The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies: Work From Home Edition, by Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell is one of the most important legal technology books published at least since 2018, the date of the previous book in this ABA series. My review is complete and should appear at my favorite legal journal soon. In the meantime, here are a few suggestions as to how lawyers can get a head start on improving their bottom line through better collaboration:
1. Consume Some Key Podcasts
Check out key episodes of the Kennedy-Mighell Report podcast, particularly those segments focusing on collaboration. The most directly relevant are:
- The Lawyer’s Guide to Collaboration Tools & Technologies: Work From Home Edition
- The Collaboration Layer of Your Technology Stack
- Collaborating in Hybrid Work Environments
- The Latest in Collaboration Tools & Technologies
Not a podcasting fan? The ABA’s Legal Talk Network has the advantage of providing transcripts of each podcast that include hypertext links to resources mentioned. Nice touch, since you can scan a transcript in less time than it takes to listen to a podcast.
In whatever format you consume them, these podcasts are valuable because in some cases they provide useful ideas that go beyond the text of the book. For example, in the podcasts Kennedy and Mighell somewhat more directly address a downside of teleworking: People who spend less time in their physical office may be less competitive when decisions on prizes like partnerships are made. There has been so much euphoria about the freedom of working from home that this drawback is often underestimated. I also have a few thoughts on the issue.
2. Attend ABA Techshow
ABA Techshow is the world’s premier legal technology conference–by a large margin. This year, and every year, multiple sessions will deal directly or indirectly with collaboration.