Pixel 10 Review for Lawyers

the pixel 10 is a good phone but not without its tradeoffs.

On August 20, 2025, the Pixel 10 was revealed with a refined design, a highly capable camera system, and Google’s best AI integrations, packaging upgrades that matter for law practice workflows, mobile document management, and courtroom performance.

• Display and Form Factor: The 6.3-inch Actua OLED display, protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, shines in courtroom and office lighting. Lawyers will appreciate the bright, color-accurate screen when reviewing evidence or video depositions on the go, but those who favor larger screens for multitasking may prefer Samsung’s S25 Ultra or the iPhone 16 Plus.

• Security: Lawyers will welcome 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates, the Titan M2 security coprocessor, and built-in VPN; these features help maintain client confidentiality and align with legal industry compliance. Android’s anti-phishing and anti-malware tools reinforce the phone’s robust defense against threats.

• Document Capture & Communication: The triple camera system, led by a powerful 48MP wide, 13MP ultrawide, and a 10.8MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, ensures legible document scans even in dim offices. Pixel’s signature Night Sight and Super Res Zoom help legal professionals snap critical case files, courtroom whiteboards, or contract amendments with superior clarity. That said, for lawyers who value top-tier video (for remote depositions), Samsung’s 8K capabilities and higher frame rates may have the edge.

• AI Features: ‘Gemini’—Google’s advanced AI assistant—boosts search, summarization, and contextual replies in emails and messaging, expediting legal research and workflow automation from the palm of the hand. ‘Call Assist’ and Live Translate are advantageous for real-time communication with clients of diverse backgrounds, though Apple and Samsung both offer strong competition in translation and AI productivity tools - although note that at the time of the Pixel’s release Apple’s Apple Intelligence has been disappointing (but hopefully can only get better).

• Battery and Charging: A 4,970mAh battery means over 24 hours of typical use and up to 100 hours in Extreme Battery Saver mode—critical for marathon trials or days at depositions. Wired charging up to 30W and wireless Qi2 up to 15W keep downtime minimal, although Samsung’s S25 Ultra bests Pixel in charging speed and battery size for power users.

• Accessibility & Connectivity: Dual eSIM support, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, and NFC cover the connectivity needs of busy attorneys moving between offices, courtrooms, and remote client sites.

Comparison Table

Google’s Pixel 10 sets a new bar for productivity, privacy, and AI-powered features that appeal directly to lawyers and legal professionals, yet notable tradeoffs exist compared to Apple’s iPhone 16 and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra in August 2025.

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Google’s Pixel 10 sets a new bar for productivity, privacy, and AI-powered features that appeal directly to lawyers and legal professionals, yet notable tradeoffs exist compared to Apple’s iPhone 16 and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra in August 2025. 📱

Pros for Lawyers

• Best-in-class security updates and built-in VPN.

• Top-tier document and evidence capture with versatile camera system.

• AI tools powerful for legal research, communications, and workflow efficiency.

• Long battery life and robust durability—the all-aluminum frame and IP68 rating withstand the rigors of a law practice.

Cons for Lawyers

• Display may be dwarfed by the S25 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max, meaning less multitasking space.

• Samsung offers superior video capture (8K, 120fps) for attorneys recording depositions or client interviews at the absolute highest quality.

• Some legacy legal apps may still run better on iOS, and Apple’s closed ecosystem can be a compliance advantage for large law firms.

• Although AI features are sophisticated, concerns over Google’s data handling may deter privacy-sensitive practices, whereas Apple maintains a firmer stance on local data processing.

Final Thoughts

the pixel 10 might be the right choice for lawyers starting out.

The Google Pixel 10 represents a compelling choice for legal professionals seeking robust security, AI-powered productivity, and exceptional document capture capabilities at a competitive price point. While the device excels in privacy protection with its built-in VPN, seven years of guaranteed security updates, and superior camera system for evidence documentation, attorneys must weigh these advantages against potential limitations in display size for multitasking and compatibility with legacy legal applications that may favor iOS ecosystems.

For solo practitioners and emerging law firms prioritizing cost-effectiveness without compromising security, the Pixel 10 delivers enterprise-grade protection and Google's advanced AI integration that can significantly enhance legal research workflows. However, established practices with existing Apple infrastructure or attorneys requiring the largest possible mobile screens for complex document review may find better value in the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra alternatives.

The decision ultimately hinges on your firm's technology ecosystem, budget constraints, and specific workflow requirements. Legal professionals should evaluate their carrier compatibility, existing software integrations, and long-term technology strategy before making this significant productivity investment. The Pixel 10 proves that Google has created a legitimate professional tool worthy of serious legal practice consideration—not merely another consumer smartphone with legal applications as an afterthought.

