Why AI is the First Technology Lawyers Actually Want | Legal Soundings EP07

For the first time in legal tech, lawyers aren't being dragged to adopt, they're asking for it. So what makes AI different from every other tool we've tried to roll out, and how do we use that momentum wisely?

In this episode, Jeffrey Roach (Managing Director, Harbor) reunites with Evette Pastoriza (CIO, Mayer Brown) and Magdalena Suder (Director of Clients, Markets & Growth Operations, Ashurst) for a focused conversation on the behavioral side of technology adoption.

They explore why perception — of both value and ease of use — matters more than the technology itself, and how AI's unprecedented cultural awareness is reshaping the adoption playbook at law firms.

The conversation digs into why previous rollouts stalled, how to build emotional buy-in before the demo even starts, the psychological resistance lawyers face when breaking trusted workflows, and Magdalena's three-part framework — Diagnose, Design, Sustain — for making change stick.

Chapters
0:00 - Intro
0:20 - Meet the Guests: Evette Pasoriza & Magdalena Suder
1:08 - Framing Adoption: Perception of Value vs. Ease of Use
2:32 - When a Rollout Doesn't Go as Planned
4:28 - Shifting Perception: Campaigns Over Demos
5:32 - Change Management Starts Before the Business Case
6:35 - Sell Outcomes, Not Systems
7:07 - Why AI Has Built-In Perception of Value
8:23 - AI Isn't Optional: A Fundamental Shift in Lawyer Mindset
9:05 - AI's Unique Starting Point: Awareness Before Adoption
10:24 - When AI Steals the Spotlight from Other Critical Initiatives
11:14 - Hook Your Wagon to the AI Star
13:05 - Building Perception of Value Without the AI Halo
14:00 - Tying Tech to Client Service
15:00 - Linking Technology to Firm Strategy and Value Drivers
17:00 - Overcoming the "It's Too Hard" Perception
18:24 - Creating a Culture of Experimentation and Piloting
19:31 - The Psychology of Breaking Trusted Workflows
21:32 - Fear, Risk, and the Senior Partner Problem
22:41 - Gently Introducing New Habits Under Real Pressure
24:42 - Grassroots Listening: Small Bites That Build Momentum
26:00 - Building Value Perception for BD and Marketing Tools
27:30 - Magdalena's Framework: Diagnose, Design, Sustain
29:06 - Outro

About Legal Soundings
Legal Soundings is Harbor Global’s conversational video podcast exploring how technology, leadership, and innovation are reshaping the business of law. Each episode features a rotating Harbor host and expert voices from across the legal ecosystem.

Learn more about Harbor Global: https://harborglobal.com

Видео Why AI is the First Technology Lawyers Actually Want | Legal Soundings EP07 канала Harbor