Innovations Overview

Law Firm Innovation Index

This Phase 1, Version 1.0 of the Law Firm Innovation Index measures law firm innovation based on Google Advanced searches for indicators of innovation on law firm websites. This is not a ranking of law firms. As discussed below, this approach has weaknesses, including that it may not capture the most critical aspects of innovation.

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Catalog of Law Firm Innovations

This Catalog captures legal-service delivery innovations. It does not contain any substantive legal innovations (e.g., the “poison pill”). Only innovations that have been implemented are included. For example, law firms working with legal startups are identified only if they have moved beyond testing to offering a product to clients.

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Law School Innovation Index

This prototype highlights 40 law school legal-service delivery innovation and technology programs of which we are aware as of October 31, 2017. Law schools have earned the criticism they face for failing to update their curricula and failing to prepare students for 21st-century practice.

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Research Team

Photo of Daniel W. Linna Jr.
Director of Law and Technology Initiatives & Senior Lecturer, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and McCormick School of Engineering

Daniel W. Linna Jr. has a joint appointment at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and McCormick School of Engineering as the Director of Law and Technology Initiatives and a Senior Lecturer. Dan’s teaching and research focus on innovation and technology, including computational law, artificial intelligence, data analytics, leadership, operations, and innovation frameworks.

Photo of Jordan Galvin
Research Assistant

Jordan Galvin is the Innovation Counsel for LegalRnD – The Center for Legal Services Innovation at Michigan State University College of Law for 2017-18.

Photo of Sean E. Acosta
Research Assistant

Sean will graduate from MSU Law in May 2018 and pursue an IP law position in New York.

Photo of Andrew M. Burgess
Research Assistant

Andrew will graduate from MSU Law in May 2018. He plans to return home to Fort Wayne, Indiana to practice.

Photo of Jameson C. Joyce
Research Assistant

Jameson will graduate from MSU Law in May 2018 and hopes to relocate to Texas and further his career in health law.

Photo of Shellie Reid
Research Assistant

Shellie will graduate from MSU College of Law in May 2020 and plans to work in northern Virginia and the Florida panhandle.

Photo of Anita Western
Research Assistant

Anita will graduate from MSU Law in May 2018. She plans to pursue a career at the intersection of law and technology, specifically in the realm of artificial intelligence.

Alex will graduate from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in May 2021. He will join Baker McKenzie’s Chicago office as a summer associate in 2020.

Doug will graduate from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and the Harvard Kennedy School in May 2020 and join Perkins Coie.

Lauren will graduate from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in May 2020 and join Allen & Overy.

Mona will graduate from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in May 2020 and join the Private Equity practice group of White & Case’s Chicago office.

Yoon will graduate from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in May 2020 and join Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

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What Peers Are Saying

  • Game changer from and "The Legal Services Innovation Index (021)" —Great work Dan and crew!

    Bill Henderson
    Professor of Law at Indiana University, Indiana University Maurer School of Law
  • This is fantastic. It's maybe the best resource I've ever seen emerge in the legal innovation space. Huge kudos to @DanLinna and @LegalRnD.

    Jordan Furlong
    Legal Analyst, LAW21
  • Find out how lawyers are seizing chances to better serve clients via @DanLinna's Legal Services Innovation Index

    Gillian Hadfield, Richard L. and Antoinette Schamoi Kirtland
    Professor of Law and Professor of Economics, University of Southern California Gould School of Law
  • To drive change, rather than rank law firms on revenue and profit, rank and assess them on their use of technology

    Jim Sandman
    Corporation president, Legal Services Corporation
  • Impressive new project from @DanLinna, who understands value of feedback. Measure, assess, learn, change. Repeat. Congrats on smart start.

    Janet K. Welch
    E.D. of the State Bar of Michigan, State Bar of Michigan
  • This is an excellent addition to the legal innovation mix!

    David Curle
    Director of the Technology & Innovation Platform, Thomson Reuters Legal
  • Transparent metrics driven assessment from @DanLinna @ Law School Innovation Index

    Jeanette Eicks
    Legal Technology Research Professor of Law, Vermont Law School Center for Legal Innovation
  • Judging by my stats, lots of interest in the new Law School Innovation Index from @DanLinna

    Bob Ambrogi
    Media & Technology Lawyer, Writer, & Consultant, LexBlog
  • We should rank law firms on their use of technology. Bravo @DanLinna!

    Steve Embry
  • Great resource on innovation in legal education. Looking forward to seeing these numbers grow! Congrats @DanLinna!

    Alyson Carrel
    Assistant Dean of Law & Technology, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
  • Congrats @DanLinna on launch of this new project! Puts the spotlight on law firm innovation rather than revenues & profits per partner

    Katrine Lee
    Associate Clinical Professor of Law, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
  • Great groundbreaking work by @DanLinna and team on #LegalTech & #lawschool. Thanks for recognizing @VTLawSchool.

    Oliver Goodenough
    Co-Director of the Center for Legal Innovation & Professor of Law, Vermont Law School