#LegalTechLives with Keith Lee, Lawyer, Author and Founder/Editor-in-Chief of Associate’s Mind If you were wondering about the benefits of Brazilian ju-jitsu and where you can find a monument devoted to an insect, longtime blogger and lawyer Keith Lee will set you straight.
Keith Lee writes for Associate’s Mind, a popular legal blog that has been mentioned in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC, and elsewhere. In 2013, Keith wrote The Marble and The Sculptor: From Law School to Law Practice, which became an ABA bestseller. Keith also runs Lawyer Slack and practices law from time to time, as well.
Ava Chisling: You describe yourself as a longtime computer dork. What proof do you have? Keith Lee: I first got online in the late 1980s, dialling into a local BBS with a 9600-baud modem on a blistering 286 machine. Thankfully there is no proof of that because whatever I was doing was probably dumb. I started my first blog way back in 2000. Again, thankfully that’s no longer online because I know that was dumb. AC: You are based in Alabama. Were you born there? Tell me a few things that would surprise me about your state? KL: I am Alabama born and raised. Here are three surprising things about my state: 1. A small Alabama town is the only city in USA with an all-water mail route. (here) 2. Mardi Gras as celebrated in the USA started in Alabama, not Louisiana (here) 3. Alabama has the only monument in the world that’s dedicated to an insect pest (here) AC: You’re working on a second book right now. What’s it about? KL: Largely top secret, but it is going to help lawyers with the business aspects of their practice. AC: Hmm, so no scoop for ROSS!
Keith at a mud run AC: You’re into all kinds of sports, including Brazilian ju-jitsu. Tell me how it helps you in everyday life. KL: It’s a method of focusing on the moment. When someone is on top of you, trying to choke you unconscious, you don’t worry about work. You don’t think about paying bills, that argument with your spouse or a pending deadline. You’re 100% only thinking about survival — it’s refreshing.
AC: Tell me which Associate’s Mind post you’re most proud of — and which one caused the most controversy? KL: There are too many (that I’m proud of and that are controversial) to mention. A few I’ve enjoyed recently are: 1. On the follies of not consulting with a lawyer before you start a new company: Why You Should Lawyer Up Before You Startup. 2. I regularly get emails from law students and new lawyers thanking me for this one: How To Write A Good Legal Memo. 3. Can you assault with a Tweet? A multi-part series on a current case with a novel issue: Assault With A Deadly Twitter AC: What is Lawyer Slack and why do I have to hurry if I want to be a member? I have a Vespa-like scooter. Does that make me cool enough to join? KL: Lawyer Slack is the coolest and largest lawyer-only Slack group on the Interwebz. Four hundred lawyers regularly exchanging over 15K messages a week. We are a jaded, motley crew discussing work, news, politics, and more. KL: Vespas are pretty cool. But how are your Giphy skills? AC: Pretty good. Am I in?
Giphy AC: What advice do you have for lawyers who are slow to adapt to basic technology, let alone “advanced” tech like AI? KL: I’m sympathetic. Many lawyers already have their hands full just practicing law. Trying to keep up with technology on top of that is tough. If I was in my 50s or older, I’d probably just ride it out and retire. But if you’re younger than that, you’ve got to keep up with technology. We’re in a state of constant change. If you’re not staying abreast of what’s happening, you’re being left behind.
Sam Glover, founder of Lawyerist, Andrew Arruda, CEO/Co-founder of ROSS, and Keith Lee.
AC: You’re a forward-thinking guy. Step into your time machine and show me around your office in 2050. What do you see? KL: If I’m still working in an office in 2050, I’ve horribly mismanaged my life. That being said, who knows? It’s easy to predict the future, but knowing when exactly something is going to come about is the hard part, particularly given that technology changes so rapidly. But there are two things I know I’ll have if I have an office in 2050: a pen and a legal pad. AC: And finally, what future invention do you want right now? KL: Can self-driving cars hurry up and get here? I’m so over driving at this point. The sooner none of us ever have to physically drive a car again, the better. AC: See? If you had a cool scooter like me, you would love driving! AC: It’s been a pleasure e-speaking with you, Keith. And I hope you have an office in 2050 — with our AI technology installed!
By Ava Chisling on June 1, 2017. Canonical link Exported from Medium on August 18, 2017.