Illustrative photo of microphone in front of abstract neon lights

Is your leadership team asking for more innovation from your law department? Is delivering innovation results on your department or personal annual objective list?

C-suites are demanding that their general counsels and law departments accelerate their efforts to keep pace with innovation goals across the organization. They want their law departments to be as creative as the rest of the business.

That’s what I’ve been focusing on lately – finding ways to help law departments improve their innovation results and stay ahead of the curve in our rapidly-changing corporate landscape. I think I have something that could help you and your team.

Today, I am thrilled to share with you an exciting development – the launch of my new keynote presentation titled, Successful Innovation Outcomes in Your Law Department: A Roadmap for Results in the Age of AI.” This presentation distills key insights and strategies I’ve gained from my extensive experience as both an in-house counsel and an innovator, and from countless hours of research into a practical roadmap. It outlines how to drive transformative results and improved outcomes in your law department.

It’s packed with practical advice for using tech like AI to make your team work better and get more measurable results from your innovation efforts. It’s based in large part on my book, Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law: A Practical Guide for Law Firms, Law Departments and Other Legal Organizations, and new research and approaches I’ve developed since I wrote the book that I’ve been sharing in my law department innovation column on the LegalTech Hub.

This presentation represents my vision for the future of law departments – a future characterized by technological savvy, strategic innovation, and measurable success. It’s about paving a new path and boldly stepping into the future of law departments.

Here’s what your team can expect to gain:

  • Outcomes-Focused Innovation: The talk goes beyond just tech – it’s about improving results for your department and the clients you serve through tried and tested innovation techniques.
  • Quantifying Transformation: Measuring innovation is a challenge. This presentation lays out a path to the tangible results C-suites expect and provides you with the tools to communicate your results effectively in business terms.
  • Practical Tech Strategies: Full of actionable tips for harnessing AI and other technologies, the presentation encourages practicality over theory, emphasizing the importance of fostering a positive culture around innovation.

Law department innovation is vastly different from law firm innovation. Too often, people knowledgeable in law firm innovation simply try to map what might work for law firms onto law departments without fully understanding those differences, with underwhelming results. I know what you’re up against and how to help you win because I’ve worked in an innovative law department.

I eagerly look forward to sharing this new offering with you at your next department meeting, retreat, or event. I believe it will bring tremendous value to your team, inspiring fresh ideas and providing practical guidance on embracing the future of law departments.

Ultimately, this is more than just a presentation – it’s an opportunity to inspire progress and drive innovation in your law department.

Innovation is not just a buzzword; it’s a journey, one that can lead to exceeding your objectives and improving partnerships within your organization. I would be thrilled to accompany you on this journey and help guide the way so you can seize the initiative and start presenting your C-suite with the innovation outcomes they’re expecting.

Are you ready to bring in new ideas and get creative and effective? Let’s discuss how we can tailor this keynote to your department’s unique needs and get it on your meeting agenda. Go to my speaking page now to learn more details. You can schedule a discussion of the presentation and your needs directly through my Calendly scheduling page.

Stay innovative!

Photo by Chad Stembridge on Unsplash


[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Want to schedule a Zoom call to talk with me about Legal Innovation as a Service, Speaking, or other services? Schedule a Zoom with Dennis via Calendly.

Like this post? Buy me a coffee

DennisKennedy.Blog is now part of the LexBlog network.

Legal Innovation as a Service Logo

Need a little help with your legal innovation efforts? Check out my Legal Innovation as a Service offerings.

Follow my microblog on Twitter – @dkennedyblog. Follow me – @denniskennedy

Download my FREE “57 Tips for Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law” (PDF).

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory logo

Over the last semester, I’ve been teaching two classes at Michigan State University College of Law, one called AI and the Law and the other called New Technologies and the Law, and a class at University of Michigan Law School called Legal Technology Literacy and Leadership. All three classes pushed me to keep up-to-date with the nearly-daily developments in AI, ChatGPT, and LLMs. I also did quite a lot of experiments, primarily with ChatGPT, especially GPT-4, and with Notion AI.

