This
tale
of
attorney
discipline
is
one
part
tech
failure
and
one
part
petty
misogyny, and
none
of
it
is
a
good
look. A
Michigan
appeals
court
upheld
the
criminal
contempt
finding
against
attorney
Marshall
Tauber,
decision
available
below,
for
comments
he
made
at
the
close
of
a
Zoom
hearing.
Judge
Yasmine
I.
Pole
ruled
against
Tauber’s
client,
and
at
the
close
of
the
Zoom
hearing
he
was
heard
saying:
“Judge
–
–
thank
you.
F******
c***.”
Yikes
town!
The
trial
court
described
the
incident
as
follows:
While
the
Court
is
on
the
record
with
the
Oakland
County
Jail
still
logged
into
the
record,
while
the
Court
in
its
immediate
sitting
and
view,
[appellant]
participated
in
willful
disregard
to
the
court’s
authority
by
rendering
a
gender-based
slur
to
the
Court,
the
word
which
does
not
–
–
it
does
not
fairly
roll
off
my
tongue
as
easily
as
it
does
[appellant’s]
–
–
was,
“f***
c.”
That
is,
wow.
Members
of
staff
are
also
in
the
courtroom
while
[Tauber’s
client],
who
the
Court
has
gone
back
to
review
this
video,
appears
himself
to
be
in
shock
that
the
Court
would
be
called
such
a
thing.
According
to
Tauber,
he
believed
he
was
no
longer
connected
to
the
Zoom
(he
was
attending
the
virtual
hearing
from
his
car,
and
the
screen
went
black
and
he
mistakenly
thought
he
was
disconnected).
During
the
contempt
hearing,
Tauber’s
attorney
said
he
was
“technologically
inept,”
and
did
not
intend
for
anyone
else
to
hear
the
slur.
But
the
appeals
court
said
just
because
this
happened
during
a
virtual
hearing
“does
not
preclude
a
finding
that
misconduct
or
insolent
behavior
by
an
attorney
constitutes
contempt.”
The
appellate
court
also
shot
down
the
argument
that
Tauber’s
action
weren’t
willful
because
they
were
uttered
in
frustration.
“But,
the
term
‘willful’
for
purposes
of
criminal
contempt
does
not
require
such
an
intention.
Rather,
the
willful
disregard
consists
of
a
statement
that
tends
to
impair
the
court’s
authority
or
impedes
its
functioning.”
The
court
continued,
“Demeaning
or
belittling
the
trial
court,
particularly
in
front
of
a
client,
erodes
the
public’s
confidence
in
the
judicial
system.”
Tauber
told
the
ABA
Journal
he
intends
to
appeal
the
decision
to
the
Michigan
Supreme
Court:
“When
your
activities
are
in
that
gray
area
of
the
ether
where
the
court
controls
when
you’re
off
the
so-called
air,
when
are
you
out
of
the
court?”
Tauber
says
in
an
ABA
Journal
interview.
“I
thought
I
was
out
of
the
court
when
I
said
thank
you,
your
honor.”
Tauber
estimates
that
six
to
eight
seconds
elapsed
between
the
time
he
thanked
the
judge
and
when
he
made
the
remarks.
“They
weren’t
directed
at
her,
they
weren’t
intended
to
be
insulting
to
her,
they
were
just
my
thought
at
that
moment,”
he
says.
“And
I
didn’t
think
I
was
in
the
courtroom.”
That
sure
doesn’t
read
like
the
airtight
defense
he
seems
to
think
it
is.
Kathryn
Rubino
is
a
Senior
Editor
at
Above
the
Law,
host
of
The
Jabot
podcast,
and
co-host
of
Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
AtL
tipsters
are
the
best,
so
please
connect
with
her.
Feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments
and
follow
her
on
Twitter
@Kathryn1 or
Mastodon
@[email protected].
I’m
actually
somewhat
concerned
about
the
Court.
It’s
a
little
bit
too
personal
and
confrontational,
some
of
the
opinions.
I’m
hoping
that
will
settle
down
a
little
bit.
—
Former
Justice
Anthony
Kennedy,
in
comments
given
during
an
interview
with
CBS
News
to
discuss
his
memoir, “Life,
Law
and
Liberty” (affiliate
link).
Careful
not
to
criticize
his
colleagues
on
the
Supreme
Court,
Kennedy
went
on
to
express
his
concerns
about
civility
and
ethics,
saying,
“Democracy
presumes
an
open,
rational,
thoughtful,
decent
discussion
where
you
respect
the
dignity
of
the
person
with
whom
you
disagree.
And
if
it
doesn’t
have
that,
then
democracy
as
we
know
it
is
in
danger.”
Staci
Zaretsky is
the
managing
editor
of
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
She’d
love
to
hear
from
you,
so
please
feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
comments,
or
critiques.
You
can
follow
her
on Bluesky, X/Twitter,
and Threads, or
connect
with
her
on LinkedIn.
Reveal
founder
Wendell
Jisa
is
stepping
upstairs
to
Chairman
after
nearly
two
decades
turning
a
bootstrapped
idea
into
an
AI-fueled
empire
spanning
Brainspace,
Logikcull,
Onna,
and
a
host
of
other
properly
tech-sounding
portmanteau
or
vowel-less
brand
names.