How to Ask AI "Are You Sure?" for Better Legal Research Accuracy!

Lawyers need to be “sure” their AI use is accurate

Legal professionals increasingly rely on AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini for research and document preparation. However, these powerful tools can produce inaccurate information or "hallucinations" — fabricated facts, citations, or legal precedents that appear credible but don't exist. A simple yet effective technique is asking AI systems "Are you sure?" or requesting verification of their responses.

The "Are You Sure?" Technique:

When you ask ChatGPT, Claude, or similar AI tools "Are you sure about this information?" they often engage in a second review process. This prompt triggers the AI to:

• Re-examine the original question more carefully

• Cross-reference information internally

• Flag potential uncertainties in their responses

• Provide additional context about confidence levels

For example, after receiving an AI response about case law, follow up with: "Are you sure this case citation is accurate? Please double-check the details." This often reveals when the AI is uncertain or has potentially fabricated information.

Other AI Verification Features

Google Gemini offers a built-in "double-check" feature that uses Google Search to verify responses against web sources. However, this feature can make mistakes and may show contradictory information.

Claude AI focuses on thorough reasoning and can be prompted to verify complex legal analysis through step-by-step breakdowns.

ChatGPT can be instructed to provide sources and verify information when specifically requested, though it requires explicit prompting for verification.

Essential Legal Practice Reminders 

While AI verification techniques help identify potential inaccuracies, they never replace the fundamental duty of legal professionals to verify all citations, case law, and factual claims. Recent court cases have imposed sanctions on attorneys who submitted AI-generated content without proper verification. If you don’t, you run the risk of running afoul of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct — including Rule 1.1 (Competence), which requires the legal knowledge, skill, and thoroughness reasonably necessary for representation; Rule 1.1, Comment 8, which stresses that competent representation includes keeping abreast of the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology; Rule 1.3 (Diligence), which obligates attorneys to act with commitment and promptness; and Rule 3.3 (Candor Toward the Tribunal), which prohibits attorneys from knowingly making false statements or failing to correct false material before the court.

Best practices for legal AI use include:

• Always verify AI-generated citations against primary sources

• Never submit AI content without human review

• Maintain clear policies about AI use in your practice

• Understand that professional responsibility remains with the attorney, not the AI tool

The "Are you sure?" technique serves as a helpful first-line check when you notice something seems off in AI responses, but thorough legal research and verification remain your professional responsibility. Your reputation and bar license could depend on it.

TSS: Repurpose Your Old Work Tech Into Family Learning Tools This Back-to-School Season 💻📚

repurposing your tech for your children can be a platform for a talk with your school kids on the Safe use of Tech.

The new school year approaches, and your children need reliable technology. Before you head to the electronics store, consider the laptops and tablets gathering dust in your office closet or your current devices that you are about to upgrade. With proper preparation, these work devices can become powerful educational tools while teaching your family essential cybersecurity skills.

Why Lawyer Parents Need This Workshop 🎯

As attorneys, we face unique challenges when transitioning work devices to family use. Attorney-client privilege concerns, firm policy compliance, and data breach liability create legal risks most parents never consider. Our August Tech-Savvy Saturday seminar addresses these challenges head-on with practical solutions.

What You'll Master in This Essential Session 🛡️

Device Sanitization for Legal Professionals: Step-by-step Windows, Mac OS, iOS, and Android procedures that protect privileged information while preparing devices for family use. We cover complete data wiping, software licensing removal, and documentation requirements.

Family Technology Management Systems: Implementation strategies for password managers, shared calendars, and network security configurations that work for legal families. Special focus on co-parenting considerations and court-approved platforms.

Family Cyber Talks should be routine!

Age-Appropriate Cybersecurity Education: From elementary through college-age guidance on digital citizenship, password security, and online safety. Critical discussions about digital permanence and the serious legal consequences of non-consensual intimate image sharing.

Emergency Response Planning: Practical protocols for handling cyberbullying, predator contact, and other digital crises. Know when to involve law enforcement versus school administration.

Register Now for August Tech-Savvy Saturday 🚀

This workshop combines legal ethics with practical family technology management. You'll leave with actionable checklists, template agreements, and the confidence to transform old work devices into safe learning tools.

🎙️Ep. 118: Essential Legal Tech Competency - Colin S. Levy on Building Foundational Technology Skills for Modern Lawyers!

My next guest is Colin Levy, General Counsel at Malbek. Colin is a leading voice in legal innovation. During our interview, he shared practical insights on building foundational legal tech skills for modern lawyers.