I haven’t written or spoken much about it (unless you happen to be an unsuspecting friend of mine who starts asking me about the topic), with the exception of one of my LegalTech Hub law department innovation columns called “Innovation Ideas: Quantity, Quality, and ChatGPT, on The Kennedy-Mighell Report podcast here and there, and a bit on some other podcast interviews I’ve done. I’ve been hesitant to report on some of my learnings publicly until I have a greater degree of comfort (the example in the column) – and things change all the time. I’m still hesitant, but I have something that seems ready now.

Since the semester ended, I’ve done much more experimenting than ever before, primarily in the areas of personal productivity and innovation, but in a broad range of other areas. Unlike many others, I’m not ready to make any big pronouncements, but I’m currently fascinated by the points I run into constraints and what I’m learning there. For example, I tried two experiments this morning that seemed reasonable but were big failures.

The experiments I’m doing fit into my original concept of the Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory, my project to create a think tank and R&D lab focused on legal innovation.

One goal of Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory is to move ideas into productization, especially the productization of services. The first example of a productized service I created is called Legal Innovation as a Service.

I was thinking about how the Legal Innovation as a Service product would be a perfect place to try to incorporate some AI into a productized service. So, I’ve spent some time working on ways I might be able to do that.

I’ve reached the point where I have some approaches that seem complete enough to move out of the lab and start testing with the Legal Innovation as a Service product.

These are limited AI helper tools that are “human (i.e., Dennis) in the middle” approaches. I believe that they can significantly improve quality and enhance the product’s value, while avoiding confidentiality and other risks.

And I’m ready to test them.

What I’ve decided is to start using them with new orders from customers who want to try them. I’ll keep the price of the Legal Innovation as a Service flat fee the same at least through the summer (but possibly through the end of the year.) I want to test these approaches and get some good data about them to evaluate and make improvements to them.

Intrigued? Reach out to me.

My primary focus these days is on transformative innovation for law departments with a mandate to move innovation forward. However, I’ll consider other customers because the same approaches should work elsewhere in the broader legal world.

You can learn more about Legal Innovation as a Service offerings here. I’m excited to find out how these enhancements will work in the real world.

You can schedule a Zoom meeting to talk about Legal Innovation as a Service with me through my Calendly page.


[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Want to schedule a Zoom call to talk with me about Legal Innovation as a Service, Speaking, or other services? Schedule a Zoom with Dennis via Calendly.

Like this post? Buy me a coffee

DennisKennedy.Blog is now part of the LexBlog network.

Legal Innovation as a Service Logo

Need a little help with your legal innovation efforts? Check out my Legal Innovation as a Service offerings.

Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory logo

Join the Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory Community today!

Follow my microblog on Twitter – @dkennedyblog. Follow me – @denniskennedy

Download my FREE “57 Tips for Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law” (PDF).

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cover photo of Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law

I’m loving writing my new column on law department innovation for the must-visit LegalTechHub. It’s so much fun to have a regular monthly column again. I’m also pleased with how the columns are turning out.

Here’s a list of the columns through May 2023:

Also, remember that my entire book, Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law: A Practical Guide for Law Firms, Law Departments and Other Legal Organizations, is now available as a FREE PDF download.


[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Want to schedule a Zoom call to talk with me about Legal Innovation as a Service, Speaking, or other services? Schedule a Zoom with Dennis via Calendly.

Like this post? Buy me a coffee

DennisKennedy.Blog is now part of the LexBlog network.

Legal Innovation as a Service Logo

Need a little help with your legal innovation efforts? Check out my Legal Innovation as a Service offerings.

Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory logo

Join the Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory Community today!

Follow my microblog on Twitter – @dkennedyblog. Follow me – @denniskennedy

Download my FREE “57 Tips for Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law” (PDF).

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kennedy-Mighell Report podcast logo

Tom Mighell and I have started a new interview series on The Kennedy-Mighell Report that features “fresh voices on legal tech.” We’ve published three of these already and plan for it to be an ongoing series.

We’re excited both about the idea of the series and the first three episodes – great guests with fresh perspectives and fresh voices.

Here are the episodes so far:

  • Fresh Voices on Legal Tech with Kristen Sonday – Kristen talks about her platform at Paladin connecting lawyers to pro bono work; weighs in on ChatGPT, AI, tech adoption, and more; and shares her top tip for using technology in legal practice.
  • Fresh Voices on Legal Tech with Chase Hertel – Chase discusses his career path and offers tips for helping attorneys engage with technology to improve their practice. They dig into the potential uses and dangers of ChatGPT and other AI tech in the profession, discuss Chase’s work in immigration legal tech, and survey the outlook of legal tech’s future.
  • Fresh Voices on Legal Tech with Natalie Knowlton – Natalie discusses the current state of legal services, the justice gap, and ways technology is helping attorneys provide better and more affordable services to consumers.