Taking
up
the
CEO
mantle
will
be
Eric
Harmon,
who
arrives
from
cybersecurity
firm
Trustwave,
having
previously
worked
with
DXC
Technology,
HP
Enterprise,
McKinsey.
Jisa
helped
drag
the
discovery
into
the
21st
century
in
an
industry
that
has
nearly
as
many
crazy
thoughts
about
“Cloud”
as
a
Geocities
blog
about
chemtrails.
“Building
and
growing
Reveal
to
the
powerhouse
it
is
today
has
been
the
journey
of
a
lifetime,”
Jisa
said
in
a
press
release.
“What
began
with
a
vision
to
modernize
legal
processes
has
evolved
into
a
global
platform
that’s
reshaping
the
future
of
the
entire
legal
industry.
With
our
foundation
stronger
than
ever
and
our
momentum
building,
the
time
is
right
for
a
new
leader
to
take
us
even
further.
As
Chairman
of
the
Board,
I’ll
continue
to
work
closely
with
Eric
and
Reveal’s
leadership
team
to
support
the
company’s
strategic
growth
from
a
new
vantage
point.”
On
the
one
hand,
this
story
follows
a
familiar
pattern:
founder
ascends
to
visionary
role,
new
exec
promises
to
scale
globally,
etc.,
etc.,
etc.
But
the
decision
to
reach
across
the
legal
tech
moat
and
tap
the
cybersecurity
space
to
lead
this
company
seems
significant
at
this
juncture.
While
we
think
of
cybersecurity
as
its
own
animal,
with
discovery
platforms
loaded
up
with
trade
secrets
and
government
materials,
discovery
is
increasingly
a
cybersecurity
issue.
“Eric
is
a
transformational
leader
who
understands
how
to
scale
high-performing
technology
organizations
while
staying
close
to
customers
and
delivering
measurable
results,”
Jisa
added,
collecting
a
precious
BINGO
point
for
deploying
the
word
“scale.”
“He’s
the
right
person
at
the
right
time,
and
I
look
forward
to
partnering
with
him
closely
in
this
next
chapter.”
And
as
he
scales,
Harmon
will
bring
the
security
experience
that
no
one
wants
to
talk
about,
but
everyone
desperately
needs
right
now.
There
are
prompt
injection
strategies
coming
for
discovery
sets
that
should
worry
everyone.
Reveal
probably
didn’t
hire
Harmon
solely
because
of
his
cybersecurity
experience,
but
they’ve
signaled
to
everyone
that
they
get
how
important
it
is
right
now.
FASORP
is
a
group
that
takes
itself
very
seriously
—
which
is
why
it
tickles
my
soul
to
know
that
my
first
story
on
them
was
written
on
April
1st.
The
organization’s
whole
identity
is
centered
on
not
being
good
enough
and
making
it
other
people’s
problem.
They
go
at
length
to
perform
their
not-good-enoughness,
not
just
in
that
they
are
comprised
of
faculty
and
students
who
weren’t
good
enough
to
get
their
papers
published
or
onto
law
review,
but
their
law
suit
history
is
just
a
series
of
failures.
They
failed
when
they
sued
Northwestern
on
behalf
of
White
teachers
who
didn’t
even
apply,
their
action
against
Harvard
didn’t
seem
to
go
anywhere,
and
most
recently
they
threw
in
the
towel
for
their
fight
against
University
of
Michigan.
Reuters
has
coverage:
A
conservative
legal
group
has
ended
a
discrimination
lawsuit
against
the
University
of
Michigan’s
flagship
law
journal. … FASORP
voluntarily
dismissed
the
lawsuit
on
Friday
without
explanation.
The
group’s
attorney,
Jonathan
Mitchell,
did
not
immediately
respond
on
Monday
to
a
request
for
comment
and
more
information,
including
on
whether
the
case
had
settled.
The
law
journal,
which
was
due
to
respond
to
the
suit
by
Monday,
did
not
respond
to
a
request
for
comment.
The
law
school
had
no
immediate
comment.
As
much
as
I
respect
UMichigan’s
strategy
of
do
nothing…win,
I
wish
they
would
have
taken
the
hat
of
discipline
approach.
To
catch
you
up
on
the
lore,
FASORP’s
“activism”
ranged
from
advocating
that
law
review
applicants
lie
on
their
personal
statements
to
get
ahead
at
both
UMichigan
and
Harvard,
threatening
schools
to
save
all
of
their
emails
for
a
coming
lawsuit
or
face
the
consequences,
and
the
general
promise
to
out
anyone
who
was
“female,
non-white
and
non-Asian,
or
homosexual
or
transgender”
as
a
“DEI
hire”
with
“tainted
credentials.”
Being
a
right-winger
committed
to
questions
of
desert
must
come
with
so
much
whiplash;
I’d
recommend
some
Tylenol
for
the
neck
pain
sustained
from
switching
from
“show
me
Ketanji’s
LSAT
scores!”
to
“Because
at
the
end
of
the
day,
what
really
makes
anybody
qualified
for
any
job?”
but
apparently
that
causes
autism
now.
Chris
Williams
became
a
social
media
manager
and
assistant
editor
for
Above
the
Law
in
June
2021.
Prior
to
joining
the
staff,
he
moonlighted
as
a
minor
Memelord™
in
the
Facebook
group Law
School
Memes
for
Edgy
T14s
.