During the conversation, Colin outlines the top three steps every lawyer should take to develop legal tech competency, regardless of their technical background. He emphasizes the ethical responsibilities that lawyers face when utilizing AI, particularly the risks associated with unchecked reliance on generative tools and the need to acknowledge potential inaccuracies. Colin also shared some great tips on how to better utilize legal professionals' use of Microsoft Word to improve efficiency and save time (and money💰). In discussing the adoption of new technology, he underscores the importance of defining problems, clarifying desired outcomes, and fully leveraging existing tools before selecting new solutions strategically.

Join Colin and me as we discuss the following three questions and more!

1. Based on his extensive experience interviewing legal tech leaders and your role as general counsel at Malbek, Colin provides the top three foundational steps every lawyer should take today to build their legal tech competency, regardless of their current technical skill level.

2. Colin shares three specific ways lawyers can immediately improve their document drafting efficiency using existing technology tools, and how this foundational competence connects to more advanced legal tech adoption.

3. Colin has conducted hundreds of interviews with legal tech leaders and now serves as general counsel for a CLM company.  He has seen both the vendor and practitioner perspectives. Colin shares his top three strategic considerations lawyers should evaluate when selecting and implementing new technology solutions to ensure they actually improve client service delivery and practice efficiency rather than just adding complexity.

In our conversation, we covered the following:

[01:28] Colin's Tech Setup

[11:14] The Three Core Steps to Legal Tech Competency

[13:17] AI Tools and Ethical Considerations

[17:29] Improving Document Drafting Efficiency

[23:15] Strategic Considerations for Technology Selection

Resources:

Connect with Colin:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colinslevy/

• Schedule Time with Colin: calendly.com/colin-levy/30min

• Website: colinslevy.com/

Mentioned in the episode:

• The Legal Tech Ecosystem: https://www.colinslevy.com/books#:~:text=More...-,The%20Legal%20Tech%20Ecosystem,-Innovation%2C%20Advancement

• Handbook: https://www.colinslevy.com/books#:~:text=Handbook%20of%20Legal%20Tech

Hardware mentioned in the conversation:

• Apple iPhone: https://www.apple.com/iphone-15-pro/

• Apple Mini: https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/

• Apple Studio Displays: apple.com/studio-display/

• Blue Yeti Microphone: https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/shop/p/yeti-premium-usb-microphone

• iContact Pro Camera: https://icontactcamera.com

• Microsoft Surface Pro: microsoft.com/en-us/surface/devices/surface-pro

Software & Cloud Services mentioned in the conversation:

• Claude: claude.ai/

• Google Drive - https://drive.google.com

• Malbek CLM: malbek.io/

• Microsoft Outlook - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/outlook/email-and-calendar-software-microsoft-outlook

• Microsoft Teams - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software

• Microsoft Word - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/word

• Perplexity: perplexity.ai/

• Zoom - https://zoom.us

🧐 MTC/🚨 BOLO - Court Filing Systems Under Siege: The Cybersecurity Crisis Every Lawyer Must Address!

🔐 The Uncomfortable Truth About Court Filing Security 📊

Federal court filing systems are under attack! Are your client’s information protected?!

The federal judiciary's electronic case management system (CM/ECF) and PACER have been described as "unsustainable due to cyber risks". This isn't hyperbole – it's the official assessment from federal court officials who acknowledge that these systems, which legal professionals use daily for document uploads and case management, face "unrelenting security threats of extraordinary gravity".

Recent breaches have exposed sealed court documents, including confidential informant identities, arrest warrants, and national security information. Russian state-linked actors are suspected in these intrusions, which exploited security flaws that have been known since 2020. The attacks were described by one federal judiciary insider as being like "taking candy from a baby".

Human Error: The Persistent Vulnerability 🎯

Programs like #ILTACON2025’s "Anatomy of a Cyberattack" demonstrations that draw packed conference rooms highlight a critical truth: 50% of law firms now identify phishing as their top security threat, surpassing ransomware for the first time. This shift signals that cybercriminals have evolved from automated malware to sophisticated human-operated attacks that exploit our psychological weaknesses rather than just technical ones.

Consider these sobering statistics: 29% of law firms experienced security breaches in 2023, with 49% of data breaches involving stolen credentials. Most concerning is that only 58% of law firms provide regular cybersecurity training to employees, leaving the majority vulnerable to the very human errors that sophisticated attackers are designed to exploit.

What Lawyers Must Do Immediately 🛡️

Model rules require lawyers be aware of electronic court filing “insecurities”!

First, acknowledge that your court filings are not secure by default. The federal court system has implemented emergency procedures that require highly sensitive documents to be filed on paper or on secure devices, rather than through electronic systems. This should serve as a wake-up call about the vulnerabilities inherent in digital filing processes.

Second, implement multi-factor authentication everywhere. Despite its critical importance, 77% of law firms still don't use two-factor authentication. The federal courts only began requiring this basic security measure in May 2025 – decades after the technology became standard elsewhere.