I think you’ll really enjoy these episodes. Watch for more in the future. Let us know what you think.


[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Want to schedule a Zoom call to talk with me about Legal Innovation as a Service, Speaking, or other services? Schedule a Zoom with Dennis via Calendly.

Like this post? Buy me a coffee

DennisKennedy.Blog is now part of the LexBlog network.

Legal Innovation as a Service Logo

Need a little help with your legal innovation efforts? Check out my Legal Innovation as a Service offerings.

Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory logo

Join the Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory Community today!

Follow my microblog on Twitter – @dkennedyblog. Follow me – @denniskennedy

Download my FREE “57 Tips for Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law” (PDF).

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


As I’ve taught classes on cybersecurity, it has struck me how difficult it is for small law firms, and small businesses in general, to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats. It’s difficult to find resources, help, and tools. Doing it right feels like it would be expensive, if you were able to find someone you could trust.

Decorative cybersecurity graphic

At the same time, small organizations might be losing business opportunities because they can’t represent or confirm that they are taking adequate cybersecurity protection measures.

It seems like a perfect place for outsourcing.

A friend of mine heard me commenting about this and introduced me to the team at Aadya Security (https://www.aadyasecurity.com).

They have exactly what I was hoping to find in this space – an outsourced suite of protection tools, managed by them, with reports to customers. They’ve even given the tool a human name – Judy. I love that Judy is on the job, working in the background to protect me, and Judy updates me from time to time about what she is protecting. I also love that I can now tell potential clients that, unlike most solos and smalls, I have this level of security protection. To me, that’s a game changer in itself.

It didn’t take much to convince me. It’s very affordable. I was willing to pay full price by the end of the introductory call, but they gave me an account to try for free. I liked it so much that we’ve set up a referral code for me to have people use – R3DK. Yes, I’ll earn something when you use the code, but take a look at the offerings, compare them to what you are doing now, and make your own decision.

Check it out, tell them I sent you, and use the code – R3DK. Aadya. Get Judy on the job for you.


[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Want to schedule a Zoom call to talk with me about Legal Innovation as a Service, Speaking, or other services? Schedule a Zoom with Dennis via Calendly.

Like this post? Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee

DennisKennedy.Blog is now part of the LexBlog network.

Legal Innovation as a Service Logo

Need a little help with your legal innovation efforts? Check out my Legal Innovation as a Service offerings.

Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory logo

Join the Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory Community today!

Follow my microblog on Twitter – @dkennedyblog. Follow me – @denniskennedy

Download my FREE “57 Tips for Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law” (PDF).

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

I wanted to ask my readers to keep the entire Michigan State University community in mind after February 13 shootings. I’ve found the aftermath to be difficult and challenging.

As part of my coping process, I have intentionally chosen not to write about these matters, and I expect to continue to adopt that approach.

While I plan to return to regular posting on other matters, it’s not because I considering the process of dealing with this event over.

However, I will say that I have enormous respect for how students are handling this tragedy.


[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Want to schedule a Zoom call to talk with me about Legal Innovation as a Service, Speaking, or other services? Schedule a Zoom with Dennis via Calendly.

Like this post? Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee

DennisKennedy.Blog is now part of the LexBlog network.

Legal Innovation as a Service LogoNeed a little help with your legal innovation efforts? Check out my Legal Innovation as a Service offerings.

Follow me on Twitter – @denniskennedy

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cover photo of Successful Innovation Outcomes in LawI’ve decided that I want as many people as possible to read my book, Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law: A Practical Guide for Law Firms, Law Departments and Other Legal Organizations, so I’m now making it available as a FREE PDF download –  Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law – 2023 PDF Version. If you like the book and PDF is not the best format for you (or you want to support the author), you can still buy the book in paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon.

I thought that giving this version of the book away was a great way to celebrate the 20th blogiversary of DennisKennedy.Blog and promote my new Law Department Innovation Library.

Enjoy the free book and let everyone you know who might be interested in it (or need it) that it is now available in this Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law – 2023 PDF Version.