He
endured
Missouri
long
enough
to
graduate
from
Washington
University
in
St.
Louis
School
of
Law.
He
is
a
former
boatbuilder
who
is
learning
to
swim, is
interested
in
critical
race
theory,
philosophy,
and
humor,
and
has
a
love
for
cycling
that
occasionally
annoys
his
peers.
You
can
reach
him
by
email
at [email protected]
and
by
tweet
at @WritesForRent.
Zimbabwe has
stepped
into
2025
as
one
of
the
world’s
most
admired travel
destinations,
blending
natural
grandeur
with
modern
convenience.
Recognized
globally
for
its scenic
beauty, diverse
attractions,
and
forward-looking tourism
policies,
the
nation
is
redefining
how
visitors
experience
Southern
Africa.
The
country’s
transformation
is
visible
in
its
new tourism
strategy,
a
focus
on sustainability,
and
major
improvements
in infrastructure and traveler
services.
From
the
thundering Victoria
Falls to
the Great
Zimbabwe
Monument,
and
from
the
wilds
of Hwange
National
Park to
the
serenity
of Lake
Kariba,
every
corner
of
Zimbabwe
has
been
crafted
for
memorable
exploration.
Tourism
Growth
and
Global
Recognition
Recent
data
has
reflected
a
strong
upward
trend
in
Zimbabwe’s
tourism
sector.
Over 1.6
million
international
arrivals were
recorded
in 2024,
generating
around US$1.2
billion in
tourism
receipts
and US$190.5
million in
new
investments.
The
first
half
of
2024
alone
saw
a 27%
rise in
arrivals
and
a 24%
increase in
earnings,
showing
the
confidence
travelers
have
placed
in
Zimbabwe’s
tourism
recovery.
This
growth
has
been
supported
by transparent
reporting from
the Zimbabwe
Tourism
Authority
(ZTA),
which
continues
to
release Tourism
Trends
and
Statistics
Reports.
These
updates
reflect
consistent
expansion,
proving
Zimbabwe’s
ability
to
thrive
amid
global
competition
and
shifting
traveler
expectations.
Tourism
Leadership
and
Policy
Vision
Under
the
leadership
of Tourism
Minister
Barbara
Rwodzi,
the
government
has
pushed
for
policies
that
simplify licensing,
reduce operational
costs,
and
encourage private
sector
investment.
Tourism
has
been
officially
recognized
as
a
pillar
of
national
economic
growth,
contributing
to employment, foreign
exchange,
and community
development.
The Tourism
and
Hospitality
Industry
Policy
(2025–2030) is
at
the
heart
of
this
reform.
It
emphasizes modernization, sustainability, diversification,
and quality
enhancement.
The
policy
encourages
cooperation
between
public
agencies,
private
operators,
and
local
communities,
ensuring
that
tourism
growth
benefits
both
visitors
and
residents.
The ZimBho!
campaign—short
for Zimbabwe
is
Beautiful—has
been
developed
to
inspire
locals
and
the
diaspora
to
explore
their
homeland.
The
initiative
has
promoted
road
trips,
cultural
tourism,
and
weekend
escapes,
helping
spread
tourism
income
across
lesser-known
regions.
For
international
travelers,
this
program
has
created
new
experiences:
improved
roads,
revitalized
lodges,
and
community-led
tourism
products
that
provide
authentic
cultural
encounters.
2.
Simplified
Licensing
and
Investor
Incentives
Zimbabwe
has
overhauled
its tourism
licensing
system,
cutting
bureaucratic
delays
and
offering tax
incentives for
investors.
Hotels,
lodges,
and
safari
companies
can
now
import
equipment
duty-free,
leading
to
upgrades
in
accommodation
quality
and
availability.
Investment
has
surged—rising
over 120% between
2021
and
2022—showing
growing
confidence
in
the
country’s business-friendly
environment.
The
result
is
more
choices,
improved
comfort,
and
higher
standards
for
tourists.
3.
The
2025–2030
Strategic
Tourism
Policy
The Strategic
Tourism
and
Hospitality
Policy sets
a
clear
roadmap
for
sustainable
and
inclusive
tourism.
The
plan
focuses
on eco-friendly
development, heritage
preservation, community
participation,
and service
excellence.
Under
this
policy,
emphasis
has
been
placed
on
developing adventure
tourism, wellness
travel,
and heritage-based
experiences,
making
Zimbabwe
appealing
to
both
luxury
travelers
and
explorers
seeking
meaningful
connections.
4.
Infrastructure
and
Airport
Upgrades
Zimbabwe’s
key
airports,
including Victoria
Falls
International
Airport,
are
undergoing
major
expansions.
Runways
are
being
lengthened
and
new
terminals
are
being
developed
to
handle
larger
aircraft.
Victoria
Falls has
also
been
designated
as
a Tourism
Special
Economic
Zone
(SEZ) and
an International
Financial
Center,
drawing
global
attention
to
the
area.
These
projects
make
travel
smoother,
safer,
and
more
accessible
for
both
international
tourists
and
regional
travelers.
5.
Community-Based
Tourism
and
Local
Development
Zimbabwe’s community-based
tourism (CBT)
projects
have
been
essential
in
empowering
local
communities
to
benefit
from
the
tourism
economy.
