It is Saturday evening where I am.

There was a moment today when I almost didn't write this. The hours of this long Saturday slipped away, filled with a mix of delightful and taxing obligations. I found myself teetering on the edge of letting go, allowing myself to break from the ritual. Writing this newsletter may not be a grind, but it is a constant, daily responsibility.

I pondered, would my readers even notice? After all, this is the Saturday edition, often the least read among our daily issues. Yet, it still stands tall by newsletter standards (thank you!). Were any of you anxiously refreshing your inbox, awaiting the arrival of this letter to bring a sense of completion to your day? Probably not.

But then I remembered my commitment - to myself - to write 100 days in a row. Would that be the same as publishing 100 days consecutively? Yes, I wrote today, but it was random thoughts - my journey of research and thinking that ultimately leads to a fully formed newsletter. I was searching for an excuse not to do that work today.

Ultimately, I write because it helps me learn, think, and find clarity. Writing for you - yes, you - brings focus to my thoughts, as I must take responsibility for the words I share here.

So here we are, the clock ticking by 10pm. The house has finally fallen silent, save for the rhythmic clicking of my keyboard. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Let’s see if I created something worth reading.

A special Greeting 👋 to my NEW SUBSCRIBERS! 
To read previous posts, go here.

In this edition we will

1. possibly anger some readers

2. give you a fallacy detector for content

3. have our eyes pop with how much $$ OpenAI is raising

4. read about someone scaring people from using ChatGPT to help with legal issues by using the unauthorized practice of law threat

A Hot Take on Firm Business Talent

This essay might sting a bit for my business of law readers. It is meant to! But not out of disrespect. Rather it is a call to action. A warning. A mirror. And yes, an opportunity (or risk) for your career.

Let’s get into it.

Bursting the Bubble: Revolutionizing Law Firm Business Talent with AI and Cost-Efficient Strategies

The legal landscape has long been dominated by firms boasting exceptional legal minds, striving to attract the best and the brightest in their field. However, when it comes to business acumen, these firms often fall short.

A persistent overreliance on underqualified business talent, coupled with a "servant mindset" and a dearth of professional development opportunities, has created a costly environment that ultimately hinders the growth and competitiveness of law firms. Yet, by embracing AI technologies such as ChatGPT and reevaluating their approach to business talent, law firms can revolutionize their operations, maximize value, and slash costs in the process.

I. Expertise Deficit

Law firms have a penchant for prioritizing legal experience over business acumen. Consequently, they tend to hire business professionals with a background in legal culture, often overlooking more qualified candidates from diverse industries. This practice deprives firms of the benefits of cross-pollination and perpetuates a stagnant business environment (and adds to lack of diversity btw). To break this cycle, law firms must actively seek out and welcome talent with diverse experiences and skillsets.

Ok, fine. Keep reading.

II. Servant Mindset

In many law firms, business professionals adopt a subservient role, focusing on fulfilling lawyers' needs rather than driving innovation and efficiency. In other words, saying “yes” to anything. This dynamic is reinforced by the very partners who value familiarity over progress and the business leaders who rose through the ranks by following orders. This cycle prevents law firms from reaping the rewards of fresh perspectives and diverse expertise that could otherwise foster growth and progress.

Hmm, getting warm in here yet?

III. Professional Development: The Missing Piece

The lack of professional development opportunities for legal business talent is a glaring issue. By not participating in domain-specific non-legal communities, these professionals miss out on valuable insights and best practices from other industries. This fosters stagnation and hinders law firms' ability to adapt to the rapidly evolving business landscape. To stay competitive, law firms must commit to continuous learning and growth.

I have your backs on this one.

It is atrocious and appalling how little firms invest in training their business talent. Why don’t they? Because they don’t care about your skills, they only care about your accessibility and willingness to say “yes” to anything.

IV. Embracing ChatGPT: A Game Changer

AI technologies like ChatGPT offer law firms the opportunity to automate routine tasks, freeing up resources for more strategic initiatives. By using data-driven insights to inform decision-making and optimize business processes, firms can foster a culture of innovation and growth. Encouraging cross-industry collaboration and learning can further solidify a firm's position in an increasingly competitive market.

Simply put, law firms do not need to build their own ChatGPT; even using the free version can yield exponential value across various functions such as practice management, marketing, business development, finance, HR, talent, learning & development, and administration. But are firms taking advantage of this powerful tool? The answer, sadly, is often no.

Are business of law leaders and managers? Are they playing with it? Building new products and services to make partners faster, better, and dare I say, smarter? So many business folks are not!

This is the part you might hate me for saying . . but . .

Let’s just cut the costs of all this business talent by right-sizing salaries and using new AI tech to 100x the value being generated.

Or partners can ignore this and keep their highly-paid servant-minded lemmings.

The choice is clear: by right-sizing salaries, leveraging AI technology like ChatGPT, and committing to upskilling and diversifying their workforce, firms can create a leaner, more efficient, and ultimately more successful operation.