[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Want to schedule a Zoom call to talk with me about Legal Innovation as a Service, Speaking, or other services? Schedule a Zoom with Dennis via Calendly.

Like this post? Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee

DennisKennedy.Blog is now part of the LexBlog network.

Legal Innovation as a Service LogoNeed a little help with your legal innovation efforts? Check out my Legal Innovation as a Service offerings.

Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory logoJoin the Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory Community today!

Follow my microblog on Twitter – @dkennedyblog. Follow me – @denniskennedy

Download my FREE “57 Tips for Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law” (PDF).

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

One of the big challenges about publishing a blog on focused topics is that external events can intrude and make your posts seem like they don’t live in the real world.

Twenty years ago today, I published my first post on this blog. Over the years, I liked to mark each blogiversary (or blawgiversary) with some kind of a clever post. For this one, which is kind of a big deal, I had a few clever ideas.

Then, on Monday, the mass shootings happened at Michigan State University. As most of you know, I’m now the Director of the Michigan State University Center for Law, Technology & Innovation and teach several classes at the MSU College of Law. I taught two classes on Monday and left for home about two hours before the terrible events happened. I want to acknowledge the tragedy that happened and the difficulties and challenges that it has created. MSU has canceled classes for the rest of this week as the community tries to deal with the aftermath.

I’ll save something clever or whatever about a blogiversary for another day.

People occasionally ask me if I would have ever expected to still be posting to this blog twenty years later when I started it. I kind of did. It’s been a great outlet, helped me find my voice, and led to so many things, including friendships with the pioneer lawyer bloggers in the photo. It’s almost impossible for me to imagine ever shutting it down.

Thank you all for reading, whether as a longtime reader or a first-time reader. To happier times.


[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Want to schedule a Zoom call to talk with me about Legal Innovation as a Service, Speaking, or other services? Schedule a Zoom with Dennis via Calendly.

Like this post? Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee

DennisKennedy.Blog is now part of the LexBlog network.

Legal Innovation as a Service LogoNeed a little help with your legal innovation efforts? Check out my Legal Innovation as a Service offerings.

Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory logoJoin the Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory Community today!

Follow my microblog on Twitter – @dkennedyblog. Follow me – @denniskennedy

Download my FREE “57 Tips for Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law” (PDF).

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kennedy-Mighell Report podcast logo

Tom Mighell and I have an annual tradition at The Kennedy-Mighell Report podcast of publicly announcing and discussing our technology resolutions for the upcoming year. We also talk about how well or not so well we did with our resolutions from the last year.

The 2023 edition of the podcast is now out to launch the new year with a purposive start in episode 331 of the podcast called “Dennis and Tom’s 2023 Technology Resolutions.”

We also talk about some of our strategies for setting achievable goals and share some of the approaches and tips we’ve learned over the years. We also share our resolutions for the podcast in 2023. Spoiler: our goals for the podcast are more ambitious than they’ve been in earlier years. Stay tuned.

Here’s the show description:

With 2023 underway, the guys take a minute to see how they did on last year’s tech resolutions and talk through goals for the new year. Tune in for their approach to crafting resolutions with small steps and measurable victories. And, bottom line, don’t feel bad about giving up on a resolution that just isn’t bringing value to your life.

I share my three-part approach to tech resolutions:

First, is there a specific technology pain point that I’d like to alleviate or remove? Second, is there a new technology, a new skill, or a more advanced use of a technology that I’d like to learn? Third, is there something I can do to advance my career, accomplish more with technology, improve processes, or enhance client service?

My resolutions, you might be wondering? Here’s a short summary:

  1. Continue to build out my Second Brain project in Notion and completing the next phase (or two) of what I want to accomplish with that.
  2. Experiment with practical (emphasis on practical and small) applications of generative AI.
  3. Define and refine what I want to do in a “post-Twitter” world –  Become more intentional news and social media consumption; use Mighty Networks and other community tools as alternatives for smaller audiences; determine what I will actually use Twitter for

I also have a small resolution to focus on hardware that I have but want to learn to use more often and in better ways. Examples include the Apple Pencil 2 and the Elgato Stream Deck.

Tom also has great ideas, but . . . you’ll have to listen to the episode.

Let us know what you think about our resolutions and whether you find our approach helpful. We think resolutions podcasts and articles are way, way better than the flood of “predictions” articles we see this time of year.

