Valerie McConnell is at the forefront of a new legal technology movement that could change how everyday people interact with the law. By combining legal expertise with artificial intelligence, McConnell’s work could make legal services more efficient and accessible, benefiting individuals and businesses alike.

Bridging the Gap Between Law and Technology

McConnell has had a diverse career, transitioning from the courtroom to tech. After studying computer science at Princeton, she practiced law as an intellectual property litigator for a decade. Her journey took a significant turn when she joined Casetext, a startup that eventually developed Thomson Reuters CoCounsel. Since its acquisition by Thomson Reuters, McConnell has led the Solutions Engineering team, focusing on creating legal solutions that directly address the complicated needs of law firms and government clients.

Her unique background allows her to approach legal technology from both a legal and technical standpoint. McConnell deeply understands the urgency of legal deadlines while also knowing how large language models operate, thus making her an invaluable asset in her current role.

Understanding Customers’ Needs

McConnell’s team is dedicated to addressing specific client requests and support needs. They take a proactive approach by engaging with law firms even before a product’s rollout. They collaborate with sales teams to pinpoint why a firm is interested in CoCounsel, what areas of practice they want to focus on, and what return on investment they expect.

This proactive strategy enables McConnell’s team to create customized solutions from day one. For example, if a firm struggles with mergers and acquisitions (M&A) due diligence, her team can develop tailored workflows in CoCounsel to streamline their processes and minimize time spent on these tasks.

McConnell emphasizes how many lawyers are only using the basic features of CoCounsel. Her team works to unlock the tool’s full potential, showing attorneys how to perform complex tasks that can save time and improve client service.

Transforming legal Workflows with AI

The next iteration of CoCounsel integrates what is known as “agentic AI.” This advanced form of AI simplifies the process for lawyers, allowing them to accomplish multiple tasks more efficiently. Previously, attorneys had to engage in several steps to complete a task, but now they simply describe their goals, and the AI figures out how to achieve them.

One compelling example McConnell shares involves a lawyer specializing in telehealth. Due to rapidly changing regulations, this lawyer spent weeks updating contracts to meet compliance requirements. With CoCounsel’s new capabilities, he managed to streamline this process, completing in minutes what used to take weeks. The AI not only generates text but also helps track legal citations, significantly reducing the workload for lawyers while enhancing accuracy.

Enhancing Customer Success

With the advancements in CoCounsel, McConnell’s approach is also evolving. Earlier versions required extensive onboarding and training, but the new architecture is far more intuitive. This allows her team to focus on the important aspects of how AI can transform law firms without losing time on basic tutorials.

Firms can now receive tailored guidance based on their specific practice areas and ambitions. McConnell encourages lawyers to rethink how they utilize CoCounsel. The tool is designed not just to assist but to fundamentally reshape how legal work is performed, increasing productivity and efficiency.

The AI is built to echo a law firm’s voice and style, thereby preserving the firm’s reputation in its drafting process. This personalization ensures that the end product feels authentic and maintains the high standards that clients expect.

What this means for you

The advancements in legal technology, particularly in AI, signify a more efficient legal system that could save you time and resources. As you navigate situations that require legal documents, like contracts or agreements, you’ll benefit from this new landscape. If you ever need to review contracts, AI legalese decoder can help translate it into plain English, making the process straightforward and stress-free.

Source: legal.thomsonreuters.com/blog/how-valerie-mcconnells-career-shaped-the-next-generation-of-cocounsel-legal/” rel=”nofollow noopener”>https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/blog/how-valerie-mcconnells-career-shaped-the-next-generation-of-cocounsel-legal/