At Legal Geek 2024, Anthony Seale, CEO of Legatics, delivered an insightful and engaging talk titled Problem first: using legal tech to drive profitability. Through clever analogies involving kitchen gadgets, he tackled a fundamental question for legal professionals: should we adopt a problem-first or solution-first approach when selecting legal technology? Here’s a recap of the key lessons from his thought-provoking session.
The problem with solution-first thinking
Anthony began with a cautionary tale featuring his sous vide machine—a high-tech cooking gadget that promised restaurant-quality results at home. Despite the initial excitement and media buzz, the sous vide now sits unused in his kitchen cupboard. This, Anthony argued, exemplifies the risks of a “solution-first” mindset in legal tech.
When organizations focus on trends or flashy new tools, they often end up with technology that doesn’t address their real needs. He illustrated this further with his molecular gastronomy kit—a fascinating device that creates vegan “caviar” using sodium alginate and calcium lactate. While intellectually intriguing, the kit solves a niche problem, offering limited practical value.
“These types of tools,” Anthony explained, “may excite us with their cleverness, but they often fail to solve pressing, widespread problems, rendering them unprofitable in the long run.”
The power of a problem-first approach
Shifting gears, Anthony introduced the audience to his “egg slicer” analogy. This simple tool solves a clear problem: slicing eggs. However, it addresses a niche issue—one that doesn’t arise frequently enough to justify significant investment. In the legal world, tools like this might serve a small group of users, but they’re unlikely to deliver broad profitability.
For Anthony, the pinnacle of problem-first thinking lies in the kitchen knife. It’s not flashy, but it’s essential. A versatile tool, the knife solves a universal problem—cutting ingredients for nearly every meal—and it rarely leaves the kitchen counter.
“Just like my knife,” Anthony explained, “the best legal technology addresses widespread, everyday problems, making it indispensable. These are the tools that drive real profitability.”
Key takeaways
Anthony’s talk offered several practical lessons for firms evaluating legal tech investments:
- Start with the Problem: Identify the challenges faced by your organization, legal ops team, or clients. The most valuable tools address recurring, widespread issues.
- Assess the Scale: Ensure the problem is significant enough to justify investment. Niche solutions might satisfy specific needs but won’t deliver broad profitability.
- Prioritize Usability: The most impactful tools are often simple and intuitive, seamlessly integrating into workflows and driving consistent results.
Driving profitability with the right legal tech
Anthony concluded by emphasizing that legal technology should align with the overarching goal of profitability. While innovative solutions may appeal to intellectual curiosity, the real value lies in tools that solve common problems effectively and consistently.
By adopting a problem-first mindset, firms can build a legal tech stack that delivers tangible benefits—from streamlining processes to enhancing client service. This, in turn, translates to improved productivity, increased revenue, and a healthier bottom line.
Watch Anthony’s insights in action
Curious to watch Anthony Seale unpack these ideas with his culinary analogies? Tune in below to learn how problem-first thinking drives real profitability.
