More Than A Lawyer with Holly Cope

In this episode, I’m talking with Alexander, Co-lead of AI Research at Thomson Reuters. He is the former founder of a specialised AI research company, acquired by Thomson Reuters, that developed Large Language Models (LLMs) for law from the ground up. His team is now focused on building the Thomson LLM, a specialized model designed to achieve the high-stakes reliability that generic AI models lack.

We talk about the "tectonic shifts" currently reshaping the industry, from Harvey’s bold move into celebrity marketing to Big Tech’s aggressive verticalization into the legal sector. You’ll hear perspectives on the power of "live legal data" and a survival guide for trainees that most law firms are completely missing.

The Harvey Specter Move: Why a celebrity brand collaboration signals a shift from "slick tech" to mainstream dominance.

The 18-Month Prediction: Analyzing the Microsoft AI chief's bold claim and what it really means for junior associates and support staff.

Big Tech vs. Legal Tech: Why companies like Anthropic and Google are moving from being "horizontal" providers to "vertical" competitors.

The Survival of the Fittest: Why the next 10 years won't be won by Microsoft plug-ins, but by those who capture the "cognitive steps" of living lawyers.

Advice for Trainees: How to become "half-lawyer, half-AI expert" to remain indispensable in a shrinking cohort.

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Each week I take what I'm hearing in conversations with legal leaders.

I analyze the market and track emerging trends in this AI era.

In my newsletter called The Future Lawyer Market Intel for the AI era

I'm focused on:

What AI is exposing
The opportunities
The blind spots
And the shifts shaping the next five years.

This is how you see the chessboard before everyone else does:

https://hollycope.my.canva.site/thefuturelawyer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is transforming the legal world, but how do legal teams navigate a landscape overflowing with tools, evolving risks, and shifting workforce dynamics? In this episode, we go behind the scenes with a UK government lawyer and an in-house legal director to explore how top teams are actually approaching AI.

I'm talking with Peter Boyce, one of the legal deputy directors in the civil service and AI lead for his agency.

I'm also talking with Amy Cronin, senior director of legal at Skyscanner.

We cover:

Structured Frameworks: How legal teams prioritize the right AI tools, focus on key problems, leverage enablement teams for comparisons, and negotiate costs based on real value.
Entrepreneurial Adoption: Why giving teams the freedom to experiment at the ground level, even without advanced coding skills, can unlock innovation and practical insights.
Responsible Experimentation: How “light touch” trials with non-sensitive data allow teams to learn fast without overcommitting, balancing speed with caution.
Governance and Responsibility: The critical role of standards, liability, and security and why trust, transparency, and data protection remain non-negotiable.
The Changing Legal Workforce: How automation is reshaping skill requirements, creating new roles like legal engineers and prompt specialists, and emphasising human strengths in strategy, advocacy, and client relationships.
Market Dynamics: The potential societal, ethical, and environmental backlash and why lawyers now have a real opportunity to shape AI tools to meet professional needs.

Whether you’re a legal professional, technologist, or just curious about the future of law, this episode offers practical strategies, insider perspectives, and a glimpse into how the most forward-thinking legal teams are making AI work, without letting it hold them back.

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Each week I take what I'm hearing in conversations with legal leaders.

I analyze the market and track emerging trends in this AI era.

In my newsletter called The Future Lawyer Market Intel for the AI era

I'm focused on:

What AI is exposing
The opportunities
The blind spots
And the shifts shaping the next five years.

This is how you see the chessboard before everyone else does:

https://hollycope.my.canva.site/thefuturelawyer

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most lawyers talk about career progression as if it’s a straight line.
But the reality looks a lot more like a series of pivots, risks, and moments you can’t predict.
And sometimes the bravest move… is stepping away from the thing that once defined you.
This episode is about those moments — and what happens when you follow them.

Today I sit down with Sahar Farooqi (CEO and founder of Legalencia), a well-known face on LinkedIn who spent 15 years as a barrister before moving into legal transformation at Harneys… and eventually launching his own consultancy (Legalencia). He’s one of the few lawyers who has lived every corner of the profession: crime, civil, commercial, in-house, partner, and now founder.

