Are Big Law’s days numbered?

Plus: Legal system faces deepfakes | Media coverage lends credibility

Lawyers are rewriting the rules of practice, ditching old models, building nimble firms and redefining what success looks like.

First up is a report from the Wall Street Journal about litigators leaving their firms to build leaner, sharper practices, proving that small really can be mighty.

Meanwhile, AI video has gotten so good that one expert says we should assume everything we see online is fake until proven otherwise. (Let that sink in.)

If you’ve ever tried to switch case management systems midstream, you know it’s not for the faint of heart. This week’s podcast tackles how to make the move without losing your sanity.

And finally, a few smart tips for getting quoted in the media. Because in a world full of noise, credibility still cuts through.

But first, your cell phone finally has built-in protection from robocalls. Here’s how to turn it on.

SNL is back.
Get your “Weekend Update” about Diddy’s sentencing, the government shutdown and the latest action from the FCC, FDA, DOD and ICE.

‘Tis the season.
To get arrested or have the fire department called on you for your Halloween decorations.

Is this a thing?
Are people really getting “revenge makeovers” just before their divorce is finalized?

Just a reminder that there’s still no AI-client privilege.
Teen busted for vandalism after confessing to ChatGPT.

What we’re watching.
A new episode of The Case Against Adnan Syed was just released on HBO Max. It comes six years after the last episode aired, and 11 years after Serial, the podcast about his case, premiered.

The future is small

A notable trend in the legal industry is the number of high-profile trial lawyers leaving Big Law to set up boutique practices. It turns out that having more control over what cases you decide to take and how your firm is run is the ultimate flex.

And clients seem okay with this, suggesting that reputation, skill and independence—not the size of the firm—are what matter most to them.

Why this matters: If this continues, the most consequential courtroom battles of the coming decade will likely be fought by small firms. In other words, the ground is shifting toward a marketplace where boutique and small firm lawyers can compete head-to-head with the Am Law 100, especially in litigation. (Wall Street Journal)

Go ahead and assume that video’s AI

Spotting deepfakes just got even trickier. OpenAI’s new Sora 2 AI video maker and Sora app let users make and share AI-created content starring themselves and anyone else who gives app users permission to use their likeness. During the product launch event, an OpenAI employee demonstrated how easy it was to generate a realistic-looking video of other people by showing a CCTV-looking clip he made of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shoplifting from Target. In its reporting on the product launch, Axios tech reporter Scott Rosenberg made this terrifying observation: “At this point, it's prudent to start from the assumption that every online video, no matter how real-looking, is fictional until proven otherwise.”

Why this matters: This is going to have big impacts on the legal system. And that’s going to happen sooner than you may expect since the Sora app is currently topping the app charts. (Futurism)

The push you need to pull the plug on your crappy case management system

Even when you know your current case management system is no longer working well for your firm, switching to a new one is not an easy task. In this episode of the Adventures in Legal Tech podcast, Adriana Linares of LawTech Partners joined attorney Jared Correia for a chat about the challenges of picking a new CMS, switching over to it, and getting buy-in from the rest of your firm.

Why this matters: If you’re looking for a sign that it’s finally time to get serious about finding a CMS that actually works for your firm, this is the podcast you need to listen to psyche you up for the process… and troubleshoot the many problems you are going to encounter as you get the new system up and running. (Adventures in Legal Tech)

Want more clients? Get quoted.

In a profession built on trust and reputation, getting quoted by the press can be an easy way to boost your credibility. In this article, experienced legal marketer Stefanie Marrone provides practical steps that any lawyer can take to become the go-to source for journalists writing about their practice area. And everything she suggests can be done without hiring a PR team.

Why this matters: Marrone argues that media mentions work like third-party endorsements: they show that someone else found your perspective valuable enough to share. That kind of validation can help establish you as a thought leader in your practice area and attract potential clients. (The Social Media Butterfly)

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Raise the Bar is written and curated by Emily Kelchen and edited by Bianca Prieto.