Visitors
can
experience
traditional
villages,
cultural
performances,
and
locally
guided
tours
while
contributing
directly
to
community
growth.
These
programs
preserve
heritage
and
ensure
that
tourism
profits
are
distributed
fairly.
Initiatives
supported
by UNESCO,
such
as
the Great
Zimbabwe
Destination
Development
Strategy,
have
upgraded
heritage
sites
and
improved
visitor
infrastructure.
6.
MICE
and
Business
Tourism
Promotion
Zimbabwe
is
now
a
rising
hub
for Meetings,
Incentives,
Conferences,
and
Exhibitions
(MICE) through
its National
Convention
Bureau.
The
country’s
improved
facilities,
modern
hotels,
and
event
centers
have
made
it
an
attractive
choice
for
regional
business
events.
The
expansion
of
business
travel
helps
maintain
steady
tourism
flow
throughout
the
year,
reducing
seasonal
dips
and
enhancing
hospitality
standards
nationwide.
7.
Destination
Image
and
Brand
Promotion
To
change
outdated
perceptions,
Zimbabwe
has
launched
comprehensive destination
image
programs aimed
at
strengthening
global
confidence.
Through
social
media,
digital
storytelling,
and
international
partnerships,
Zimbabwe’s
image
as
a safe,
welcoming,
and
world-class
destination is
being
effectively
promoted.
This
image
transformation
aligns
with
travelers’
growing
preference
for sustainable, authentic,
and culturally
rich experiences.
Travel
Made
Easier:
Modern
Visa
Policies
and
Border
Upgrades
The
eVisa
Revolution
Zimbabwe’s official
eVisa
system allows
visitors
to
apply
online
for single, double,
or multiple-entry
visas before
traveling.
This
upgrade
has
drastically
reduced
airport
queues
and
simplified
arrival
formalities.
Travelers
from
various
nationalities
can
still
access visa-on-arrival options,
but
the
eVisa
remains
the
fastest
and
most
convenient
pathway
for
most
tourists.
Digital
Arrival
Forms
A
newly
introduced digital
immigration
form now
replaces
paper
declarations.
Visitors
are
encouraged
to
complete
it
online
before
travel,
although
airport
kiosks
are
available
for
on-site
completion.
The
system
shortens
entry
time
and
supports
Zimbabwe’s
broader
digital
transformation
agenda.
The
KAZA
Univisa
The KAZA
Univisa allows
easy
travel
between Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola,
and Namibia for
up
to 30
days.
This
regional
initiative
encourages
seamless
multi-country
exploration
and
enhances
Zimbabwe’s
connectivity
within
Southern
Africa’s
tourism
circuit.
Unforgettable
Destinations
and
Experiences
Victoria
Falls:
The
Natural
Wonder
The
journey
often
begins
at Victoria
Falls,
one
of
the
planet’s
most
dramatic
landscapes.
Visitors
can
walk
through
the
rainforest
trails,
enjoy
panoramic
viewpoints,
and
witness
the
Zambezi
River
plunging
into
deep
gorges.
Beyond
sightseeing,
travelers
can
take helicopter
flights, river
cruises,
and adventure
sports such
as
bungee
jumping
or
white-water
rafting.
Evenings
often
conclude
with
tranquil sunset
cruises and
vibrant
local
entertainment.
Hwange
National
Park:
The
Safari
Capital
From
Victoria
Falls,
travelers
typically
move
toward Hwange
National
Park,
the
country’s
largest
reserve
and
home
to
vast
elephant
herds
and
predators.
The
park
offers morning
and
evening
game
drives, walking
safaris,
and
opportunities
for
close
wildlife
photography.
Well-developed
lodges
and
eco-camps
offer
guests
the
chance
to
experience
Africa’s
wilderness
with
both
comfort
and
authenticity.
Lake
Kariba:
Africa’s
Inland
Sea
A
shift
from
savanna
to
water
takes
travelers
to Lake
Kariba,
famous
for
its
houseboats,
fishing
excursions,
and
spectacular
sunsets.
Visitors
can
enjoy boat
safaris, birdwatching,
and local
village
tours while
surrounded
by
tranquil
scenery.
Kariba
serves
as
a
refreshing
midpoint
between
safari
adventures
and
relaxation,
offering
a
combination
of
leisure
and
wildlife.
Mana
Pools
National
Park:
Untamed
Beauty
Further
along
the
Zambezi
lies Mana
Pools
National
Park,
a UNESCO
World
Heritage
Site celebrated
for
its walking
and
canoe
safaris.
The
park’s
floodplains,
dotted
with
acacia
and
fig
trees,
attract
elephants,
hippos,
and
a
rich
variety
of
birds.
Mana
Pools
provides
a
raw,
immersive
wilderness
experience—one
of
Africa’s
most
intimate
encounters
with
nature.
Cultural
and
Highland
Escapes
Inland,
travelers
can
explore
the Great
Zimbabwe
Monument,
an
ancient
stone
city
that
tells
the
story
of
centuries-old
African
civilization.
To
the
east,
the Eastern
Highlands invite
visitors
to
misty
mountains,
waterfalls,
and
hiking
trails.
These
regions
add
cultural
depth
and
scenic
variety,
balancing
Zimbabwe’s
wildlife
adventures
with
history,
art,
and
natural
tranquility.
