In
today’s
fast-paced,
tech-driven
world,
the
intersection
of
law
and
technology
is
more
relevant
than
ever.
As
legal
professionals,
we
often
find
ourselves
collaborating
with
developers
and
tech
teams
to
build
innovative
products
while
ensuring
compliance
and
minimizing
risks.
In
a
recent
conversation
I
had
with
Laura
Jeffords
Greenberg,
senior
director
of
legal
at
Worksome,
we
delved
into
the
unique
challenges
and
opportunities
that
arise
when
lawyers
and
developers
work
together.
Laura
shared
her
journey
from
a
sports
lawyer
to
a
tech-savvy
legal
expert,
offering
invaluable
insights
into
how
lawyers
can
effectively
navigate
this
evolving
landscape.
Here
are
some
key
takeaways
from
our
discussion
that
highlight
strategies
for
fostering
better
collaboration
between
legal
and
tech
teams.
1.
Building
Relationships
With
Developers:
The
Foundation
For
Effective
Collaboration
Laura
emphasizes
the
importance
of
building
strong
relationships
with
developers
as
a
cornerstone
for
successful
collaboration.
She
recalls
her
early
days
at
a
tech
startup,
where
she
shared
an
office
with
the
CTO
and
made
a
concerted
effort
to
understand
the
technology
they
were
developing.
This
proximity
allowed
her
to
learn
the
language
of
developers,
gain
insights
into
their
processes,
and
build
trust.
To
replicate
this,
Laura
suggests
that
legal
professionals:
-
Show
Genuine
Interest.
Take
the
time
to
understand
what
the
developers
are
working
on
and
why
it’s
important.
Ask
them
to
explain
their
projects
and
processes
in
simple
terms
and
show
enthusiasm
about
their
work. -
Learn
Basic
Coding.
Even
a
rudimentary
understanding
of
coding
can
go
a
long
way
in
bridging
the
gap
between
legal
and
tech.
It
demonstrates
a
willingness
to
learn
and
understand
the
developers’
world,
fostering
mutual
respect
and
collaboration. -
Use
Clear
And
Concise
Communication.
Restate
what
you’ve
heard
in
your
own
words
to
ensure
understanding
and
to
confirm
that
you’re
on
the
same
page.
This
technique
helps
avoid
misunderstandings
and
shows
that
you
are
actively
listening.
2.
The
Power
Of
Asynchronous
Communication
In
our
discussion,
Laura
highlighted
the
effectiveness
of
asynchronous
communication,
particularly
for
distributed
teams
or
teams
with
varying
schedules.
Asynchronous
communication
allows
team
members
to
share
information
and
updates
without
requiring
an
immediate
response,
thereby
respecting
everyone’s
time
and
work
style.
Key
practices
for
asynchronous
communication
include:
-
Documenting
Everything.
Encourage
a
culture
of
documentation
where
all
decisions,
processes,
and
updates
are
recorded
in
a
central
repository.
This
not
only
helps
in
maintaining
clarity
but
also
ensures
that
new
team
members
can
easily
onboard
and
understand
the
context
of
past
decisions. -
Setting
Clear
Expectations.
Let
your
team
know
your
availability
and
preferred
communication
channels.
For
example,
Laura
blocks
out
specific
times
for
deep
work
and
clearly
communicates
when
she
will
be
available
to
respond
to
questions. -
Using
Technology
To
Your
Advantage.
Tools
like
Slack,
Microsoft
Teams,
and
other
collaboration
platforms
can
facilitate
asynchronous
communication.
Integrating
AI
tools
to
automate
repetitive
tasks
and
manage
FAQs
can
further
enhance
efficiency.
3.
Leveraging
Technology
For
Legal
Efficiency
Laura’s
experience
shows
that
technology
can
be
a
powerful
ally
for
legal
professionals.
From
using
AI
to
automate
routine
tasks
to
adopting
tools
that
improve
contract
management,
technology
can
help
lawyers
focus
on
higher-value
work.
Some
practical
ways
to
leverage
technology
in
your
legal
practice
include:
-
Automating
Routine
Tasks.
Use
platforms
like
DocuSign
for
automating
document
workflows,
enabling
self-service
for
frequently
used
contracts,
and
integrating
AI
for
answering
repetitive
queries. -
Adopting
AI
Tools.
AI
can
help
analyze
large
volumes
of
data,
provide
insights,
and
predict
outcomes,
making
it
an
essential
tool
for
modern
legal
teams.
Laura
mentions
tools
like
Legal
OS,
which
uses
AI
to
answer
complex
policy-related
questions,
saving
time
and
increasing
accuracy. -
Encouraging
Continuous
Learning.
