Moving Law Practice from Art to Science - Legal Innovation, Process Improvement, Project Management, Data Analytics, and Technology - Daniel W. Linna Jr. presentation at ReInventLaw NYC 2014

1. Law Practice: From Art to Science
Daniel W. Linna Jr.
Partner
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
@DanLinna ♦ @HonigmanLaw

2. @DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

3. @DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

4. @DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

5. @DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

6. The New Reality
• Technology
• Process improvement
• Project management
• Knowledge management
• Data/data analytics
@DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

7. @DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

8. University of Michigan
Law 712 – Negotiation
Michigan State University
Law 537M – Litigation: Data,
Theory, Process & Practice
@DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

9. Poll: Is practicing law like creating art?
• 41.87% Yes, practicing law is an art.
Anyone who doesn’t get that shouldn’t
be practicing.
@DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

10. @DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

11. Process of Legal Matters
• Legal matters vary, yet consist of
similar components
• Processes can be perfected
@DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

12. Process Improvement
• Does not diminish great lawyering
• Identifies when great lawyering matters
most
• Eliminate waste and low-value tasks
• Allows skilled lawyers to focus on what
they do best
@DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

13. The Business of Law
• Understand the client’s business
• Identify and quantify costs, benefits,
and risks
• Frame legal matters as business
decisions
@DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

14. Early Case Assessment –
Decision Trees
• Capture costs and benefits
• Identify uncertainty
• “Level set” lawyers and clients
@DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

15. Data – Predicting Outcomes,
Measuring Performance
• Courts, Parties, and Lawyers
• Law firms
• Legal departments

17. @DanLinna
#ReInventLaw

18. Incorporating science into the practice
of law, makes us better lawyers.
Daniel W. Linna Jr.
Partner
Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
dlinna@honigman.com
@DanLinna ♦ @HonigmanLaw
www.honigman.com