A
10-Day
Explorer’s
Itinerary
Day
1–2:
Victoria
Falls –
Arrival,
guided
waterfall
tour,
rainforest
walk,
and
Zambezi
River
cruise.
Day
3–5:
Hwange
National
Park –
Safari
drives,
wildlife
viewing,
and
conservation
experiences.
Day
6–8:
Lake
Kariba
&
Matusadona –
Boat
cruises,
fishing,
and
sunset
leisure.
Day
9–10:
Mana
Pools –
Walking
and
canoe
safaris
followed
by
return
to
Victoria
Falls
or
onward
travel.
For
travelers
with
more
time,
optional
extensions
to Harare, Bulawayo,
or
the Eastern
Highlands add
urban
culture
and
mountain
exploration
to
the
adventure.
Essential
Travel
Tips
Visa
&
Entry: Use
the eVisa platform
or
check visa-on-arrival eligibility.
Complete
the digital
arrival
form in
advance
for
faster
processing.
Best
Season: The dry
season
(May–October) is
ideal
for
safaris;
the rainy
season
(November–April) showcases
lush
landscapes
and
peak Victoria
Falls flow.
Health
&
Safety: Malaria
prevention
is
recommended
in
some
regions.
Follow
ranger
guidance
during
safaris
and
standard
safety
practices
in
cities.
Transport: Use light
aircraft or 4×4
transfers between
parks;
plan
extra
time
for
scenic
road
routes.
Accommodation: Choose
from luxury
lodges, eco-camps,
and boutique
hotels—many
offering
all-inclusive
packages.
Sustainability: Support community
tourism,
respect
local
culture,
and
minimize
environmental
impact
through
responsible
travel.
Why
Zimbabwe
Captures
2025
Zimbabwe’s
transformation is
anchored
in
real
progress—modern
entry
systems,
well-managed
parks,
and
a
commitment
to
sustainable
development.
Its
ability
to
combine ancient
heritage, untamed
nature,
and traveler
convenience makes
it
stand
out
in
Africa’s
tourism
renaissance.
Visitors
today
experience
a
seamless
blend
of
authenticity
and
comfort:
from
digital
border
entry
to
untouched
wilderness,
from
historic
ruins
to
modern
eco-lodges.
Zimbabwe
represents
a
living
journey—where
every
moment
connects
travelers
with
the
land,
the
people,
and
the
stories
that
endure.
When
Tara
Trantham
talks
about
the
cost
of
delay,
she
is
not
speaking
in
hypotheticals.
As
the
chief
legal
officer
of
a
billion-dollar
publicly
traded
company,
she
faced
simultaneous
investigations
from
the
Consumer
Financial
Protection
Bureau
and
the
Department
of
Justice.
Without
the
benefit
of
legal
technology
or
streamlined
processes,
she
and
her
team
had
to
manually
pull
five
years
of
legal
complaints
into
spreadsheets
for
multiple
agencies.
“It
took
five
years,”
Tara
recalled.
“And
it
cost
hundreds
of
millions
of
dollars
in
expenses
and
lost
productivity.”
The
impact
was
immediate.
On
the
day
the
company
had
to
publicly
disclose
the
investigation,
its
market
capitalization
dropped
by
roughly
$250
million.
The
operational
toll
was
just
as
severe.
While
the
legal
team
was
buried
in
document
collection,
the
business
teams
were
pulled
from
their
core
work
to
find
and
deliver
records.
Growth
slowed
while
compliance
consumed
the
organization.
Why
Early
Engagement
Matters
Tara
is
clear
about
the
lesson.
“If
we
had
embedded
legal
and
compliance
earlier
into
operational
processes,
and
had
the
right
technology
in
place,
we
could
have
reduced
the
time
from
years
to
months
and
saved
millions.”
The
insight
applies
well
beyond
regulatory
investigations.
In
contracting,
the
same
principle
holds.
When
legal
is
looped
in
only
after
a
dispute
arises
or
a
key
deadline
is
missed,
the
cost
of
remediation
is
far
higher
than
the
cost
of
prevention.
Poor
recordkeeping,
unclear
obligations,
and
missing
approval
workflows
create
the
same
kind
of
disruption
Tara
faced,
just
spread
across
more
contracts
and
more
stakeholders.
Tactical
Ways
To
Embed
Legal
Early
Map
The
Process,
Not
Just
The
Policy Tara’s
experience
shows
that
knowing
what
needs
to
be
done
is
not
enough.
You
must
document
exactly
how
information
will
be
collected,
stored,
and
accessed
well
in
advance
of
any
requests
from
regulators
or
counterparties.
Integrate
Legal
Into
Core
Systems If
your
sales,
procurement,
and
operations
teams
use
different
tools,
legal
should
have
visibility
into
all
of
them.
Contract
terms
and
obligations
cannot
live
in
a
silo.
Create
A
Rapid-Response
Data
Protocol Even
without
a
subpoena
on
the
horizon,
build
a
playbook
for
quickly
pulling
key
information.
Identify
who
owns
each
dataset
and
how
it
will
be
retrieved.
Use
Data
To
Justify
Resources Tara
wishes
she
had
presented
a
stronger
case
to
her
CEO
and
board
for
technology
investment.
