Guest Details:

In this episode of Nellie Pod, hosts Daniel Gold and Braided Mac welcome Todd Itami, Director of Artificial Intelligence and Discovery Solutions at Covington Law Firm. Todd is a seasoned attorney and a recognized leader in AI and legal technology, specializing in integrating cutting-edge AI solutions into legal practice.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Inevitable AI Revolution in Law – AI is no longer just about efficiency; it’s about creating new value. The way lawyers interact with data, analyze cases, and deliver insights will change fundamentally.
2. The Future of eDiscovery – Traditional document review processes are wildly inefficient. AI-driven indexing and retrieval will transform eDiscovery by making large-scale document review smarter and faster.
3. Adoption Challenges and Roadmap for AI in Law Firms – Firms must move beyond the hype and start integrating AI tools now, encouraging lawyers to experiment and develop real-world use cases.

Action Items:

• Lawyers should start using AI tools to understand their potential rather than waiting for "perfect" solutions.
• Firms must create a use-case registry to document and analyze the most effective AI applications in their practice.
• Legal professionals should invest in AI training, including short courses and hands-on practice with generative AI models.

Chapters with Timecodes:

[00:01:31] - Introduction of guest: Todd Itami, Covington Law Firm
[00:08:08] - Todd’s role in AI & eDiscovery solutions
[00:16:00] - How law firms are adopting AI and where the industry is headed
[00:26:22] - The inefficiencies of traditional eDiscovery and AI's role in solving them
[00:35:00] - The impact of better indexing and data retrieval on legal workflows
[00:44:30] - Practical roadmap for AI adoption in law firms
[00:57:20] - The importance of training lawyers in AI and technology
[01:05:00] - Why Todd believes this AI moment is different from past tech shifts
[01:20:40] - Final thoughts and the role of organizations like Nellie in AI education

Most Compelling Quote:

"I've yet to meet a lawyer who really digs into AI tools for 10 or 20 hours and then says, ‘Yeah, never mind.’ It’s just too valuable." – Todd Itami

Resources:

• Visit the NeLI's website at: www.ediscoveryleadership.org
• Visit UMKC School of Law: law.umkc.edu
  
• Hon. Andrew J. Peck (Ret.): https://www.dlapiper.com/en-us/people/p/peck-andrew-j
• Daniel Gold: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielegold
• Brandon Mack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonmack

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