The Kennedy-Mighell Report

What if you had an AI that not only assisted you, but acted as a highly trained source of strategic support in your day-to-day work? Dennis and Tom explore the idea of creating an AI Chief of Staff that could function in an organizational or advisory role. They share their experimental approach, walk through their methods for developing and training the AI to work for them, and discuss the challenges they’ve encountered along the way. Later, they shift to a common pitfall: buying technology to solve law firm pain points, only to discover it isn’t the...

AI, GenAI, agentic AI—what’s the difference between these forms of artificial intelligence? Dennis and Tom welcome Mary Mack of EDRM to talk through the latest in AI developments and how they are impacting legal in multitudinous ways. Mary also shares how her unique career blend of IT and law came about and offers her unique perspective on the opportunities in today’s market for technology careers adjacent to the legal profession.  As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have...

When teaching technology, empathy and patience are key to helping the learner engage and understand tech’s necessary role in legal practice. Dennis and Tom talk with Michael Kraft about his many years in IT service to legal professionals. They discuss practical methods for encouraging tech competence, favorite tools for collaboration, recent legal tech trends, AI, and much more. Michael also shares insights into his fascinating career path in legal technology, with an early start founding Kraft Kennedy in 1988—a business that has grown into a trusted IT solutions provider in the legal industry and beyond.  As alway...

AI is disrupting every facet of the law, and understanding how to engage with AI technologies is essential for all attorneys and law students. Dennis and Tom talk with April Dawson about her experience researching and teaching about ethical, effective AI uses in the legal world while preserving vital learning skills for law students. They discuss AI challenges in law schools, AI governance considerations, new applications for AI in access to justice, and much more.  As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast e...

Is true technology competence possible? The speed at which technology advances is now impossible to stay completely ahead of, but as lawyers, a commitment to lifelong learning and a focus on the humanistic side of law can help us engage effectively. Dennis and Tom talk with Marc Lauristen about his work with legal technology, lawyers, and law students. They talk through the challenges and opportunities surrounding AI, ways to manage technology education and implementation in the profession, and why being a good human is essential in our efforts to blend legal practice and services with helpful technologies.   As...

Debbie Foster hosts this edition of the Kennedy-Mighel Report to talk with Dennis and Tom about their 19 years and 400 episodes of podcasting! They talk through the past, present, and future of the podcast, discussing how they’ve remained in the space for so long, cringy and favorite moments from podcasts past, and what they’ve learned over many years together. They also talk about their future plans for the show and how new technology trends are influencing both the podcast and the broader legal profession.  As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or ob...

Are the guys on the verge of a major Second Brain breakthrough, hand in hand with AI? Dennis and Tom reexamine their ongoing Second Brain projects, discussing nagging questions about the efficacy of their current systems and how they plan to move forward with their personal knowledge management.  Later, a listener and long-time iPhone user wonders—are Android devices actually far superior? Tom has some major thoughts on the issue.  As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have...

Is AI the technology that will finally force lawyer tech competence? With rapid advances and the ability to address numerous problems and pain points in our legal systems, AI simply can’t be ignored. Dennis & Tom welcome Bridget McCormack to discuss her perspectives on current AI trends and other exciting new tech applications in legal spaces. Bridget also talks us through her fascinating career path and current projects.  As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for...

What we do as lawyers and judges is deeply human and deeply connected to our communities—so how does technology fit into that perspective? Dennis and Tom welcome Bridgette Carr to share her insights on technology training, AI, and the use of modern tools to solve legal problems and bolster the communities we serve. Drawing from her work with law students and clinical research, Bridgette explores the exciting ways AI and tech can advance the practice of law and improve access to justice. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation th...

Subscription and flat fee legal services have endless potential for modern law practice, and with legal tech by your side, you can scale with this fresh billing model. Dennis and Tom talk with Kimberly Bennett of Fidu about her experience developing subscription legal services and her current perspectives on the state of legal tech in the profession. They discuss Kimberly’s career path, how Fidu got its start, and her thoughts on the transformative potential of AI in legal practice.  As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use...

New approaches to legal service delivery are propelling us into the future. Don’t get left behind! AI and automations are making alternative service delivery easier and more efficient than ever. Dennis & Tom welcome Mathew Kerbis to learn more about his expertise in subscription-based legal services.  As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for the answers to your most burning tech questions. S...