Third, encrypt everything. Only half of law firms use file encryption, and just 40% employ email encryption. Given that legal professionals handle some of society's most sensitive information, these numbers represent a profound failure of professional responsibility.

Beyond Basic Defenses 🔍

Credential stuffing attacks exploit password reuse across platforms. When professionals use the same password for their court filing accounts and personal services, a breach anywhere becomes a breach everywhere. Implement unique, complex passwords for all systems, supported by password managers.

Cloud misconfiguration presents another critical vulnerability. Many law firms assume their technology providers have enabled security features by default, but the reality is that two-factor authentication and other protections often require explicit activation. Don't assume – verify and enable every available security feature.

Third-party vendor risks cannot be ignored. Only 35% of law firms have formal policies for managing vendor cybersecurity risks, yet these partnerships often provide attackers with indirect access to sensitive systems.

The Compliance Imperative 📋

The regulatory landscape is tightening rapidly. SEC rules now require public companies to disclose material cybersecurity incidents within four business days. While this doesn't directly apply to all law firms, it signals the direction of regulatory expectations. Client trust and professional liability exposure make cybersecurity failures increasingly expensive propositions.

Recent class-action lawsuits against law firms for inadequate data protection demonstrate that clients are no longer accepting security failures as inevitable business risks. The average cost of a legal industry data breach reached $7.13 million in 2020, making prevention significantly more cost-effective than remediation.

Final Thoughts: A Call to Professional Action ⚖️

Lawyers are a first-line defender of their client’s protected information.

The cybersecurity sessions are standing room only because lawyers are finally recognizing what cybersecurity professionals have known for years: the threat landscape has fundamentally changed. Nation-state actors, organized crime groups, and sophisticated cybercriminals view law firms as high-value targets containing treasure troves of confidential information.

The federal court system's acknowledgment that its filing systems require complete overhaul should prompt every legal professional to audit their own digital security practices. If the federal judiciary, with its vast resources and expertise, struggles with these challenges, individual practitioners and firms face even greater risks.

The legal profession's ethical obligations to protect client confidentiality extend into the digital realm. See ABA Model Rules 1.1, 1.1(8), and 1.6. This isn't about becoming cybersecurity experts – it's about implementing reasonable safeguards commensurate with the risks we face. When human error remains the biggest vulnerability, the solution lies in better training, stronger systems, and a cultural shift that treats cybersecurity as a core professional competency rather than an optional technical consideration.

The standing-room-only cybersecurity sessions reflect a profession in transition. The question isn't whether lawyers need to take cybersecurity seriously – recent breaches have answered that definitively. The question is whether we'll act before the next breach makes the decision for us. 🚨

🚨 BOLO CYBERSECURITY ALERT: LunaSpy Android Spyware Threatens All Users—Protect Your Law Practice Now!

Android users must be aware of potential threats to their data!

CRITICAL THREAT ALERT 🚨 A sophisticated new Android spyware campaign dubbed LunaSpy has been active since February 2025, broadly targeting Android users via messaging apps—anyone installing its fake “antivirus” could be compromised, including legal professionals. LunaSpy spreads through Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal, and other platforms by sending messages like “Hi, install this program here,” tricking victims into granting extensive device permissions after fake security scans report fabricated threats.

Once installed, LunaSpy’s capabilities pose severe risks: it steals passwords from browsers and messaging apps, intercepts text messages (including two-factor codes), records audio and video via microphones and cameras, captures screen contents (e.g., client documents, case notes), and tracks real-time location (e.g., revealing meetings and court visits). Kaspersky researchers have linked over 150 command-and-control servers to LunaSpy’s global network, enabling continuous data exfiltration and remote command execution.

While any Android user is at risk, lawyers face heightened consequences if infected. A breach of attorney-client communications or privileged documents can trigger:

• Malpractice liability for failing to safeguard confidential client information

• ABA ethics violations under Model Rules 1.1 (Competence), 1.1(8) (Maintaining Competence) and 1.6 (Confidentiality)

• State bar disciplinary action for professional misconduct

• Regulatory compliance fines under privacy laws like California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)/General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – Legal Text

• Reputational damage that can permanently erode client trust

Immediate Action Steps for all Android-using legal professionals and their staff:

users are the first line of defense when it comes to preventing computer viruses on their tech!

1. Audit and remove any unverified security or banking apps; restrict installations to Google Play only.

2. Deploy Mobile Device Management (MDM): enforce app blacklists, remote wipe, and automated patching.

3. Enable full-disk encryption and secure lock screens with complex passcodes or biometrics.

4. Train staff on social engineering tactics—recognize unsolicited install prompts or links in messages.

5. Use end-to-end encrypted desktop-based messaging for privileged communications, limiting mobile use.

6. Establish an incident response plan: include immediate device quarantine, forensic analysis, and regulatory notification procedures.