“It
is
hard
to
prove
the
negative,”
she
said.
“But
if
you
can
quantify
how
many
hours
and
dollars
are
lost
to
manual
processes,
you
can
make
a
compelling
argument
for
change.”
The
Cultural
Shift
Perhaps
the
most
important
takeaway
is
mindset.
Embedding
legal
early
requires
shifting
how
the
business
sees
your
department.
Legal
is
not
just
a
safety
net
when
something
goes
wrong.
It
is
a
partner
in
designing
processes
that
make
it
less
likely
that
anything
will
go
wrong
in
the
first
place.
As
Tara
put
it,
“The
more
prepared
you
are,
the
more
you
can
keep
the
business
growing,
instead
of
pulling
people
away
from
it
to
handle
preventable
crises.”
For
in-house
leaders,
the
challenge
is
to
make
early
engagement
a
habit,
not
a
reaction.
The
next
time
a
major
project
launches
or
a
new
market
opens,
do
not
wait
for
the
first
sign
of
trouble
to
get
involved.
Build
the
connections,
processes,
and
visibility
now
—
before
the
cost
of
delay
becomes
the
headline.
Olga V.
Mack is
the
CEO
of TermScout,
an
AI-powered
contract
certification
platform
that
accelerates
revenue
and
eliminates
friction
by
certifying
contracts
as
fair,
balanced,
and
market-ready.
A
serial
CEO
and
legal
tech
executive,
she
previously
led
a
company
through
a
successful
acquisition
by
LexisNexis. Olga is
also
a Fellow
at
CodeX,
The
Stanford
Center
for
Legal
Informatics,
and
the
Generative
AI
Editor
at
law.MIT.
She
is
a
visionary
executive
reshaping
how
we
law—how
legal
systems
are
built,
experienced,
and
trusted. Olga teaches
at
Berkeley
Law,
lectures
widely,
and
advises
companies
of
all
sizes,
as
well
as
boards
and
institutions.
An
award-winning
general
counsel
turned
builder,
she
also
leads
early-stage
ventures
including Virtual
Gabby
(Better
Parenting
Plan), Product
Law
Hub, ESI
Flow,
and Notes
to
My
(Legal)
Self,
each
rethinking
the
practice
and
business
of
law
through
technology,
data,
and
human-centered
design.
She
has
authored The
Rise
of
Product
Lawyers, Legal
Operations
in
the
Age
of
AI
and
Data, Blockchain
Value,
and Get
on
Board,
with Visual
IQ
for
Lawyers (ABA)
forthcoming. Olga is
a
6x
TEDx
speaker
and
has
been
recognized
as
a
Silicon
Valley
Woman
of
Influence
and
an
ABA
Woman
in
Legal
Tech.
Her
work
reimagines
people’s
relationship
with
law—making
it
more
accessible,
inclusive,
data-driven,
and
aligned
with
how
the
world
actually
works.
She
is
also
the
host
of
the
Notes
to
My
(Legal)
Self
podcast
(streaming
on Spotify, Apple
Podcasts,
and YouTube),
and
her
insights
regularly
appear
in
Forbes,
Bloomberg
Law,
Newsweek,
VentureBeat,
ACC
Docket,
and
Above
the
Law.
She
earned
her
B.A.
and
J.D.
from
UC
Berkeley.
Follow
her
on LinkedIn and
X
@olgavmack.
We
at
University
Administration
are
now
prepared
to
issue
our
Academic
Freedom
guidelines
for
your
classes. As
you
know
from
last
year’s
memo,
we
in
administration
are
strong
advocates
of
free
speech
on
campus. With
some
guidance
from
us,
we
believe
you
will
feel
more
empowered
to
speak
your
mind,
with
proper
limits.
While
the
previous
provost,
president,
and
general
counsel
have
“resigned,”
we
assure
you
our
commitment
to
education
remains
steadfast. The
new
president
even
helped
draft
the
law
titled
“De-Woke
the
Campus
for
Academic
Freedom
Act.”
With
your
help,
we
can
ensure
the
campus
has
vibrant
and
open
discourse
about
subjects
that
do
not
matter
to
anyone.
REGULATIONS
FOR
THE
EMPOWERMENT
OF
TEACHING
Recording
Policy: Your
syllabus
must
read
as
follows:“Students
are
encouraged
to
record
my
class. Where
appropriate,
students
may
submit
my
class
session
to
administrative
officials
and
the
appropriate
Turning
Points
USA
chapter
and
to
the
Professor
Watchlist. Students
will
be
held
harmless
in
the
event
of
my
receipt
of
death
threats
or
wrongful
termination.”
Preferred
Names: Your
syllabus
must
read
as
follows:
“I
will
address
you
by
your
preferred
name,
so
long
as
it
has
nothing
to
do
with
LGBTQ+
issues
and
does
not
involve
transgender
identity. Thus,
if
you
are
Matthew,
I’ll
still
call
you
Matt,
if
you
want.”
Note:
We
don’t
want
to
make
Matt
uncomfortable. His
dad’s
a
donor.
Course
Names:
If
your
course
name
appears
controversial,
we
encourage
you
to
change
it. For
example,
if
you
teach
“Abortion
Law,”
please
consider
naming
it
“Abortion
is
Wrong
and
the
Law.” If
you
teach
“Family
Law,”
consider
naming
it
“Nuclear
Family
Law.”