Postscript:

The legal industry finds itself at a pivotal juncture. As the world around it advances and embraces change, law firms must seize this moment to reevaluate their approach to business talent and adapt accordingly.

The status quo of underqualified, servant-minded professionals cannot persist if firms hope to remain competitive in an ever-evolving market. Is this a harsh characterization? To some it may be. But it is also fair. I have been inside many - many - firms and seen this first hand - in the past and right now. And many - many - business of law professionals know this too. It is not a secret. But it is an epidemic.

By recognizing the immense potential of AI technologies like ChatGPT and fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and diverse expertise, law firms can revolutionize their operations and set the stage for a prosperous future.

What’s in it for law firm partners? 

• More money.

• Less time on administrative work and oversight.

• Higher quality business outputs.

The task may seem daunting, but it is not insurmountable. It requires both legal and business professionals to shed their preconceptions and join forces in reimagining the inner workings of their firms. This transformation will demand introspection, humility, and a willingness to confront long-standing beliefs and practices that may no longer serve the best interests of the firm.

In doing so, law firms will not only unlock new avenues for growth and success, but also send a powerful message that they are ready to embrace the future, rather than clinging to the past. It is time for the legal industry to chart a new course, one that acknowledges the critical role that business acumen plays in driving innovation and propelling law firms into the future.

The moment is now – will you seize it?

Use Case Fallacy Finder

Whether you are writing or reading, it is always good practice to consider the strength and validity of the points being made. This is especially true in our hyper-polarized and politicized world where almost any content source could be slanted or biased.

Also, in doing your own writing you want to make it strong as strong can be.

Here is a nice easy prompt to use. It will help highlight areas of weakness in content.

Caution: you can get caught in an endless game of chasing your own tail with this prompt - so be kind to yourself if you apply it to your own writing. It makes suggestions, not demands.

▶︎▶︎PROMPT

I want you to act as a fallacy finder. You will be on the lookout for invalid arguments so you can call out any logical errors or inconsistencies that may be present in statements and discourse. Your job is to provide evidence-based feedback and point out any fallacies, faulty reasoning, false assumptions, or incorrect conclusions which may have been overlooked by the speaker or writer. Here is the content I want you to review: [paste your content - it can be an article, news item, blog, whatever]

News you can Use: 

OpenAI Secures Massive $300M Funding, Revolutionizing AI Landscape and Fueling ChatGPT Expansion

1. High valuation and investment: OpenAI has raised over $300 million in funding from VC firms, valuing the company between $27 billion and $29 billion. Additionally, Microsoft invested around $10 billion earlier this year, highlighting the confidence large investors have in the potential of OpenAI's technology.

2. Competitive edge: OpenAI's success with ChatGPT, GPT, Dall-E, and Whisper AI positions it as a leader in AI research and development. The funding will help the company to further enhance its technology, expand its ecosystem, and maintain its competitive advantage.

3. Business adoption: Hundreds of businesses are deploying GPT and ChatGPT into their products and services, indicating the practical applications and market demand for these AI solutions.

4. Influence on the AI landscape: OpenAI's success has led other tech giants like Google and Meta to speed up their own generative AI efforts, further driving innovation in the AI space.

People should care about this funding because it signifies the growing importance of AI in various industries and the increasing trust in OpenAI's ability to deliver advanced AI solutions.

As OpenAI continues to develop its technology, the company will likely shape the future of AI applications, which can impact numerous aspects of everyday life, business operations, and technology advancements.

News you can Lose: 

▶︎ Here we go with fear mongering by and on behalf of lawyers again

This lengthy and exhausting article basically makes the case that the use of generative AI like ChatGPT to create legalese letters raises questions about the ethics and potential consequences of such actions. It is important not to rely on AI for legal advice and to consult a lawyer for proper legal representation.

While AI can be a valuable educational tool, it can also lead to legal risks if used improperly. Oh, and for good measure the author uses the always convenient, yet terribly defined, unauthorized practice of law.

Dig in if you will but I will give you my responses here:

Ah, the classic lawyer dance of highlighting risks and not rewards! Let's address this with some plain language to clear the air.

1. True, risks were raised in this article, but aren't we all aware that every rose has its thorn?

2. Legalese isn't a secret lawyer's club; words belong to all, like a global potluck of expression.

3. No magic potion here; persuasive plain language can often pack a punch too.

4. Responsible for others' assumptions? As the saying goes, assuming can make you-know-what out of you and me.

5. Self-representation is a right, not unauthorized practice of law; no one's chilling our rights to use tech as our sidekick.

So, would the same outcry occur if someone sought legal templates at a public library? Perhaps it's time to embrace accessible legal knowledge rather than fear the power of an AI-aided pen. You, tell me.

That's a wrap for today. Stay thirsty & see ya next time! If you want more, be sure to follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn.

DISCLAIMER: None of this is legal advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not legal advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any legal decisions. Please /be careful and do your own research.