LunaSpy is not a hypothetical risk—it’s actively compromising Android devices around the globe. Although the campaign targets the general public, legal professionals handling sensitive client data are particularly vulnerable to cascading professional, legal, and ethical consequences if infected. With over 150 active command servers and ongoing code enhancements, the threat will only escalate. Every day without these safeguards increases your exposure—act now to secure mobile devices, train teams, and reinforce your firm’s cybersecurity posture.

📢 Shout Out! ILTACON 2025 Recap: AI Revolution, Cybersecurity Imperatives, and the Exciting Legal Tech Future!

🎉 Three Game-Changing Highlights from Legal Technology's Premier Event!

Iltacon - The only peer-created and led conference for legal technology professionals.

The corridors of the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center just outside Washington, DC were buzzing with an energy as one fellow reporter aptly put it was the most excitement he’d seen at ILTACON in years – and the catalyst was undeniably artificial intelligence.

With over 4,000 legal professionals from 30 different countries converging in National Harbor, Maryland, from August 10-14, ILTACON 2025 delivered an unprecedented showcase of innovation. The numbers tell the story: over 225 vendors and over 80 educational sessions created a treasure trove of legal technology advancements that had attorneys and IT professionals equally captivated.

🚀 Highlight #1: AI Takes Center Stage – From Pilots to Production

The shift from AI experimentation to implementation was unmistakable. Harvey, iManage, Thomson Reuters, and Litera weren't just talking about AI anymore – they were demonstrating working solutions and real-world results.

AI agents emerged as the breakout stars. These sophisticated systems move beyond simple chatbots to become "digital colleagues" that can plan, reason, and execute complex legal tasks autonomously. The "Orchestrating Intelligence: AI Agents in the Legal Space" session showcased how these tools amplify human capabilities rather than replace them, with speakers noting that agents will be able to do much more, but with a better quality output.

iltacon was ready for it 4000+ attendees from 30+ countries!

Knowledge Management experienced a renaissance. The "KM Roundtable: Embracing the New Wave of Knowledge Management" revealed that KM professionals have become the unsung heroes of AI implementation. Without proper content governance and data structure, even the most advanced AI tools fall flat. KM teams are shifting from maintaining knowledge bases to orchestrating AI workflows and ensuring data quality.

Interoperability standards like the Model Context Protocol (MCP) are breaking down data silos. These developments signal a future where AI tools can seamlessly integrate across platforms without costly custom development.

Real-world applications dominated discussions. Sessions demonstrated concrete time savings: customers reported 50-70% time savings reaching early drafts with better consistency, while legal research showed 60%+ time savings while discovering new arguments in cross-jurisdictional litigation. The "Charting Your Search Journey in the Age of AI" session emphasized how precedent research has evolved from "finding a needle in a haystack" to having a "haystack full of needles".

🔒 Highlight #2: Cybersecurity Rises to Critical Priority

The cybersecurity focus was evident throughout the conference, with sessions like "Emerging Cybersecurity Threats in Legal Tech" and "The Yin & Yang of Cybersecurity in eDiscovery" drawing significant attendance. These sessions addressed how sophisticated cybersecurity threats present new challenges for legal organizations, from AI-driven attacks to vulnerabilities in emerging technologies.

Reporting on iltacon2025 from Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center just outside Washington, DC!

AI Ethics in Legal Writing emerged as a critical intersection between technology adoption and professional responsibility. Ivy Grey of WordRake, recognized as an Influential Woman in Legal Tech by ILTA, led compelling discussions about the ethical implications of using generative AI in legal writing. Her panel explored how lawyers can maintain ethical obligations while leveraging AI tools for document creation, emphasizing the importance of verification, maintaining independent judgment, and ensuring client confidentiality when using AI-assisted writing tools.

Security-AI integration discussions addressed prompt injection attacks, data leakage prevention, and the challenge of educating clients about AI security measures. The "Getting the Most from M365 Copilot: The Do's & Don'ts" session provided practical frameworks for rolling out AI tools while maintaining security protocols.

Document management security revealed concerning trends. Sessions highlighted how firm knowledge is scattered across OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and personal folders, making it difficult to locate and use effectively. Security by obscurity no longer works, as AI tools like Copilot can surface documents that were previously hidden by poor organization rather than true security measures.

🔮 Highlight #3: The Future-Forward Mindset Revolution

Keynote speaker Reena SenGupta challenged the industry with her "seven evolutions" framework, urging legal professionals to think of law firms as living organisms rather than rigid hierarchies. Her fungal network metaphor resonated deeply – emphasizing how technology professionals serve as the connective tissue enabling knowledge flow throughout organizations.

