Legal news and trends for Canadian in-house counsel and c-suite executives
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/1210425
www.canadianlawyermag.com/inhouse 47 LEGAL TECHNOLOGY TRENDS According to a global study undertaken by Deloitte in 2018, the top three emerging legal technology trends in Canada include: 1 . AI, which can be used to transform repetitive tasks, such as standardized contracts. For instance, chatbots with AI can answer common client questions about standard legal contracts. 2 . Cloud storage, which can be used to reduce operating costs and make real-time data accessible to multiple individuals in different locations. 3 . Blockchain technology, which can record and legitimize transactions between various parties, allowing for the automation of contract execution. "This saved us many hours of man-power and probably thousands of dollars because they had the technology to help us finish the project." "It was extremely useful not only to see how our law firms engage with technology but for me to get my hands on that tech, and to bring that experience back to Siemens was invaluable," says Jackman. The secondment enabled Jackman to advance legal operations and create more efficient systems within his legal department. Stikeman also benefitted from the work that Jackman did. The team gained a deeper understanding into the needs of a client while they recruited a permanent candidate for the role. "Seeing technology through a client's eyes was very useful and insightful for us," says Andrea Alliston, a partner at Stikeman. "It allowed me to have a better understanding of what Siemens needs when it comes to legal technology tools that they might be interested in and the constraints they face." Both Stikeman and Siemens hope to repeat the experience in the future. tems they are testing." In one recent example, a specific type of technology was needed to save time and reduce costs, so the team at Siemens reached out to a firm that had the relevant technology. "This saved us many hours of man-power and probably thousands of dollars because they had the technology to help us finish the project," says Jackman. To gain a deeper understanding of tech- nology used by law firms, Siemens recently participated in a technology-focused "reverse secondment" with partner firm Stikeman Elliott LLP. After interviewing two potential candidates, Stikeman chose Jackman to fill the role of legal technology applications lawyer for a two- month stint. The position included participat- ing in the piloting of two different tech tools — a decision tree tool and a contract analysis due diligence tool. Shawna-Leigh Moulton Grant Jackman