Ed. note: This is the latest installment of The ATL Interrogatories, a recurring feature giving notable members of the legal community an opportunity to share insights and experiences about the legal profession and careers in law, as well as about their firms and themselves.
Samuel Shusterhoff, the Founder & President of LawNearMe.com, has been involved in entrepreneurial activities since his college years. He has started and grown numerous businesses, but found his passion with LawNearMe.com, a conduit where consumers can find an attorney, research the credentials of an attorney, and schedule an appointment instantly with a local attorney best suited for their individual needs. Sam graduated from Indiana University and pursued his legal education at Widener University School of Law, where he graduated in May of 2012. He was hired as an associate at a mid-size law firm in midtown Manhattan. Almost immediately, he realized that the legal community was out of touch with the new generations — the internet frenzy, the “get everything you want in the touch of a button, no matter where you are” generation. He saw a niche that needed to be filled, and felt he had the concept and the product to fill that niche. This was the genesis that led to the founding of LawNearMe.com.
1. What is the greatest challenge to the legal industry over the next 5 years?
The greatest technological challenge to the legal industry over the next 5 years is actually accepting and adapting to the evolving industry. Attorneys need to realize that if they do not adapt they will die (figuratively). We are in a world of instant gratification. Lawyers no longer have the luxury of connecting with clients days after they need one. When an individual is involved in a car accident or is being arrested or just needs an attorney, they are no longer calling their family or friends for a referral. They are taking out their computer, tablet or — increasingly — their smartphone and finding and connecting with an attorney within minutes or seconds.
2. What has been the biggest positive change in legal technology since the start of your career?
The most positive change in legal technology is the accessibility for legal clients. For years now, the only legal technology that existed and was accessible was for attorneys. Attorneys used the technology for their practice (i.e., research) and for advertising. Now, legal technology has evolved to help the legal client. There are now legal technology companies that not only help client’s research and connect with attorneys but also companies that allow the clients to do the legal work themselves.
3. What has been the biggest negative change in legal technology since the start of your career?
Legal technology is making it harder for attorneys to keep their clients’ information private. With new client software and more attorneys keeping their files online, there is a lack of security which means clients’ information is vulnerable.
4. What do you think would help firms become earlier adopters of new technologies?
Results. If attorneys begin to experiment and adopt legal technologies and they work, they will be much more inclined to adopt new technologies that are developed moving forward.
5. What is the biggest cybersecurity blunder you’ve seen in working with lawyers and law firms?
Client information has been sent to the wrong recipient. As mentioned previously, with legal technology bringing more aspects of the law firm online, it seems that cybersecurity has not kept up with this new technology and law firms are not protecting themselves enough.
6. What do you think the future holds for legal technology?
The future of legal technology will be acceptance. The old generation of lawyers who refuse to build a website or advertise online will be retiring and the younger generations will be looking to stay ahead. Legal technology will become the rule and not the exception.
7. PC or Mac?
Mac. “Details matter, it’s worth waiting to get it right.” – Steve Jobs