Predictive capabilities are replacing reactive approaches. SenGupta showcased how firms are moving from precedent to prediction, with examples like DLA Piper's "Compliance-as-a-Service" product that uses AI to spot minor compliance issues before they become major problems, and Paul Hastings restructuring their white-collar investigations practice around AI-powered anomaly detection.

ILTACON2025 is celebrating 45 years!

The billable hour debate intensified. The "Bill(AI)ble Hours: The Debate Continues" session explored how AI's efficiency gains might fundamentally alter legal economics, with the audience showing more support for alternative fee arrangements (AFAs) than opposition. The discussion centered on capturing value creation rather than time tracking, though the majority agreed the billable hour wouldn't disappear within the next five years.

Multidisciplinary integration emerged as essential rather than optional. SenGupta described the breakdown of the divide between legal and non-legal roles, citing examples like White & Case's integration of project managers into client teams and DLA Piper's consulting unit working hand-in-glove with lawyers. These cross-functional teams are becoming critical for delivering client value.

🎯 Strategic Takeaways for Legal Professionals

For Solo and Small Firms: While ILTACON traditionally targets larger firms, this year's vendor presentations often included scalable solutions. The key insight? Start with AI tools that integrate with existing workflows rather than requiring complete system overhauls.

For Mid-Size Firms: Investment in knowledge management infrastructure emerged as the critical success factor. The KM Roundtable revealed that firms implementing AI without proper data governance struggle to achieve meaningful results.

For Large Firms: Change management and user adoption dominated discussions. Technical capability matters less than organizational readiness to embrace new workflows. The overview from these sessions is that robust workflows and a positive organizational culture are essential building blocks for effective AI adoption.

🔧 Practical Implementation Insights

The most valuable sessions provided actionable frameworks rather than theoretical discussions. The "Actionable AI Strategy & Policy" session offered specific methodologies for balancing governance with flexibility, with speakers emphasizing the need for a mellable but strong foundational governance policy.

Vendor interactions proved particularly valuable. The exhibit hall's "Pirate's Bounty" theme encouraged exploration, and many attendees reported discovering solutions through peer recommendations rather than vendor pitches.

Technology evaluation challenges were evident. The KM Roundtable revealed "POC fatigue" as teams try to evaluate numerous AI tools while managing regular workloads, with general skepticism about which tools will have longevity.

🚢 Looking Ahead: Charting the Course

It was great catching up with The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page Podcast Guest (Ep. 109) Jacqueline Schafer, Founder and CEO of Clearbrief!

ILTACON 2025 demonstrated that legal technology has moved from experimental to operational. The questions are no longer "Can AI help lawyers?" but rather "How do we implement AI responsibly and effectively?"

The excitement was palpable – and justified. For technology professionals in law, this represents a career-defining moment where their expertise directly impacts firm competitiveness and client service quality.

As we navigate these transformative waters, remember that the real treasure isn't the technology itself. It's the enhanced client service, improved efficiency, and competitive advantages these tools provide when properly implemented.

Next year's ILTACON promises to build on this momentum. Mark your calendars now – this is where the legal profession's technological future gets written, one innovation at a time.

Ready to implement what you learned at ILTACON 2025? Subscribe to The Tech-Savvy Lawyer.Page for ongoing insights and practical guidance on legal technology adoption.

ILTACON 2025 Attendance Forces Postponement of Exciting TSS - Preparing Old Office Tech for Your Kids' Back-to-School Success 📚💻

Dear Tech-Savvy Saturday Community,

Due to my attendance at ILTACON 2025 (August 10-14, 2025) at the Gaylord National Harbor Convention Center this week, this month's Tech-Savvy Saturday session originally scheduled for August 16 has been postponed until Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 12 PM EST 🕐.

This postponement presents the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into our upcoming topic: "Preparing Your Old Office Technology for Your Kids' Back-to-School Success." As legal professionals, we often have reliable office equipment that could serve our children well as they return to school. This session will explore practical strategies for repurposing scanners, laptops, printers, and other office technology to create productive learning environments at home.

Our session will cover device preparation techniques, security considerations for family use, and creative ways to transform professional equipment into educational tools. We'll discuss how to properly clean and configure devices, implement age-appropriate restrictions, and ensure data security when transitioning office equipment to personal.

Stay tuned and mark your calendars for Saturday, August 23, 2025 as we explore this practical intersection of legal technology and family needs 📅✨.

Have a Great Weekend and Stay Tech-Savvy!

ILTACON 2025: Legal AI Revolution Accelerates as Major Providers Unveil Next-Generation Platforms

Lexis, vlex, westlaw highlight their newest ai functions!

