, firms can help build a legal industry where women feel valued and empowered.

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Prep with Purpose: How to Build Better Trial Binders

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Get ready to master the art and science of trial preparation organization that top attorneys rely on in this exclusive webinar! Attorney and law professor, Joe Stephens, J.D., will walk through proven systems for creating comprehensive trial notebooks and binders that transform scattered case materials into a powerful command center. Learning Objectives: Strategic Organization 📊 Learn the essential sections every trial notebook needs and how to structure them for maximum clarity and acce