In this episode, Sarah Glassmeyer⁠, a lawyer 🎓, librarian 📖, and technologist 💻 talks about democratizing access to legal precedents. We talk about her article, "The Legal Future Puzzle Box," which peaked my curiosity - offering a fresh perspective on law – looking at it through the lens of the very source: librarians! Sarah talks about why rethinking our approach to cataloging case laws is crucial in the era of AI.

Here are some interesting snippets from our conversation:

⚖️Broadening the Definition of Legal Tech

Sarah offered a refreshingly broad definition of legal technology: “anything that helps you as a lawyer or legal service provider do your job.” This includes even basic tools like Microsoft Word and Excel. She argues that legal innovation is simply the constant pursuit of improvement: becoming more efficient, thoughtful, and effective in your work. Many people mistakenly believe legal tech is out of reach, but she asserts that it's ingrained in everyday legal practice. “Anyone can be a legal innovator; anyone can use legal technology.”

⚖️Challenges and the Path Forward

While Sarah's definition is inclusive, there are challenges. The sheer volume of legal information, combined with the ever-evolving nature of language and jurisdictions, makes it difficult to keep pace. This is especially true considering the potential of new, powerful generative AI tools for legal research.Access to these powerful tools is another hurdle. The digital divide persists, and not everyone has the resources or skills to process vast amounts of legal information.

⚖️The Importance of Delivery

Sarah also emphasizes that “the way information is delivered is as important as the information itself.” In a world with multiple languages and accessibility concerns, ensuring equitable access to legal resources is paramount.