Course
Topics:
Please
ensure
that
your
course
description
and
course
assignments
closely
match. Otherwise,
you
risk
disciplinary
action. For
example,
in
the
course
“Constitutional
Law,”
stop
assigning
the
dissent. That’s
just
some
liberal’s
view,
not
the
law. Also,
do
not
use
cases
that
relate
to
university
conduct,
as
the
Board
views
that
as
a
direct
threat.
Controversial
Topics: Please
avoid
controversial
topics. For
example,
if
you
teach
“International
Law,”
please
do
not
use
the
words
“war
crimes,”
“genocide,”
“ICC,”
“The
Hague,”
or
“international
law”
in
your
course
assignments.
Also,
we’ve
taken
the
liberty
of
eliminating
some
courses
that
are
de
facto
controversial
and
cannot
be
taught.
That
includes
“Women
and
the
Law,”
“Critical
Race
Theory,”
“First
Amendment
Law,”
and
“Water
Law”
(the
governor
is
big
into
AI).
You’ll
probably
notice
we
no
longer
teach
“Transgender
Law,”
and
the
dean
and
professor
who
authorized
that
course
have
been
fired. Your
new
dean,
as
you
know,
is
a
former
legislator
and
proud
author
of
the
“Bathroom
Bill.”
If
your
course
offends
someone
on
the
basis
that
our
great
United
States
is
not
a
meritocracy,
your
course
is
canceled.
Thus,
we
will
no
longer
be
teaching
courses
in
“Employment
Discrimination”
or
“Civil
Rights
Law.”
If
you
teach
“Family
Law,”
please
ensure
that
all
cases
involve
a
traditional
nuclear
family.
For
your
interdisciplinary
“History
and
the
Law”
course,
avoid
mention
that
Nazi
Germany
brutally
vilified
and
tortured
the
LGBTQ+
community
in
ways
similar
to
the
United
States
southern
states
today. Avoid
mention
that
Nazi
Germany
targeted
communists. Do
not
mention
that
anti-fascists
fought
fascism. Our
state
legislators
have
a
hard
time
understanding
the
difference
between
antifa,
communism,
and
fascism,
as
the
high
school
history
courses
in
this
state
were
destroyed
30
years
ago.
If
you
teach
“Bankruptcy
Law”
or
“Tax
Law,”
avoid
commentary
related
to
the
impact
of
tariffs
on
the
economy.
Controversial
Words: To
avoid
misunderstanding
and
triggering
of
unfortunate
termination
proceedings,
please
avoid
the
words
“trans,”
“transatlantic,”
“transoceanic,”
“transportation,”
and
“Transylvania.”
Controversial
Club
Sponsorship: Please
avoid
sponsoring
controversial
clubs.
Such
club
names
include
“LGBTQ+
Outlaw
Club,”
“Critical
Race
Theory
Study
Group,”
or
“Rights
for
Everyone
Club.”
Sponsorship
of
the
“TPUSA
Chapter”
and
“Charlie
Kirk
Worship
Club”
is
strongly
encouraged.
Accuracy
of
Materials: Please
ensure
your
choices
of
materials
is
accurate
but
balanced.
For
example,
if
you
teach
a
“Health
Law”
course,
please
balance
your
assignment
of
peer-reviewed
resources
that
demonstrate
that
vaccines
do
not
cause
autism
with
at
least
one
non-peer-reviewed
resource,
preferably
ones
endorsed
by
RFK
Jr. Under
no
circumstances
are
you
to
quote
Charlie
Kirk,
as
we
are
unsure
as
to
the
accuracy
of
any
of
his
quotes.
Clinics: The
Immigration
Law
clinic
will
be
repurposed
to
require
mandatory
service
in
ICE
to
get
a
better
understanding
of
how
immigration
works
on
the
ground
and
not
in
the
ivory
tower
of
academia.
Being
improperly
arrested
by
ICE
will
not
count
toward
service
hours.
Faculty
Bios
and
CVs: Please
ensure
that
your
bios
and
CVs
do
not
have
any
reference
to
preferred
pronouns,
any
work
you
have
done
for
LGBTQ+
causes,
or
any
“left
leaning”
causes
such
as
the
Federalist
Society. We
also
encourage,
but
do
not
require,
donations
to
a
right-wing
conservative
candidate
of
over
$200
or
more
to
demonstrate
faculty
intellectual
diversity.
DEI:
Thanks
to
a
generous
grant
from
the
Koch
Foundation,
we
have
established
a
“Drug
Enforcement
and
ICE”
(DEI)
program
that
examines
the
positive
ways
ICE
interacts
with
our
communities. All
DEI
links
will
now
automatically
repost
there.
Thank
you
all
for
your
attention
to
this
matter!
Administration
LawProfBlawg is
an
anonymous law professor.
Follow
him
on X/Twitter/whatever (@lawprofblawg).
He’s
also
on
BlueSky,
Mastodon,
and
Threads
depending
on
his
mood. Email
him
at [email protected].
The
views
of
this
blog
post
do
not
represent
the
views
of
his
employer,
his
employer’s
government,
his
Dean,
his
colleagues,
his
family,
or
himself.
This
piece
is
satire,
hopefully.
