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Welcome to Between the Briefs, a podcast by Steno. We share practical tips and expert insights on the pre-trial process, court reporting, and legal technology, to keep you updated on how technology is revolutionizing the litigation process and the wider legal sector.
55 Episodes
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Everyone’s worried that AI will take their job. But what they should be worried about is AI exposing how bad some people have been at their jobs. In this episode of Between the Briefs, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome Nicole Black, Principal Legal Insight Strategist at 8AM, for an eye-opening discussion on the accelerating adoption of AI in law firms, the critical hallucination problem that has triggered recent judicial sanctions and why understanding technology is becoming a professional obligation rather than an optional skill. Her insights as a legal technology authority make for essential listening.
Three sisters, Lauren, Erica and Gianna Kelly, switch sides, from being defense lawyers to giving a voice to plaintiffs. The result? The creation of The Kelly Firm, LLC and a transformation of the medical malpractice space. In this episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, the trio joins hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens to explore how they transitioned from defending healthcare providers to advocating for injured patients, the strategic advantages of small-firm practice and how family dynamics can come into play (in a good way) when building a law firm from the ground up.
Lawyers are always going to be important. What makes them relevant, however, is another question altogether. And, we attempt to answer it in the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno. Hosts, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens, sit down with Kyle Poe, Vice President of Legal Innovation Strategy at Legora, to explore how generative AI is reshaping law firm economics, fee structures and competitive advantage. From building practical AI workflows to understanding the data moat that will differentiate tomorrow's legal leaders, Kyle shares actionable strategies for firms ready to move beyond hourly billing and compete in an AI-driven legal landscape.
AI has taken over legal in a way lawyers didn’t expect. But what if lawyers and AI could evolve alongside each other? In this episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Joe Stephens and Adrian Cea sit down with Steve Embry of embryLaw LLC, national litigator and renowned legal tech writer, to explore the collision between artificial intelligence and traditional legal practice. Drawing from decades of litigation experience and bar leadership, Steve cuts through the hype surrounding generative AI adoption to examine what these tools actually mean for law firms, litigation workflows and the future of legal work itself.
AI isn’t all it’s cut out to be - this episode reveals what it is.
The fabric of American law is changing - courts are in crisis, judges are under threat - and something needs to change. This episode of Between the Briefs by Steno reveals the ‘what’. Tune in as hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Eric Weitz, Founder of the Weitz Law Firm and President of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, to explore why finding your authentic voice in the courtroom matters, how to leverage technology like AI-powered transcript analysis to strengthen case preparation and the key strategies to secure non-economic settlements that drive systemic change in healthcare. Trial lawyers find themselves at an inflection point. This episode reminds us how to make the best of it.
Change is always uncomfortable. But in today’s tech-driven world, it is necessary. In this episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Joe Stephens and Adrian Cea welcome Carolyn Humpherys, Senior Consultant at Traveling Coaches, to explore the critical gap between implementing new technology and achieving genuine organizational adoption. And, most importantly - how law firms can bridge that divide. Drawing from her experience as a change management consultant and certified legal trainer with over thirty years of experience, she offers valuable insights and strategies on making adoption and innovation a reality within law firms.
Retaining top legal talent often feels like an uphill climb. Unless you have Karen Mesmer’s playbook. In this episode of Between the Briefs, Karen, Legal Services Manager at Shook, Hardy and Bacon, joins hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens to explore how premier litigation firms are evolving their operations in the face of technological disruption. Drawing on nearly four decades of experience - from paralegal to operational strategist - Karen reveals the human-centered approach to hiring, staff development and technology adoption that sustains excellence in complex litigation environments.
The legal industry is nothing without its people. So, it’s time we started paying attention to them.
What’s it going to take for legal companies to wholeheartedly embrace legal technology? Social proof, as Ted Theodoropoulos, CEO of Infodash, puts it. In this episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens, pick Ted’s brain about why law firms have historically resisted technological innovation, how generative AI is forcing a fundamental reckoning with firm economics and what structural changes must occur for large law to truly embrace the digital transformation already reshaping the industry.
We’ve essentially reached the point of no return. And, that’s a good thing.
Four lawyers. Four archetypes. One framework.
In this special episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea sits down with Dylan Ruga, Carly Savar, and Joe Stephens to unpack Steno’s new Attorney Work Styles Framework - a quiz that reveals whether you’re a Research Commander, Strategic Architect, Courtroom Dynamo, or Narrative Weaver.
More than labels, these archetypes highlight strengths, blind spots, and how different lawyers collaborate. Through stories from practice, investor pitches, public defense clinics, and courtroom battles, this episode reveals how knowing your style can improve preparation, teamwork, persuasion and ultimately, your results for clients.
“We’re going to be okay” - sometimes that’s all we need to hear. In the latest episode of Between the Briefs, Christina Natale, Director of Legal Strategy & Solutions at HIKE2, sends this message to all lawyers living in the age of AI. Her mantra is simple - AI cannot practice law the way lawyers do. But it can change how it is practiced. Drawing from her experience across complex litigation, the Department of Justice, and law firm operations, Christina shares a framework for technology adoption that prioritizes discovery over installation, change management over disruption, and human judgment over blind automation.
This episode is the playbook you need to get legal AI/ tech right in 2026.
