The Innovation Strategist: Nicole Black

Hey there Legal Rebels! 👋
This is the twenty-first episode of the 2024 season of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, where I will be interviewing key legal innovators to learn how they do what they do.
If you want to understand how legal technology has evolved and where it's heading with AI, you need to listen to this episode. Nicole Black has been a pioneering voice in legal tech for over two decades, from her early days building websites to becoming a leading strategist and thought leader. Her unique journey from public defender to legal tech innovator, combined with her role in shaping products like MyCase, gives her an unparalleled perspective on the intersection of law and technology. As someone who has consistently identified and written about emerging tech trends before they went mainstream, Nicole offers invaluable insights into how AI will transform legal practice and what lawyers can do to benefit from it.
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From Public Defender to Legal Tech Pioneer: Nicole Black's Journey in Transforming Law Through Technology
Join me as I interview Nicole Black, a trailblazing legal technology strategist, author, and innovator who has been at the forefront of digital transformation in law for over two decades.
Nicole shares her remarkable journey from public defender to legal tech pioneer. As the Principal Legal Insight Strategist at Affinipay and a respected voice in the industry, she offers unique perspectives on the evolution of legal technology and its impact on legal practice. Drawing from her experience as employee #1 at MyCase and her early adoption of legal blogging, Nicole provides valuable insights into how technology continues to reshape the legal landscape.
Her fascinating career path illuminates the opportunities that emerge when legal expertise meets technological advancement. This episode is essential viewing for legal professionals seeking to understand the technological forces shaping their profession, as well as anyone interested in how individual initiative and adaptability can lead to transformative career opportunities in law and technology.
The Skinny
In this engaging episode of the LawDroid Manifesto podcast, host Tom Martin interviews Nicole Black, a pioneering legal technology strategist and innovator. The conversation traces Nicole's journey from her early career as a public defender to becoming a leading voice in legal technology. Through her personal experiences and professional evolution, the episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of law and technology, while also exploring the future of legal practice in the age of AI.
Key takeaways:
Nicole's early exposure to technology, including programming a TRS-80 computer at age 11, laid the foundation for her future career bridging law and technology
Her experience as a public defender handling 600 cases simultaneously highlighted the systemic challenges in the legal system and led to her transition to private practice
Gender discrimination in her law firm experience, including being passed over for partnership due to maternity leave, prompted her to take a different career direction
She became an early adopter of legal blogging in 2005, which helped her build a network in the legal technology community and establish herself as a thought leader
Her role as employee #1 at MyCase in 2012 allowed her to combine her legal expertise with her passion for technology, leading to her current position as Principal Legal Insight Strategist at Affinipay
She believes generative AI will fundamentally transform the legal profession, potentially more significantly than previous technological innovations like PCs and the internet
Her advice for new lawyers includes actively experimenting with AI tools like ChatGPT and preparing for significant changes in legal education and entry-level legal work
The conversation concludes with Nicole emphasizing the importance of finding and pursuing one's passion while building meaningful connections within their chosen community. Her career trajectory demonstrates how following one's interests - even when they diverge from traditional paths - can lead to innovative and fulfilling professional opportunities. As the legal industry continues to evolve with technological advancement, her insights provide valuable guidance for both current and aspiring legal professionals navigating this changing landscape.
Clips:
Is Law School Worth It Anymore?
Passion for Legal Tech and Community
Balancing Life and Work
Revolutionary Impact of Generative AI
Notable Quotes:
"I transitioned from writing about New York legal issues to the intersection of law and tech. And so I wrote about blogging. I wrote about social media and the different platforms as they came along. I wrote about mobile computing and apps as they cam...