Q&A: Maria Jesus Gonzalez-Espejo, CEO, Instituto De Innovacion Legal And President At The Innovation In Law Studies Alliance
BY
Shay Namdarian
.png)
The way that legal services are delivered is fast changing due to advances in technology and business model innovation. This is resulting in a gradual shift towards affordable, standardised services and efficiencies in how law firms deliver services. We interviewed thought leaders on the changing legal industry, emerging technologies impacting the sector, factors holding law firms back and what the future lawyer looks like.
Here is our interview with the CEO of Instituto De Innovacion Legal and President at The Innovation In Law Studies at Alliance, Maria Jesus Gonzalez-Espejo.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE LEGAL INDUSTRY IN 5 YEARS?
I see it divided into two types of organizations: those that have understood the changes taking place in the environment and the coming future and have taken steps to adapt to the new demand and those that have not.
In 5 years the first group will have teams of professionals equipped with a digital mindset; they will have teams of engineers, UX experts and perhaps professionals from other disciplines or will have reached strategic agreements with technology companies.
WHICH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ARE YOU MOST EXCITED BY AND WHY?
Undoubtedly, artificial intelligence for its potential to improve the quality of legal services and provide them with greater transparency, make the law more computable, avoid errors, provide organizations with information they do not currently have and allow them to make much better informed and intelligent decisions.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY HOLDING LAW FIRMS BACK FROM INNOVATING?
There are many reasons, but the main ones are possibly lack of time, that it is not a priority, traditional business is not doing badly, laziness and/or fear of something new, resistance to change and lack of knowledge.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LAWYER LOOK LIKE?
I see a professional who is more empathetic, sympathetic, a good communicator, creative and adaptable to change, because these are all characteristics that “the machine” does not have and that will allow the lawyer who has them to survive. In addition, that lawyer must embrace innovation and technology as both inevitable and exciting.
To find out what 14 other thought leaders had to say on the future of legal services, download the full 21st Century Lawyer report at
The way that legal services are delivered is fast changing due to advances in technology and business model innovation. This is resulting in a gradual shift towards affordable, standardised services and efficiencies in how law firms deliver services. We interviewed thought leaders on the changing legal industry, emerging technologies impacting the sector, factors holding law firms back and what the future lawyer looks like.
Here is our interview with the CEO of Instituto De Innovacion Legal and President at The Innovation In Law Studies at Alliance, Maria Jesus Gonzalez-Espejo.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE LEGAL INDUSTRY IN 5 YEARS?
I see it divided into two types of organizations: those that have understood the changes taking place in the environment and the coming future and have taken steps to adapt to the new demand and those that have not.
In 5 years the first group will have teams of professionals equipped with a digital mindset; they will have teams of engineers, UX experts and perhaps professionals from other disciplines or will have reached strategic agreements with technology companies.
WHICH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ARE YOU MOST EXCITED BY AND WHY?
Undoubtedly, artificial intelligence for its potential to improve the quality of legal services and provide them with greater transparency, make the law more computable, avoid errors, provide organizations with information they do not currently have and allow them to make much better informed and intelligent decisions.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY HOLDING LAW FIRMS BACK FROM INNOVATING?
There are many reasons, but the main ones are possibly lack of time, that it is not a priority, traditional business is not doing badly, laziness and/or fear of something new, resistance to change and lack of knowledge.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LAWYER LOOK LIKE?
I see a professional who is more empathetic, sympathetic, a good communicator, creative and adaptable to change, because these are all characteristics that “the machine” does not have and that will allow the lawyer who has them to survive. In addition, that lawyer must embrace innovation and technology as both inevitable and exciting.
To find out what 14 other thought leaders had to say on the future of legal services, download the full 21st Century Lawyer report at
.png)
.png)
.png)
about the author
Shay Namdarian is GM of Customer Strategy at Collective Campus and the author of Stop Talking, Start Making - A Guide to Design Thinking. Shay has over ten years of experience working across a wide range of projects focusing on customer experience and design thinking. He is a regular speaker and facilitator on design thinking and has gained his experience across several consulting firms including Ernst & Young, Capgemini and Accenture. Shay has supported global organisations to embed customer-centric culture, working closely with law firms such as Clifford Chance, Pinsent Masons and ClaytonUtz
LISTEN TO: NEWLAW ACADEMY PODCAST
On this show, we'll share insights to help you and your law firm gain a competitive edge.
%402x.svg){kind=icon}
