It’s no secret that firms are under increasing pressure to modernize their operations while safeguarding sensitive client data. At a recent Legal Leaders panel hosted by All Covered, legal operations leaders and technology experts came together to discuss the state of legal tech in 2025 and how firms can stay ahead.
The panel, moderated by Mike Hammond of All Covered, featured Stacey Ransleben (Director of Operations, Thompson & Horton), Reg Acosta (CFO, Weissman & Dervishi, PA), and Brian Monahan (Legal IT Consultant, All Covered). Their discussion spanned everything from AI adoption and compliance to cybersecurity risks and strategies for effective tech rollouts.
The Impact of AI in Law Firms
Using AI in law firms is a hot and, sometimes, controversial topic. How do you take advantage of new, game-changing tools while ensuring cybersecurity and responsibility?
Below, Reg Acosta highlighted how AI is revolutionizing the legal industry by enabling firms to work faster and smarter. He shared his firm's journey in adopting AI for legal research, emphasizing the significant time savings and support it provides, especially for new attorneys.
Stacey Ransleben added that while AI in law firms has faced some resistance from more traditional attorneys, it has proven invaluable in various non-legal departments such as HR and Marketing. She stressed the importance of using AI responsibly and ensuring that it complements rather than replaces human expertise.
Cybersecurity for Law Firms: Challenges and Solutions
Brian Monahan shed light on the growing importance of cybersecurity for law firms as threats rise, pointing out how firms are prime targets for cybercriminals due to the sensitive data they handle. Phishing attacks, malware, and ransomware are among the most significant threats, with AI making these attacks more sophisticated.
Real-world urgency was echoed by Acosta, whose firm was recently contacted by the FBI after a threat actor gained access to a partner’s laptop. Although no data was breached, the event prompted a serious reassessment of internal cybersecurity protocols.
Balancing Legacy Systems with Innovation in Law Firms
Ransleben underscored that migrating to new systems (like SaaS applications or cloud infrastructure) takes time and meticulous planning. She emphasized the need for flexible training methods and communication styles, noting that different employees absorb information in different ways. She also stressed the importance of involving partners not just in approving change, but in understanding and adopting it.
Measuring ROI of Tech Investments
When it comes to measuring the return on investment of tech investments, both Ransleben and Acosta agreed that it's not just about the numbers. Ransleben focuses on whether the technology makes employees' lives easier. “There's the saying, ‘Time is a currency of today.’ So you're kind of speaking in that tune. Right? You're providing more time back to them,” Ransleben said.
Acosta also highlighted the importance of saving time and improving work-life balance and client services. He states, “Reducing time, reducing cost, and improving client services would definitely make your bottom number grow no matter how you look at it.”
Compliance is a Must—Even If Clients Aren’t Demanding It Yet
While not all clients are asking for proof of IT compliance today, panelists agreed it’s only a matter of time. Ransleben and Acosta both emphasized working closely with managed IT service providers to proactively maintain and document compliance, rather than reacting after a breach or audit.
Conclusion
The Legal Leaders panel made it clear that innovation and comprehensive cybersecurity for law firms is more necessity than luxury. As threats evolve and client expectations rise, firms must embrace tools like AI and robust cybersecurity while carefully managing change across all levels of the organization. The most successful firms will be those that treat tech adoption not just as an IT challenge, but as a firm-wide cultural shift. View the full recording here.
Thinking of make a change in your firm to ensure resilience and future-readiness? Reach out to one of All Covered’s legal industry experts today for more information.