Sahar shares the story behind the boldest decisions of his life including leaving the bar after 15 years to step into a world most lawyers still tiptoe around: transformation.
But this isn’t a conversation about innovation. It’s a conversation about reinvention.

We dig into why junior lawyers are entering the most high-stakes decade the profession has ever seen, how LinkedIn unexpectedly flipped the direction of his career, and the new rules of success in a legal world where talent and technology are now in a race, and only those who adapt will win.

Find more about Sahar here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahar-farooqi/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Credibility doesn’t come from your credentials. It comes from how you show up.
Most lawyers still believe their degrees and titles speak for themselves.

But clients don’t buy credentials, they buy clarity, confidence, and connection.
And that starts with visibility. The right kind.

In this episode, I’m joined by Tasleem Ahmad Fateh, founder of the LinkedIn Creators Club and the Robinhood Course — a free program helping professionals build influence and trust through authentic content.

Known as the “Robin Hood of LinkedIn,” Tas has built one of the fastest-growing personal brands by giving away everything most strategists charge for.
He helps lawyers, consultants, and creators turn visibility into meaningful business — without selling their soul or faking authority.

We talk about why visibility isn’t the same as credibility — and how lawyers can stop chasing likes and start building trust.
Tas shares honest insights on personal branding, client psychology, and showing up with purpose online.

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I knew there had to be a better way.

And then I found this.

Aircounsel.

An AI contract drafter built by lawyers, for lawyers.

Aircounsel has been kind enough to sponsor this episode.

And I’m excited to spread the word. It’s the most sophisticated contract drafting software I’ve used.

To get your free 7-day trial, go to the description of this episode.

Give it a go and let me know how it changes your workflow.

TRY Aircounsel here:

https://lawyers.aircounsel.com/morethanalawyer

Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link that will track podcast sign-ups.

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FREE access to my How to Become Law Firms' Go-To Legal Tech Solution here:

Covered In This 28-Page Blueprint:

Where legal tech companies go wrong: Why thought leadership is non-negotiable

How to build a LinkedIn presence that converts visibility into authority

The ultimate LinkedIn strategy for law firm lead generation

Your podcast strategy to become a recognised voice in legal tech

and much more…

Gain free access to your ultimate blueprint, learn how to become an authority:

https://holly-cope.myflodesk.com/becomealegaltechleader
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most lawyers can give advice on six-figure deals.
But many can’t say, with confidence, how much they actually earn.
Silence around money isn’t just awkward — it’s expensive.
And for many lawyers, it’s keeping them financially stuck.

Today’s episode digs into a quiet cultural norm in the legal profession that shapes careers, mental health, and long-term financial stability: salary secrecy.

I’m joined by Jono Randell-Nash, ex-lawyer turned independent financial advisor for lawyers,
and Carla Hoppe, former corporate solicitor, ex-Director of International Tax & Transaction Services at EY, and founder of Wealthbright, an award-winning financial education partner helping law firms build financially confident lawyers.

We explore the culture of not asking, not questioning, and not talking about money in law firms — and the emotional, practical, and financial damage this silence creates.

You’ll hear insights on:

Why salary secrecy persists in UK legal culture

How lack of information fuels anxiety, especially for new lawyers

The link between protected characteristics and poorer financial health

Why financial capability depends more on education than intelligence or background

How gender, mental health, and socioeconomic status shape financial outcomes

The dangers of default pensions and why the “six-figure tick box” can cost you £100,000+

Why understanding risk profiles, insurance, and emergency funds should come before “the sexy stuff” like investing

How comparison culture distorts what “wealth” actually means

Why the obsession with six-figure salaries blinds people to what actually builds long-term financial wellbeing

This conversation sheds light on a problem many lawyers suffer quietly — and provides a starting point for taking control of your financial future with clarity, confidence, and honesty.

Find Carla here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlahoppe/

Find Jono here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jono-randell-nash/

More about Wealthbrite: https://www.wealthbrite.co.uk/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.