The International Legal Technology Association’s 2025 annual conference (#ILTACON2025) in the National Harbor just outside of Washington, DC, became the epicenter of legal AI innovation as Thomson Reuters, LexisNexis, and vLex/Fastcase showcased their most advanced artificial intelligence platforms. Each provider demonstrated distinct approaches to solving the legal profession's technology challenges, with announcements that signal a fundamental shift from experimental AI tools to enterprise-ready systems capable of autonomous legal workflows.

Thomson Reuters Launches CoCounsel Legal with Groundbreaking Deep Research

Thomson Reuters made headlines with the launch of CoCounsel Legal, featuring what the company positions as industry-leading Agentic AI capabilities. This launch represents a fundamental evolution from AI assistants that respond to prompts toward intelligent systems that can plan, reason, and execute complex multi-step workflows autonomously.

The platform's flagship innovation is Deep Research, an AI feature that conducts comprehensive legal research by leveraging Westlaw Advantage’s proprietary research tools and expert legal content. According to Thomson Reuters, CoCounsel Legal combines advanced generative models with the exclusive resources of Westlaw and Practical Law, aiming to deliver trusted, up-to-date, and relevant legal analysis for practitioners. The company emphasizes that its Agentic AI operates directly within Westlaw, making use of the platform’s curated research toolset and authoritative content to enhance accuracy and reliability in legal workflows.

Thomson Reuters Launches CoCounsel Legal with Groundbreaking Deep Research

Key capabilities include guided workflows for drafting privacy policies, employee policies, complaints, and discovery requests, with Thomson Reuters planning incremental releases of new workflows. The platform addresses the critical challenge of document management system integration through federated search technology, which leverages existing Document Management System (DMS) search systems while applying AI for re-ranking and summarization.

The company also introduced Westlaw Advantage on August 13, 2025, positioned as the final versioned release of Westlaw, with future improvements delivered through continuous updates rather than new license agreements. This shift to a traditional Software-as-a-Service (aka SaaS) delivery model includes multi-year subscriptions with automatic upgrades at no additional cost.

Thomson Reuters has invested $10 billion in transforming legal technology foundations, with over $200 million annually dedicated specifically to integrating AI into flagship products. The platform already serves over 20,000 law firms and corporate legal departments, including the majority of AmLaw 100 firms.

LexisNexis Introduces Protégé General AI with Industry-First Voice Capabilities

LexisNexis announced on August 11, 2025, the preview launch of Protégé General AI, expanding its personalized AI assistant to include secure access to general-purpose AI models alongside legal-specific tools. This development builds on the company's March 2025 launch of the legal industry's first voice-enabled AI assistant for complex legal work. This voice feature allows users to interact naturally with the platform, guiding legal research and drafting by issuing spoken requests. The tool is designed to help legal practitioners streamline routine workflows, surface key insights, and perform drafting and search tasks hands-free, all within a secure and integrated environment.

LexisNexis Introduces Protégé General AI with Industry-First Voice Capabilities

Protégé's key differentiator lies in its toggle functionality, allowing users to switch between authoritative legal AI (grounded in LexisNexis content) and general-purpose AI models including GPT-5*, GPT-4o, GPT-o3, and Claude Sonnet 4. This eliminates the need to switch between different AI tools while maintaining enterprise-grade security.

The platform processes documents up to 300 pages long (a 250% increase over previous limits) and offers unprecedented personalization capabilities. It learns individual user workflows, preferences, writing styles, and jurisdictions to deliver customized responses. The system integrates with document management systems to ground responses in firm-specific knowledge while maintaining strict security controls.

Approximately 200 law firms, corporate legal departments, and law schools are participating in the customer preview program, with general availability expected later in 2025.

vLex Showcases Vincent AI Spring '25 with Studio Workflow Creation

vLex presented its Vincent AI Spring '25 Release at ILTACON 2025, highlighting enhanced agentic capabilities and the introduction of Studio, a platform allowing users to create custom workflows without coding. The company emphasized its data-centric approach, leveraging its billion-document global legal database spanning over 100 countries.

vLex Showcases Vincent AI Spring '25 with Studio Workflow Creation

vLex’s Spring ’25 release also emphasizes its Vincent Tables feature, which allows users to extract and compare key data points across large sets of documents and generate structured outputs like memos. Their General Assist capability supports drafting tasks—such as composing emails and summarizing meeting notes—within Vincent’s secure, enterprise-grade environment. Overall, vLex positions Vincent AI as a comprehensive workflow platform that delivers consistent, authoritative legal insights powered by a global database of over one billion documents from more than 100 jurisdictions.

During ILTACON, vLex also announced the 2025 Fastcase 50 awards, recognizing legal innovation leaders who are "engineering the future of legal practice". The company positioned itself as serving the "engineering minds and visionary leaders driving the legal profession's transformation".