Employment law stands at the cusp of transformation in the age of AI, but poor hiring strategies could cost you everything. In this episode of Between the Briefs, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephen sit down with Adam Maxwell, litigation partner at Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC, to explore why employment law compliance shouldn't stifle business growth, how to navigate non-competes across state lines and the critical softer skills that separate good lawyers from exceptional ones. From managing high-stakes depositions to leveraging AI for legal efficiency, Adam shares battle-tested strategies for protecting your business while staying agile in today's evolving legal landscape.
If you’ve been looking for actionable insights to stay ahead of compliance gaps before they become costly litigation, this is the conversation for you.
We’ve all heard that AI can make lawyers better at their jobs. But now there’s data-backed research to prove it. In the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome Daniel Schwarcz, Professor at University of Minnesota, to discuss the groundbreaking paper, “AI-Powered Lawyering” and its empirical findings on how certain AI tools are reshaping legal practice - specifically about retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems and reasoning models. Daniel walks us through eye-opening revelations that reveal how AI integration produces measurable improvements in both efficiency and work quality, while exploring the nuanced challenges, ethical considerations and labor market implications attorneys must navigate.
Every lawyer needs proof - this study is all the evidence you could need about AI use in today’s legal landscape.
What does it take to land some of the biggest personal injury verdicts in history? Tyler Barnett, an accomplished attorney at Yuhl | Carr LLP, spills the beans in the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno. Tune in as hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Tyler to explore the critical elements required to build a thriving boutique practice - psychological astuteness, rigorous case selection and a thoughtful approach to emerging legal technologies that enhances rather than replaces human judgment.
This episode is a masterclass in creating the perfect success formula to winning (for your clients and for yourself) in personal injury law.
Contrary to popular belief, AI won’t replace lawyers. But it’s important to remember that lawyers who use AI are a formidable opponent. In the latest episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Kella T. Parks, Managing Member at Parks Ziegler, to explore how AI and modern technology are reshaping law firm economics, why legacy systems are costing you more than you realize and the concrete strategies to future-proof your practice. From leveraging AI for document review to implementing data-driven KPIs that actually move the needle, Kellam shares actionable insights on competing in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.
This conversation reveals all the perks of embracing technology - a reminder that it can transform your profitability, client service and quality of life tomorrow.
Moving from receptionist to federal magistrate judge is the kind of journey we see on the silver screen. For Judge Allison Goddard, that’s just life. And, for us on Between the Briefs by Steno, it's proof that embracing serendipity, maintaining genuine human connection and leveraging emerging technologies can fundamentally reshape legal practice and judicial efficiency. Tune into the latest episode as hosts Adrian and Joe sit down with Judge Allison Goddard, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of California, to explore her unconventional path to the bench, her innovative approach to settlement conferences, and her forward-thinking integration of AI tools into judicial operations.
From candid insights on building credibility with litigants to the critical importance of maintaining human-centered legal practice as technology transforms the profession, this episode uncovers it all.
What if building a practice can teach you more about law than practicing law? That’s what happened in Scott C. Pappas’ case and we’re exploring!
In the latest episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Scott, Managing Partner at Omnus Law to unpack the ins and outs of building an innovative firm that is revolutionizing the legal industry through their metaverse-based workplace, transparent billing structure, and commitment to attorney well-being. Tune in for invaluable insights on fostering a culture of grace and kindness in law practice, leveraging AI responsibly, and creating a sustainable work-life balance for legal professionals.
If you’re interested in being a lawyer of the future, this episode offers a compelling vision of how technology and human-centered practices are reshaping the future of law.
In this episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea speaks with Judge Frank Szymanski, longtime juvenile court judge in Detroit. Frank shares how trauma shapes behaviour, why courts must ask “what was done to them?”, and how mindfulness-based interventions in schools and courts cut costs while improving outcomes. From yoga to evidence-backed meditation programmes, his focus is simple: deliver peace first, and better decisions follow.
Every single organization in the world needs a regulatory body that monitors compliance and ethics. Even cannabis companies. In this riveting episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome Samantha Misch, Senior Paralegal at Green Thumb Industries, for an insightful discussion on navigating the evolving intersection of law and cannabis compliance. While they unpack the fascinating world of legalized cannabis today, this conversation offers unique insights on how paralegals can adapt to industry changes, valuable strategies for career advancement in legal operations, and the delicate balance between traditional legal work and emerging technologies.
If practical wisdom that keeps you agile is what you’re looking for, this is the episode for you.
In this episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens talk with Evan Shenkman, Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer at Fisher Phillips. Evan shares how disciplined knowledge management, clean data, and responsible AI are transforming legal operations, from enterprise search and expert-finding to the next frontier of “ambient AI” that anticipates lawyer needs in real time.
The legal landscape is undergoing a mammoth transformation in every regard - from tech to business models - and legal marketing is no exception. In these circumstances, attention to legal marketing vs. the lack of it could be the difference between your firm’s success and its failure. Join us as we unpack the evolution of this space on the latest episode of Between the Briefs as host Adrian Cea sits down with Michael Mellor, Founder of 742 Advisors, and a legal marketing expert to talk about transforming law firm marketing and business development strategies for small and mid-sized firms.
With over two decades of experience, Michael shares insights on implementing effective marketing systems and changing traditional mindsets about legal business development.
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