The 80% Problem: Why In-House Lawyers Aren’t Forcing Their Firms to Use AI
Source: Above the Law A new ACC and Everlaw study reveals a bizarre disconnect in legal services. While 67% of in-house lawyers use GenAI (up from 38% last year), 80% aren’t requiring or even encouraging their outside counsel to do the same. The numbers tell a stark story: 91% of in-house users report efficiency gains […]
The General Counsel Revolution: From Legal Brake to Strategic Engine
Source: Thomson Reuters The general counsel’s office used to be where ambitious ideas went to die. The legal department was the emergency brake, the voice of “no.” That era is over. Today’s GCs sit at the strategic table from day one, designing initiatives rather than just evaluating risks. The transformation from corporate watchdog to strategic […]
What Lawyers Actually Do with AI When Nobody’s Watching
Source: The Global AI Skills Community For Lawyers Forget the marketing decks. Here’s what lawyers are really doing with AI tools behind closed doors, based on conversations with practitioners from BigLaw to in-house counsel. ChatGPT: The Unofficial Training Ground Almost every lawyer mentioned ChatGPT, but not for finished work. They’re using it to learn how […]
Charlie Geffen’s Brutal Truth: US Firms Won, UK Lost
Source: Non-Billable Charlie Geffen doesn’t mince words. The former Ashurst senior partner and Gibson Dunn private equity co-chair delivered uncomfortable truths about Big Law that most leaders won’t say publicly. “The Global Magic Circle is Entirely American” After four decades watching the City’s transformation, Geffen’s verdict is unequivocal: UK firms lost the global legal market […]
How Six Companies Are Reshaping Legal Work with AI
Source: Financial Times The legal industry is experiencing a fundamental shift. With the global legal tech market set to nearly double to $47 billion by 2030, a handful of companies are redefining how legal work gets done—not by replacing lawyers, but by eliminating the routine tasks that consume their time. Different Paths to Transformation Harvey […]
September 2025 – Zaven Newsletter
Hello legal innovators! This month, we’re diving into: Now, let’s jump right in! Big Law’s Half-Century Party: Why the Music’s Finally Stopping For fifty years, Big Law’s business model has been bulletproof: leverage junior lawyers like medieval serfs, charge by the hour regardless of efficiency, and maintain a pyramid where 80% of associates eventually leave. […]
Generative AI and Law: The Self-Disruption Imperative
Source: Adam Smith Esq. Bruce MacEwen tackles the most daunting topic in BigLaw’s future—and warns firms are afraid of their own partnerships. Adam Smith, Esq. has launched a new series on generative AI’s impact on law firm business models, drawing from Richard Susskind’s latest book “How to Think About AI: A Guide for the Perplexed.” […]
Four Critical Disruptions Reshaping the Legal Industry
From the Zaven Rock and Roll interview series, Season 2 The legal industry is transforming, but AI is only one of four major disruptions reshaping everything. Olivier Chaduteau, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of DayTwo, breaks down why the industry transformation extends far beyond artificial intelligence. The New VUCA World The concept of a VUCA world—volatility, […]
Big Law’s Economic Model Under Pressure: Can It Survive AI Disruption?
Source: Artificial Lawyer As AI tools and hybrid law firms promise complex legal work at fraction of traditional costs, the half-century-old Big Law business model faces unprecedented pressure. The Traditional Model Big Law operates on three pillars: high leverage with a small group of equity partners owning the firm while everyone else generates fees; time-based […]
How the Delta Model Predicted Today’s In-House Reality
Source: Thomson Reuters The Thomson Reuters Institute’s Delta Lawyer Competency Model proposed a fundamental shift in legal professional development five years ago. What seemed aspirational then has become operational necessity today. Three Pillars Validated The Delta Model organised legal competencies into three areas: The Law, Business & Operations, and Personal Effectiveness. The original research data […]