🔎 Feature Comparison: How the Big Three Actually Stack Up

Market Positioning and Strategic Differentiation

The three providers have established distinct market positions based on their 2025 announcements. Thomson Reuters targets enterprise-level implementations, evidenced by multi-year contracts with the U.S. Federal Courts system, including the U.S. Supreme Court, and a focus on consistent, reliable workflows for large-scale legal operations.

LexisNexis emphasizes user experience and personalization, with Protégé designed to understand individual lawyer preferences and adapt to different work styles. The voice interface represents a significant advancement in accessibility and usability, particularly valuable for lawyers with physical accessibility needs or those who prefer natural language interaction.

vLex positions itself as serving both mid-size firms and AmLaw 100 practices, emphasizing comprehensive workflow solutions and global legal coverage. The Studio platform addresses the growing demand for customizable AI workflows tailored to specific practice requirements.

Final Thoughts: Industry Impact and Measurable Results

ILTACON was a great experience - I learned and hope to share a lot!

These ILTACON 2025 announcements demonstrate the maturation of legal AI from experimental tools to platforms delivering measurable business value. Case studies reveal significant cost savings, with startups like OMNIUX reporting monthly savings of $15,000 to $20,000 in legal fees using CoCounsel.

Independent analysis shows that contract review tasks, which previously required two to two and a half hours, can now be completed in 10 minutes, representing productivity improvements of over 90%. Legal professionals report that document analysis tasks requiring days of manual work can now be completed in under an hour.

The competitive landscape now features three mature approaches: Thomson Reuters' enterprise-focused agentic workflows with deep legal research integration, LexisNexis's personalized voice-enabled AI with comprehensive model flexibility, and vLex's comprehensive workflow platform with global legal intelligence.

As legal professionals evaluate these platforms, selection criteria should include firm size, practice areas, existing technology infrastructure, required customization levels, and specific workflow requirements. The legal profession's digital transformation has clearly accelerated beyond the experimental phase, with AI becoming essential infrastructure for competitive legal practice.

But what does this mean for the solo, small-, and medium-size law forms? Stay Tuned as my analysis on that will be posted soon!

Happy Lawyering!

* (Note, the original launch was supposed to include GPT-5 but it has been pulled pending resolution of issues in its program - see MTC: Why "Newer" AI Models Aren't Always Better: The ChatGPT-5 and Apple Intelligence Reality Check for Legal Professionals! for reference).

Word of the Week: Synthetic Data 🧑‍💻⚖️

What Is Synthetic Data?

Synthetic data is information that is generated by algorithms to mimic the statistical properties of real-world data, but it contains no actual client or case details. For lawyers, this means you can test software, train AI models, or simulate legal scenarios without risking confidential information or breaching privacy regulations. Synthetic data is not “fake” in the sense of being random or useless—it is engineered to be realistic and valuable for analysis.

How Synthetic Data Applies to Lawyers

• Privacy Protection: Synthetic data allows law firms to comply with strict privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA by removing any real personal identifiers from the datasets used in legal tech projects.

• AI Training: Legal AI tools need large, high-quality datasets to learn and improve. Synthetic data fills gaps when real data is scarce, sensitive, or restricted by regulation.

• Software Testing: When developing or testing new legal software, synthetic data lets you simulate real-world scenarios without exposing client secrets or sensitive case details.

• Cost and Efficiency: It is often faster and less expensive to generate synthetic data than to collect, clean, and anonymize real legal data.

Lawyers know your data source; your license could depend on it!

📢

Lawyers know your data source; your license could depend on it! 📢

Synthetic Data vs. Hallucinations

• Synthetic Data: Created on purpose, following strict rules to reflect real-world patterns. Used for training, testing, and developing legal tech tools. It is transparent and traceable; you know how and why it was generated.

• AI Hallucinations: Occur when an AI system generates information that appears plausible but is factually incorrect or entirely fabricated. In law, this can mean made-up case citations, statutes, or legal arguments. Hallucinations are unpredictable and can lead to serious professional risks if not caught.

Key Difference: Synthetic data is intentionally crafted for safe, ethical, and lawful use. Hallucinations are unintentional errors that can mislead and cause harm.

Why Lawyers Should Care

• Compliance: Using synthetic data helps you stay on the right side of privacy and data protection laws.

• Risk Management: It reduces the risk of data breaches and regulatory penalties.

• Innovation: Enables law firms to innovate and improve processes without risking client trust or confidentiality.

• Professional Responsibility: Helps lawyers avoid the dangers of relying on unverified AI outputs, which can lead to sanctions or reputational damage.

Lawyers know your data source; your license could depend on it!