Summer is the perfect time for travel, and the right tech tools can help you get even more enjoyment out of your wanderings! Dennis & Tom talk through a comprehensive list of travel-focused technology to assist with planning, organization, security, and comfort. Whether you're heading out for business or leisure, the guys offer a variety of practical tips to help you travel smarter. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can use the second the podcast ends. Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their...

Legal practice technologies help you provide better, more efficient services for your clients, but how do you leverage them to improve your practice? Dennis & Tom talk with Sarah McCormick about her collaborative tech approach that helps lawyers understand how to apply technology in legal practice. They discuss everyday essentials in legal tech, AI applications for both lawyers and law students, and Sarah also shares insights from her unique career path leading to expertise in legal operations, service delivery, and education.  As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that you can u...

Much of our AI exposure comes from the media headlines highlighting its best and worst-case scenarios, but does that give attorneys an accurate view of AI’s uses and capabilities? Dennis and Tom talk with Uwais Iqbal about his work in the legal AI space and his focus on helping attorneys understand and implement AI in legal practice. Uwais emphasizes the importance of educating lawyers on the basics of AI so that they can move forward with discernment in tech acquisition to enhance both workflows and client experience.    As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one t...

Determining which legal technology is best for your law firm can seem like a daunting task, so Legaltech Hub does the hard work for you! In another edition of Fresh Voices, Dennis and Tom talk with Nikki Shaver, CEO at Legaltech Hub, about her in-depth knowledge of technology and AI trends. Nikki shares what effective tech strategies should look like for attorneys and recommends innovative tools for maintaining best practices in modern law firms. Learn more at legaltechnologyhub.com. As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation that...

Of course AI will continue to make waves, but what other important legal technologies do you need to be aware of in 2025? Dennis and Tom give an overview of legal tech tools—both new and old—you should be using for successful, modernized legal workflows in your practice. They recommend solutions for task management, collaboration, calendars, projects, legal research, and more.  Later, the guys answer a listener's question about online prompt libraries. Are there reputable, useful prompts available freely on the internet? They discuss their suggestions for prompt resources and share why these libraries tend to quickly becom...

Copilot is a powerful tool for lawyers, but are you making the most of it within your Microsoft apps? Tom Mighell is flying solo at ABA TECHSHOW 2025 and welcomes Microsoft’s own Ben Schorr to the podcast. Ben shares expert insights into how lawyers can implement Copilot’s AI-assistance to work smarter, not harder. From drafting documents to analyzing spreadsheets to streamlining communication, Copilot can handle the tedious tasks so you can focus on what really matters. Ben shares numerous use-cases and capabilities for attorneys and later gives a sneak peek at Copilot’s coming enhancements. As al...

Not a week goes by without another new AI tool hitting the market, and this flood of product choices can be incredibly overwhelming for any consumer, lawyers included. So, how do attorneys figure out what they need and which tools are trustworthy? Dennis and Tom talk through the many categories of AI tools and explain how learning to use major LLM tools is essential in understanding AI’s uses and capabilities. They discuss ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot to give legal professionals a sense of how to engage effectively with AI tools and then offer their take on how to...

Legal teams work best when their operations run smoothly and efficiently, and developing innovations must be kept in mind as teams hone their legal operations strategies. Dennis and Tom talk with legal tech experts Amy Brookbanks and Michael Kennedy about their work helping lawyers and in-house legal teams work through problems with effective technology solutions. They discuss strategies for defining necessities in workflows to help lawyers understand how to implement technology to optimize their practices. They also discuss their career paths in the legal field and discuss current happenings in tech, AI, collaboration, and much more.<...

Courts matter, and the rule of law is essential to the success of our judicial system. However, collectively, we often do not fully understand the impact of courts on the wellbeing of society. In a wide-ranging discussion, Dennis and Tom talk with Jason Tashea about his perspectives on legal technology and its current impacts in the legal field, particularly in courts and information systems.They discuss potential technology and AI deployments in efforts for access to justice, and Jason points out the practical limitations all legal professionals should be aware of as they engage with AI in legal work. </p...