Stay
updated
with
the
latest
technological
advancements.
Regularly
explore
new
tools
and
platforms
that
can
improve
your
workflow
and
keep
you
ahead
of
the
curve.
4.
Setting
Boundaries
And
Managing
Expectations
A
crucial
aspect
of
thriving
in
a
tech
environment
is
setting
clear
boundaries
and
managing
expectations.
Laura
stresses
the
importance
of
maintaining
a
healthy
work-life
balance
and
ensuring
that
you
are
not
constantly
in
reactive
mode.
To
achieve
this,
consider
the
following
strategies:
-
Define
Your
Working
Hours.
Make
sure
your
team
and
colleagues
are
aware
of
your
working
hours
and
respect
them.
Use
tools
like
calendar
blockers
to
set
aside
time
for
focused
work. -
Communicate
Clearly.
Be
upfront
about
your
availability
and
the
best
ways
to
reach
you.
Encourage
your
team
to
use
the
appropriate
channels
for
different
types
of
queries. -
Prioritize
Your
Tasks.
Focus
on
high-priority
tasks
and
learn
to
delegate
or
defer
less
critical
ones.
This
helps
in
managing
your
time
better
and
reduces
stress.
5.
The
Importance
Of
Understanding
Your
Product
One
of
Laura’s
standout
pieces
of
advice
is
for
lawyers
to
deeply
understand
the
products
their
teams
are
building.
She
stresses
that
using
the
product
or
at
least
having
a
basic
understanding
of
its
functionality
can
significantly
improve
the
quality
of
legal
advice
provided.
Here’s
how
you
can
apply
this:
-
Get
Hands-On.
Use
the
products
your
team
is
developing
to
understand
its
features,
limitations,
and
potential
legal
implications.
This
hands-on
experience
is
invaluable
in
providing
relevant
and
practical
legal
advice. -
Stay
Curious.
Continuously
ask
questions
about
new
developments,
features,
or
technologies
your
team
is
working
on.
This
not
only
keeps
you
informed
but
also
shows
your
team
that
you
are
invested
in
their
work. -
Engage
With
Other
Departments.
Regularly
interact
with
other
departments
such
as
product,
marketing,
and
sales
to
get
a
holistic
view
of
how
your
product
fits
into
the
market
and
any
legal
considerations
that
may
arise.
Final
Thoughts
Navigating
the
intersection
of
law
and
technology
requires
a
unique
blend
of
legal
expertise,
technological
understanding,
and
excellent
communication
skills.
By
building
strong
relationships
with
developers,
leveraging
asynchronous
communication,
embracing
technology,
and
setting
clear
boundaries,
legal
professionals
can
thrive
in
a
tech-driven
environment.
Laura
Jeffords
Greenberg’s
insights
provide
a
valuable
roadmap
for
lawyers
looking
to
enhance
their
collaboration
with
tech
teams
and
drive
innovation
within
their
organizations.
For
a
deeper
dive
into
these
strategies
and
more,
tune
into
the
full
episode
with
Laura.
Whether
you’re
a
legal
professional
in
a
tech
company
or
just
curious
about
the
future
of
law
and
technology,
this
episode
is
packed
with
practical
advice
and
inspiration
to
help
you
succeed.
Olga
V.
Mack
is
a
Fellow
at
CodeX,
The
Stanford
Center
for
Legal
Informatics,
and
a
Generative
AI
Editor
at
law.MIT.
Olga
embraces
legal
innovation
and
had
dedicated
her
career
to
improving
and
shaping
the
future
of
law.
She
is
convinced
that
the
legal
profession
will
emerge
even
stronger,
more
resilient,
and
more
inclusive
than
before
by
embracing
technology.
Olga
is
also
an
award-winning
general
counsel,
operations
professional,
startup
advisor,
public
speaker,
adjunct
professor,
and
entrepreneur.
She
authored Get
on
Board:
Earning
Your
Ticket
to
a
Corporate
Board
Seat, Fundamentals
of
Smart
Contract
Security,
and Blockchain
Value:
Transforming
Business
Models,
Society,
and
Communities. She
is
working
on
three
books:
Visual
IQ
for
Lawyers
(ABA
2024), The
Rise
of
Product
Lawyers:
An
Analytical
Framework
to
Systematically
Advise
Your
Clients
Throughout
the
Product
Lifecycle
(Globe
Law
and
Business
2024),
and
Legal
Operations
in
the
Age
of
AI
and
Data
(Globe
Law
and
Business
2024).
You
can
follow
Olga
on
LinkedIn
and
Twitter
@olgavmack.