I work at a legal tech company, but every day I sit inside the legal department of a $13.5 billion company. Which often provides me with a healthy reality check. Working in legal tech is unbelievably exciting right now. The hype is reaching a fever pitch, and I get it. Legal tech used to be a sleepy corner, and lots of people and companies are working incredibly hard on big problems that deserve this attention. My point isn’t to downplay that. I’m all in. But while I nerd out on Sequoia’s and YC’s legal tech investment theses, the lawyers and legal operations professionals around me at Hearst Tower are focused on doing the actual work. They get in early, leave late, and work incredibly hard in between. They care about practical solutions to real-world problems. At times right now, it feels like the money and effort pouring into legal tech are focused more on bending the market toward a general VC hypothesis rather than putting our customers’ problems first. The legal industry needs visionary thinking. It also needs a deep understanding of the nuance and the realities of the space -- especially the day-to-day of the people doing the work. * Better than your average start-up view from Hearst Tower overlooking Columbus Circle and Central Park this morning.
This is spot on, and as a former litigator who has crossed over into legal tech, this hits hard. As this space grows and attracts more people who have never set foot in a courtroom or managed a case load, I hope we don't lose sight of who the client actually is and what their day looks like.
Love this very much and agree wholeheartedly. My thoughts all day every day as I work with our legal engineering team on building the right things for lawyers and legal teams. My recent honest venting on this issue: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nir-golan-019678b_i-hope-all-the-tech-bros-who-have-strong-activity-7444118183441203200-_olM?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAAIOZRUBFM56vLmMDu3kQrgkwoDEK0v1cIg
This is what a lot of legal tech vendors miss. They don't understand that legal work happens entirely differently across teams and workflows. The companies that will win have a continual curiosity to understand the needs and nuance of their customers.
Yes and they care deeply about getting it right. Every single time. Lawyers are the people in the company who were hired, among other things, to be very careful.
Gorgeous pic Matthew Wheatley! And also on it to for understanding the realities of the space and building to solve the challenges of those realities. Can’t believe it’s been 20 years of practicing law. 🫡
Great perspective Matthew Wheatley
Decent...
"They get in early, leave late, and work incredibly hard in between". Sounds like working at a law firm.
The value of an experienced human somewhere in the loop cannot be overstated. Real world, experienced domain expertise seems under appreciated in some parts of the Legaltech ecosphere.
Beautiful view and smart comments. The view brings back memories of getting off the subway at Columbus Circle and walking two blocks to Fordham University School of Law.