I started interviewing legal innovation leaders with many goals in mind. Foremost among them, however, was the goal of educating myself on just what legal innovation and legal technology were all about. Each new interview I post allows me to continue to achieve my goal every day. Legal innovation and improving the practice of law has become my passion. There remains much work to be done and much learning to be had in this area, but progress is being made each day.
Having enrolled in and successfully completed Suffolk University’s Legal Innovation & Technology program, I can safely say that Suffolk University Law School is doing a great deal to advance how we educate lawyers and teach them the legal, business, and technology skills that lawyers need to have in order to succeed. This is why when I first learned about Suffolk University’s new collaboration with WordRake, I was not surprised. For the sake of full disclosure, I am a happy user of WordRake myself.
One of the critical skills for lawyers to learn is writing and writing well. Yet, for too long legal writing has been encumbered by complexity and verbosity. This has been especially apparent in contracts which have often featured by words like whereas, herein, and the like. Lawyers have often had to serve as interpreters of these critical legal instruments. In reality, a contract governing a business relationship should, ideally, be understood by lawyers and businesspeople alike. WordRake has done wonders for me and undoubtedly others to help make this a reality.
I am excited about this collaboration between Suffolk and WordRake because law students need to be competent in tech and ready to roll upon graduation. By allowing students to use a tool that helps with both their writing and competency with technology, Suffolk students will be able to talk about their ability to a) write in clearer language not riddled with latin phrases or anachronistic phrases and b) use technology to help them more productive lawyers.
To be able to communicate effectively and write well are perhaps the most important skills that lawyers need to have. I see this collaboration between Suffolk and WordRake as a sign that Suffolk University Law School is not satisfied with the status quo and seeks to continue to push students to evolve and seeks to continue to push itself to evolve as well.