Lawyers are trained to think in ways that can be the opposite of good innovation practices. We spot issues and potential problems, with an emphasis on problems. We identify and manage risks, with an emphasis on the risks of doing new things. We focus, sometimes agonizingly, on process, procedure, and precedent. Saying that something “has
Selling Innovation to General Counsels and Other Legal Decisionmakers
An often underestimated part of the innovation process, especially within law departments, is the messaging, presentation, and selling of innovation projects, programs, and portfolios to general counsel and other decisionmakers in law departments. I wrote about this topic in my book, Successful Innovation Outcomes in Law: A Practical Guide for Law Firms, Law Departments and
Thoughts on Venture Capital in the Legal Industry
I was asked a while back to answer some questions for an article about venture capital in the legal industry. It now appears that the article might not happen.
As part of my #BlogFirst initiative, I’m posting my unedited and unupdated answers here for your reading pleasure and, maybe, to learn how others would answer
Fast Fish and New Technologies: Are Small Law Firms Outcompeting Large Firms?
Part of my #blogfirst project.
We have moved from a world where the big fish eat the little fish, says Tom Peters, the famous management consulting guru, to a world where the “fast fish eat the slow fish.”
I’ve noticed lately that many of the most innovative developments in legal technology have come from smaller
Notes on My Innovation Journey
A work in progress
Part of my #blogfirst approach and an introduction to what I’m now doing at Exponential.Legal (launch date February 1, 2021).
Whitney Johnson has said that our “superpowers” are the things we often get complimented for and routinely deflect the compliments because “everyone can do that.” People who are known for generating
The Biggest Disconnect in the Legal Industry?
The Biggest Disconnect in the Legal Industry?
(COVID-19 Version)
We seem to be living in a time when what is most important today already seems like old news tomorrow. It’s difficult, on so many levels. The seeming comfort of a “return to normal” appeals more than the discomfort of change and innovation. However, either/or is
Innovation Tips and Priorities for Mid-sized Law Firms
Joanna Goodman recently asked me for some tips on how firms can go about balancing the need to control costs and manage the expectations of their partners and staff with investing in innovation to retain and win business and maintain competitive advantage as lockdown is lifted.
What should firms’ (especially mid-sized firms) priorities be for
47 #LinkedIn Improvement Tips for 2020
To celebrate the publication of our new book, Make LinkedIn Work for You, A Practical Handbook for Lawyers and Other Legal Professionals, by Dennis Kennedy and Allison Shields (available on Amazon), Allison and I wanted to provide a brief excerpt from the book: forty-seven tips to help lawyers and other legal professionals
Best DennisKennedy.Blog Posts of 2019
Everywhere I look, people are doing some kind of “best of 2019” lists. I thought I’d jump into the retrospective waters and take a look back at my best 2019 posts.
First, though, the best quote about me in 2019:
Dennis is Yoda. – Jordan Furlong
Thank you, Jordan.
As I rummaged through my
My New Approach to Speaking
This post will probably end up being a part of a series of posts that I think of as “DennisKennedy.Next.”
The law school semester has ended and now ready to launch some of the new things I’ll be doing going forward. Expect to see more on that in the next month or so.
I’ve posted