NeLI Pod
NeLI Pod
Podcast Description
The official podcast of the National eDiscovery Leadership Institute. Here, we bridge the gap between technology and the law, bringing you the forefront of electronic discovery.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes such as technology in legal practice, eDiscovery best practices, the adoption of AI in law, and ethical considerations in digital evidence handling. Examples of specific episodes include discussions on AI's role in the judiciary, challenges of hyperlinked documents in eDiscovery, and the evolution of technology-assisted review methodologies.
The official podcast of the National eDiscovery Leadership Institute. Here, we bridge the gap between technology and the law, bringing you the forefront of electronic discovery.
Guest: Professor Jonah Peretti
Legal Writing Professor & Ethics Scholar, Georgetown LawHost of The Howard Lawyer podcast
Professor Jonah Peretti joins Daniel and Brandon for a wide‑ranging conversation on how generative AI is reshaping legal practice, legal education, and the economics of the profession. Drawing on his background as a litigator, clerk, and scholar, Peretti argues that AI is not a revolution but the latest step in a long line of technological shifts. He explains why the billable hour is unlikely to disappear, how confidentiality has evolved into a duty of security, and why critical thinking—not drafting—is the lawyer’s true competitive advantage.
AI is evolutionary, not exceptional. Past predictions about technology killing the billable hour or transforming lawyering never fully materialized; AI is another turn of the wheel.
The billable hour will adapt. Through his CHARGE equation, Peretti shows that reduced hours don’t doom the model—rates, reductions, and expenses also shape compensation.
Critical thinking and security define modern lawyering. AI handles routine tasks; lawyers must excel at judgment, empathy, and safeguarding client data.
Redesign assessments and training to measure comprehension and critique, not tasks AI can perform.
Treat confidentiality as a duty of security, requiring ongoing cybersecurity literacy.
Build pricing narratives that explain how AI‑enhanced work delivers concentrated value.
Invest in human‑centric skills—judgment, empathy, strategic thinking.
Prepare for structural shifts as historical billing data becomes less predictive.
Chapters & Timecodes
00:00 – Introduction & Guest Welcome 03:15 – AI as the Next Turn of the Wheel 06:45 – Confidentiality Becomes Security 08:30 – How AI Is Changing Legal Education 12:20 – Historical Parallels in Tech Adoption 15:45 – The Assessment Challenge 18:10 – Are We Losing Core Skills? 22:00 – The CHARGE Equation & Billable Hour Survival 26:30 – Challenging the AI Efficiency Narrative 30:15 – Why AFAs Haven’t Taken Over 34:00 – The Real Threat: Devaluation of Legal Work 38:45 – Critical Thinking as the Human Advantage 42:30 – Obsolescence of Historical Billing Data 45:00 – How Legal Practice Evolves Over Decades 48:30 – Optimism About the Profession’s Future 51:00 – Closing Remarks
“The real danger isn’t efficiency—it’s clients deciding your work is no longer valuable.”
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.