You’ll find the episode here.



[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Want to schedule a Zoom call to talk with me about Legal Innovation as a Service, Speaking, or other services? Schedule a Zoom with Dennis via Calendly.

Like this post? Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee

DennisKennedy.Blog is now part of the LexBlog network.

Legal Innovation as a Service LogoNeed a little help with your legal innovation efforts? Check out my Legal Innovation as a Service offerings.

Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory logoJoin the Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory Community today!

Follow my microblog on Twitter – @dkennedyblog. Follow me – @denniskennedy

Download my FREE “57 Tips for Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law” (PDF).

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

For many years, I’ve enjoyed reading the posts of several bloggers who are trying to read 52 books in 52 weeks. I’ve also wanted to find a good way for me to keep track of the books I’ve read. And it gives me a good reading target to shoot for.

Last year, I read 80 books, exceeding my goal by quite a bit. Or, more accurately, I listed 80 books that I read. I don’t list books that might reveal certain things I might (or might not) be working on.

In the previous year, the total number was 68.

I again found that I was starting and abandoning quite a few books. And I’m reading more audiobooks than ever before

You will also notice that I’ve been attempting to read the entire catalog of books of certain authors of detective stories. If you forced me to pick my top books for 2022 (in alphabetical order) that I’d recommend, I’d probably list:

Advice for Future Corpses , Sallie Tisdale

Arriving Today, Christopher Mims

Butler to the World, Oliver Bullough

Hiding in Plain Sight, Sarah Kendzior

Origin, Jennifer Raff

Pretty Good House, Dan Kolbert

River of Gods, Candice Millard

Termination Shock, Neal Stephenson

The Genesis Machine, Amy Webb

The March of Folly, Barbara Tuchman

The Wizard and the Prophet, Charles C. Mann

Work Clean, Dan Charnas

I’m doing the same thing in 2023. My approach is the same as in previous years – I’ll simply update this post from time to time from time to time throughout the year as I finish books.

I’ve enjoyed doing this challenge every year and hope you find the list useful. And I encourage you to take the challenge yourself.

I welcome your recommendations of good books I might read this year.

As Bill Taylor says, “Are you learning as fast as the world is changing?”

Challenging yourself to read 52 books is probably a good way to start to answer that question.

December

November

October

September

August

July

June

May

April

26. Culture, Martin Puchner
25. Trust the Plan, Will Sommer
24. Off the Edge, Kelly Weill
23. Empress of the Nile, Lynne Olson
22. Range, David Epstein
21. The Declassification Engine, Matthew Connelly
20. Last Call at the Hotel Imperial, Deborah Cohen

March

19. Empireland, Stahnam Sanghera
18. A Hacker’s Mind, Bruce Schneier
17. Figuring It Out, Charles D. Ellis
16. Mind Your Mindset, Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller
15. The Devil’s Element, Dan Egan
14. Mark Reese, Moshe Feldenkrais: A Life in Movement
13. Black Ball, Theresa Runstedtler
12. Untold Power, Rebecca Boggs Roberts
11. Notes of a Native Son, James Baldwin
10. Keep It Moving, Twyla Tharp
9. Deceptions, Anna Porter
8. Tracers in the Dark, Andy Greenberg

February

7. The Terraformers, Annalee Newitz
6. My Darkest Prayer, S.A. Cosby

January

5. The Thin Man, Dashiell Hammett
4. Artificial Intelligence, Melanie Mitchell
3. Louise Penny, A World of Curiosities
2. American Midnight, Adam Hochschild
1. The Wolf Age, Tore Skeie


[Originally posted on DennisKennedy.Blog (https://www.denniskennedy.com/blog/)]

Want to schedule a Zoom call to talk with me about Legal Innovation as a Service, Speaking, or other services? Schedule a Zoom with Dennis via Calendly.

Like this post? Buy me a coffee

DennisKennedy.Blog is now part of the LexBlog network.

Legal Innovation as a Service Logo

Need a little help with your legal innovation efforts? Check out my Legal Innovation as a Service offerings.

Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory logo

Join the Kennedy Idea Propulsion Laboratory Community today!

Follow my microblog on Twitter – @dkennedyblog. Follow me – @denniskennedy

Download my FREE “57 Tips for Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law” (PDF).

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.