LawDroid Manifesto Podcast

Edward Bukstel, CEO of Geppetti and early EHR pioneer, brings a builder's instinct to legal client acquisition. He discusses how AI overviews and LLM referrals are stealing clicks from law firm sites. He explains data-driven shifts in traffic, geofencing hospitals for higher-value leads, and using AI to broaden access to legal help.

Amanda Brown, Executive Director of Lagniappe Law Lab and former Microsoft Legal Navigator fellow, blends law, product thinking, and community roots. She talks about rapid prototyping and vibe coding, building a statewide justice-technology nonprofit, systems thinking for access to justice, and how AI speeds prototyping while changing maintenance and design work.

What happens when a legal entrepreneur dares to turn his ship? In Episode 62 of LawDroid Manifesto, Tom Martin sits down with David Schnurman—CEO of LawLine and author of the Amazon bestseller 11 Suitcases—to explore how courage, vision, and intentional family values transformed his life and his business. From rebuilding LawLine from scratch to uprooting his family for two years in Barcelona, David shares a practical framework for taking leaps, writing down your vision, and finding purpose in your work and your life. Visit lawdroidmanifesto.com to learn more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lawdroidmanifesto.com/subscribe

Zack Shapiro, founder of Raines LLP and author of the 'Claude-Native Law Firm' piece, explains how he runs a two-person firm using agentic AI and custom skills. He discusses why prompting quality matters, practical Claude-native workflows for redlines and research, how AI reshapes junior roles and firm structure, and concrete steps to build and iterate AI skills for daily legal work.

Kristen Sonday, co-founder and CEO of Paladin, has built the infrastructure the pro bono world always needed. In this episode, she shares her journey from the U.S. Department of Justice to founding the country's leading pro bono management platform—one that has facilitated over 55,000 connections between people in need and the attorneys who can help them. Kristen unpacks the professionalization of pro bono, Paladin's expansion into law schools, and why she believes AI may be the most powerful tool of our generation for closing the justice gap. For deeper insights from every episode, visit lawdroidmanifesto.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lawdroidmanifesto.com/subscribe

After 35 years in corporate law—including 27 as Managing Director and Associate General Counsel at Bank of America—Robert Dilworth didn't retire. He reinvented. Now Executive Director of the Digital Leaders Exchange at the Liquid Legal Institute and Honorary Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School, Robert shares how the pandemic sparked a complete reimagining of his purpose, why legal innovation is shifting from the "why" to the "how," and what it means to stay in motion with intention at any career stage. For more, visit lawdroidmanifesto.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lawdroidmanifesto.com/subscribe

In this episode of the LawDroid Manifesto, I interview Kenton Brice, Senior Manager of Academic Partnerships at Clio and Adjunct Professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Kenton shares his remarkable journey from theology doctoral studies to becoming a pioneering voice in legal technology education over the past decade.What makes Kenton's perspective unique is his "eternal mindset" - understanding that the most meaningful work often takes years to show results. He shares powerful stories of students who reach out eight years after graduation to say they finally understand the technology principles he taught them. After ten and a half years directing the law library at the University of Oklahoma, Kenton recently transitioned to Clio while maintaining his teaching commitment.Discover how Kenton is preparing the next generation of lawyers to serve their communities with technology, why three students in his recent class want to start their own firms to do things differently, and how faith and professional calling intersect to create work with lasting impact. This conversation offers valuable insights for anyone interested in legal education, technology adoption, and measuring success in work that transforms lives beyond what we can immediately see.Learn more about legal innovation and access exclusive content at www.lawdroidmanifesto.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lawdroidmanifesto.com/subscribe

Tara Waters, founder of TLW Consulting and author of Innovation Esquire, shares her journey from dot-com consultancy to becoming a leading legal innovation strategist based in London. In this conversation, Tara reveals how UK law firms are finally viewing AI as genuine opportunity rather than threat, though they're still searching for the right implementation path. As one of the first to implement AI hands-on within law firms, she offers practical insights on navigating transformation while maintaining optimism. Tara discusses her philosophy of holistic living, her identity as an "insufferable learn-it-all," and her purpose-driven approach to helping others find clarity in chaos. Discover actionable strategies for legal innovation at www.lawdroidmanifesto.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lawdroidmanifesto.com/subscribe

In this episode of LawDroid Manifesto, I interview Ari Kaplan, principal of Ari Kaplan Advisors and one of legal technology's most prolific community builders. With over 1,000 podcast episodes and three decades of connecting people in the legal tech space, Ari shares the personal practices and professional strategies that have sustained his remarkable career.Ari reveals his 30-year journal tradition—writing just once annually to reflect on the past year and project forward—offering profound insights on growth, gratitude, and goal-setting. He discusses his transition from law firm partner to full-time connector and advisor, the risks involved, and how focusing on creating value for others provided a sustainable foundation for his business.Throughout our conversation, Ari emphasizes his core identity as a connector and community builder, someone dedicated to bringing together buyers and sellers, the informed and the less informed, and those seeking opportunities with those who have them. His various initiatives—from Legal Tech Mafia breakfasts to virtual lunch series to running groups—all embody his philosophy of ensuring participants receive twice the value they contribute.Ari also shares touching personal stories, including his decade-long tradition of collecting canned food with his daughter, which evolved from a simple neighborhood walk into thousands of donations and ultimately led to his service on a food bank's board of trustees. These stories illustrate how the same principles of consistency, generosity, and community service that guide his professional work also shape his personal life.For anyone interested in building meaningful professional relationships, creating lasting community impact, or understanding how small, consistent actions compound into extraordinary results over time, this episode offers invaluable insights from someone who has been walking the talk for 30 years. Discover why Ari describes his work as lucky work and learn how you can apply his principles to your own journey in legal innovation.Learn more about building sustainable success through generous service at lawdroidmanifesto.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lawdroidmanifesto.com/subscribe

In this episode, I interview Joey Gartner, Director and Counsel at the ABA Center for Innovation, about his journey from legal aid attorney to helping guide the legal profession through AI transformation. Joey shares insights from the ABA's comprehensive two-year AI Task Force study and discusses practical resources the Center has developed to help lawyers understand and implement new technologies. Learn about Joey's curiosity-driven approach to innovation, his "I'll figure it out" philosophy when facing new challenges, and why asking "why" and "how" questions creates space for broader participation in innovation conversations. Discover the Center's innovation mapping tool, AI glossaries, and trend reports designed to make technology adoption accessible across the profession while maintaining ethical standards and expanding access to justice. For more insights and resources, visit lawdroidmanifesto.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lawdroidmanifesto.com/subscribe