I’m still coming down to earth after the Legal Geek conference! As always, it was a fantastic way of meeting up with the “Who’s Who” of the legal tech world and hearing about how tools are developing in response to customer needs.

One new addition to the Legal Geek conference scene this year (aside from the impromptu PE lesson from Joe Wicks!) was the showcase of Ukrainian businesses who featured in the ever-popular Startup Alley. The Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, Mr Vadym Prystaiko, kicked off this year’s conference with his rousing entreaty to continue to support his people as they fight against the Russian invasion. Having brought along his tablet in order to fit in with the geeks, he referenced the totally digital Ukrainian state machinery which has seen his people able to access all state and court documents and systems on their smart phones. He gently mocked us Brits as he highlighted how Ukrainian refugees who have fled to the UK wondered “Who are these people?” as they have found themselves surprised at how comparatively behind we are in the UK without their digitisation of ID cards, medical documents, governmental institutions, etc. all on their smartphones!

These were my top takeaways from meeting the Ukrainian Startup Alley teams.

The Covid pandemic threw into sharp focus how firms communicate with their employees and we started to embrace informal communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Slack and Yammer in earnest in our quest to remain connected through the enforced separations of the lockdowns. With this development in communication channels, businesses have been given the opportunity to reflect on whether they really need their more formal, stuffier intranets. Keeping your intranet fresh and well-maintained takes resource so it might be tempting to wonder whether you could leave the intranet throne empty (as the crown was loathe to do in 1422!) and live without it. Especially where there is a time-consuming and potentially expensive move to a cloud-based system on the horizon for many firms. This piece sets out some questions to ponder if you are grappling with this conundrum.

The Covid pandemic threw into sharp focus how firms communicate with their employees and we started to embrace informal communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Slack and Yammer in earnest in our quest to remain connected through the enforced separations of the lockdowns. With this development in communication channels, businesses have been given the opportunity to reflect on whether they really need their more formal, stuffier intranets. Keeping your intranet fresh and well-maintained takes resource so it might be tempting to wonder whether you could leave the intranet throne empty (as the crown was loathe to do in 1422!) and live without it. Especially where there is a time-consuming and potentially expensive move to a cloud-based system on the horizon for many firms. This piece sets out some questions to ponder if you are grappling with this conundrum.

Hello there Legal Geeks – Ben Chiriboga here!

In writing my Legal Tech Growth Weekly newsletter, I find lots of amazing best links, tips, articles and jobs from around the world of Legal Tech (and a few from outside). 

My goal has always been to share those resources with as many people as possible. So when Legal Geek approached me to do something together, of course I said yes. 

Tune in every month, where I’ll be curating the best of the best from my meanderings in the Legal Tech world. Thanks again to the Legal Geek team for the great opportunity. Let’s get started!

It is hard to fully comprehend what is happening in Ukraine, and our hearts go out to everyone who is being impacted.

Within the legal tech world, it has been incredible to see how many companies in Ukraine have continued to not only keep the lights on, delivering business as usual, but also go above and beyond when looking after their team on the ground.

At Legal Geek, a small UK business, it has been difficult to know how best to show our support. Upon reflection, we felt the most useful and practical way was to use our stage and event to raise awareness for businesses in Ukraine.