Between the Briefs

Four lawyers. Four archetypes. One framework. In this special episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea sits down with Dylan Ruga, Carly Savar, and Joe Stephens to unpack Steno’s new Attorney Work Styles Framework - a quiz that reveals whether you’re a Research Commander, Strategic Architect, Courtroom Dynamo, or Narrative Weaver. More than labels, these archetypes highlight strengths, blind spots...

“We’re going to be okay” - sometimes that’s all we need to hear. In the latest episode of Between the Briefs, Christina Natale, Director of Legal Strategy & Solutions at HIKE2, sends this message to all lawyers living in the age of AI. Her mantra is simple - AI cannot practice law the way lawyers do. But it can change how it is practiced. Drawing from her experience across complex litigation, the...

Employment law stands at the cusp of transformation in the age of AI, but poor hiring strategies could cost you everything. In this episode of Between the Briefs, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephen sit down with Adam Maxwell, litigation partner at Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC, to explore why employment law compliance shouldn't stifle business growth, how to navigate non-competes acros...

We’ve all heard that AI can make lawyers better at their jobs. But now there’s data-backed research to prove it. In the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome Daniel Schwarcz, Professor at University of Minnesota, to discuss the groundbreaking paper, “AI-Powered Lawyering” and its empirical findings on how certain AI tools are reshaping legal pract...

What does it take to land some of the biggest personal injury verdicts in history? Tyler Barnett, an accomplished attorney at Yuhl | Carr LLP, spills the beans in the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno. Tune in as hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Tyler to explore the critical elements required to build a thriving boutique practice - psychological astuteness, rigorous case...

Contrary to popular belief, AI won’t replace lawyers. But it’s important to remember that lawyers who use AI are a formidable opponent. In the latest episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Kella T. Parks, Managing Member at Parks Ziegler, to explore how AI and modern technology are reshaping law firm economics, why legacy systems are costing you more than you real...

Moving from receptionist to federal magistrate judge is the kind of journey we see on the silver screen. For Judge Allison Goddard, that’s just life. And, for us on Between the Briefs by Steno, it's proof that embracing serendipity, maintaining genuine human connection and leveraging emerging technologies can fundamentally reshape legal practice and judicial efficiency. Tune into the latest episod...

What if building a practice can teach you more about law than practicing law? That’s what happened in Scott C. Pappas’ case and we’re exploring! In the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Scott, Managing Partner at Omnus Law to unpack the ins and outs of building an innovative firm that is revolutionizing the legal industry through their metaver...

In this episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea speaks with Judge Frank Szymanski, longtime juvenile court judge in Detroit. Frank shares how trauma shapes behaviour, why courts must ask “what was done to them?”, and how mindfulness-based interventions in schools and courts cut costs while improving outcomes. From yoga to evidence-backed meditation programmes, his focus is simple: deliver peace...

Every single organization in the world needs a regulatory body that monitors compliance and ethics. Even cannabis companies. In this riveting episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome Samantha Misch, Senior Paralegal at Green Thumb Industries, for an insightful discussion on navigating the evolving intersection of law and cannabis compliance. While they unpa...

In this episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens talk with Evan Shenkman, Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer at Fisher Phillips. Evan shares how disciplined knowledge management, clean data, and responsible AI are transforming legal operations, from enterprise search and expert-finding to the next frontier of “ambient AI” that anticipates lawyer needs in real time.

The legal landscape is undergoing a mammoth transformation in every regard - from tech to business models - and legal marketing is no exception. In these circumstances, attention to legal marketing vs. the lack of it could be the difference between your firm’s success and its failure. Join us as we unpack the evolution of this space on the latest episode of Between the Briefs as host Adrian Cea si...

Employment law is evolving rapidly with technology, but are attorneys and employers keeping up? In this episode of Between the Briefs, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Michael Sigall, an associate at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, to explore the evolving landscape of employment law and workplace litigation. Michael shares invaluable insights on proactive legal strategies for employers, the impa...

What does it take to be a rockstar modern trial lawyer in today’s day and age? A love for law, tech-forward curiosity and agile strategy - according to Joel M. Ferdinand, distinguished business trial lawyer and co-chairman at Pierson Ferdinand LLP. In this illuminating episode of Between the Briefs, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Joel to explore the evolution of modern litigation...

So you’ve got the latest AI tools in your law firm’s arsenal. Now what? If you’re hoping AI reaches its potential without quality data, you’ve got another thing coming and Ashley Gibbs, Senior Director of Product Value, Engineers and Solution Sales Executives at Litera makes no bones about it on this episode of Between the Briefs. Tune in as she joins hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens to explore t...

There’s a new C-Suite executive running the law firm game. Law firm operations are evolving beyond traditional management, with COOs emerging as crucial leaders in driving profitability and innovation in the legal industry. And, we’re exploring this phenomenon in the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno. Join hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens as they sit down with Amanda Koplos, COO at Sh...

“There’s no stopping AI” - says Marla Crawford, General Counsel at Cimplifi in the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno. And like every good lawyer, she’s got the evidence to back up her statement. Drawing from her 35-year legal career spanning roles at Goldman Sachs and Jones Day, Marla shares invaluable insights on AI adoption in legal practice, the evolution of eDiscovery, and the futu...

What do the CIA and the legal tech revolution have in common? Katie DeBord. In the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome former CIA analyst, and current Vice President at DISCO, Katie DeBord for a candid and critical conversation on the state of legal tech today and its future. Together, they explore the intersection of law, technology, and innovation a...

While tech experts took their time to build world-class AI systems, what were lawyers doing? The accelerated excellence of legal technology has uncovered the lack of legal craft and skill and it’s time for a major rethink. In this episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome JP Son, Chief Legal Officer at Verbit, to explore how AI is transforming legal services...

The legal industry stands at a technological crossroads, with AI reshaping everything from document review to client service delivery. In this episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with David Cohen, Senior Counsel at Reed Smith, to explore the evolution of legal technology over four decades, focusing on how AI is transforming E-Discovery and litigation...

There’s a lot of hype around AI in every industry, and legal is no exception. But a common phenomenon that accompanies said hype is the lack of real value from AI. How do lawyers and legal professionals ensure that legal tech is a useful addition in the workplace rather than a tool they’ll never spend on again? This episode of Between the Briefs by Steno unpacks that and more! Tune in as hosts Adr...

The intersection of international law, corporate leadership, and cultural impact may seem like a tricky and complex one to thrive in. But with the right tools in your kit, it can be THE place to thrive! In this episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome Asari Aniagolu, an accomplished corporate attorney with extensive experience in international business oper...

The delicate intersection between legal research and technology calls for legal professionals who are not only skilled but also can leverage technology to achieve their desired results and LexisNexis is at the cutting-edge of integrating AI into legal research to globally advance the justice system. Tune into this latest episode of Between the Briefs, as hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit with...

Data runs our entire world, today. But the rules on how to preserve it and more importantly, protect it, aren’t nearly as water-tight as they should be. So, what can lawyers do about it? Tune into the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno as hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens set up the perfect deep dive into the intersection between technology and law, courtesy Patrick Austin, cybersecurit...

At the very heart of any case, lies the need to protect one’s client. But external variables and shifting priorities often tend to take over, leading to a lack of authenticity in representation. In the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome Daniel Forouzan, Founder and Managing Partner of Forouzan Law APC, to discuss his approach to civil litigatio...