If
you’re
a
Biglaw
associate
in
the
fall
of
2025,
two
things
are
probably
true:
(i)
you’re
billing
your
life
away
while
considering
if
a
lateral
move
is
right
for
you
while
the
market
is
still
hot,
and
(ii)
you’re
eagerly
waiting
to
receive
news
about
your
annual
bonus
(that
may
or
may
not
include
a
special
bonus
on
top),
which
may
be
right
around
the
corner.
To
kick
off
our
coverage,
we’re
asking
you
to
take
this
(always)
confidential,
(always)
brief
survey
to
share
your
thoughts
on
the
upcoming
bonus
season.
And
if
you’d
like
to
stay
on
top
of
any
changes
this
bonus
season,
enter
your
email
below
to
sign
up
for
our
free
bonus
alerts.
And
as
a
little
reminder,
we
love
covering
the
Biglaw
bonus
season,
but
we
need
your
help.
As
soon
as
your
firm’s
bonus
memo
comes
out,
please email
us (subject
line:
“[Firm
Name]
Bonus”).
We
always
keep
our
sources
on
bonus
stories
anonymous.
There’s
no
need
to
send
the
memo
using
your
firm
email
account;
your
personal
email
account
is
fine.
Please
be
sure
to
include
the
memo
as
proof;
we
like
to
post
complete
bonus
memos
as
a
service
to
our
readers.
You
can
take
a
photo
of
the
memo
and
attach
as
a
picture
if
you
are
worried
about
metadata
in
a
PDF
or
Word
file.
Don’t
forget,
if
you’d
like
to
sign
up
for
ATL’s
Bonus
Alerts,
please
enter
your
email
address
in
the
box
below.
If
you
previously
signed
up
for
the
bonus
alerts,
you
don’t
need
to
do
anything.
You’ll
receive
an
email
notification
within
minutes
of
each
bonus
announcement
that
we
publish
—
including,
of
course,
the
first
such
announcement.
Staci
Zaretsky is
the
managing
editor
of
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
She’d
love
to
hear
from
you,
so
please
feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
comments,
or
critiques.
You
can
follow
her
on Bluesky, X/Twitter,
and Threads, or
connect
with
her
on LinkedIn.
New
York
Attorney
General
Letitia
James
(Photo
by
Michael
M.
Santiago/Getty
Images)
Last
week,
Lindsey
Halligan,
the
acting/interim/special/imaginary
US
Attorney
for
the
Eastern
District
of
Virginia
indicted
New
York
Attorney
General
Letitia
James
for
mortgage
fraud,
fulfilling
a
long-held
goal
of
her
client,
Donald
Trump.
James
is
charged
with
two
felonies
relating
to
the
purchase
of
an
investment
property
in
Norfolk,
Virginia:
one
count
of
bank
fraud
in
violation
of
18
U.S.C.
§
1344,
and
one
count
of
making
a
false
statement
on
a
mortgage
application
in
violation
of
18
U.S.C.
§
1014.
As
with
the
recent
indictment
of
James
Comey,
another
Trump
nemesis,
the
James
indictment
was
so
weak
that
regular
prosecutors
—
i.e.,
ones
who
have
actually
tried
criminal
cases
—
refused
to
touch
it.
And,
as
in
Comey’s
case,
Halligan
was
the
only
lawyer
willing
to
sign
off
on
it.
So
if
conservative
commentators
and
Sam
Alito(!)
are
right,
and
her
appointment
was
unlawful,
the
case
may
get
dismissed
long
before
trial.
Meet
Virginia
Prior
to
this
indictment,
it
was
presumed
that
Halligan
would
indict
James
with
respect
to
a
different
Virginia
property.
Bill
Pulte,
head
of
the
Federal
Housing
Finance
Agency,
as
well
as
Fannie
Mae
and
Freddie
Mac,
has
been
spelunking
through
financial
records
of
Trump’s
enemies,
and
he
sent
a
criminal
referral
to
Attorney
General
James
regarding
a
house
in
Norfolk.
But
apparently
Halligan
punted
on
The
Case
of
the
Errant
Power
of
Attorney,
an
extraneous
document
which
erroneously
described
the
property
as
a
personal
residence,
when
every
other
piece
of
the
loan
application
correctly
described
it
as
a
rental.
Worst
Nancy
Drew
mystery
ever!
Instead
she
charged
James
with
lying
on
a
mortgage
application
for
a
different
house
in
Norfolk,
which
James
purchased
in
August
of
2020
for
$137,000.
She
received
a
loan
for
80
percent
of
the
purchase
price
from
Old
Virginia
Mortgage
(now
known
as
OVM
Financial),
which
she
appears
to
have
paid
off
in
2024.
According
to
the
indictment,
James
falsely
claimed
that
she
planned
to
use
the
house
as
a
second
home
in
order
to
lower
her
interest
rate
from
3.815
to
3.0
percent,
saving
herself
$17,837
over
the
four-year
life
of
the
loan.
In
a
conclusory
fashion,
but
without
providing
any
evidence,
it
states
that
James
“knowingly”
made
false
statements
on
the
loan
document.
This
has
a
certain
irony,
since
James
prosecuted
Trump
for
falsely
inflating
his
net
worth
on
mortgage
applications,
something
he
claimed
was
a
victimless
crime
so
long
as
the
lender
was
paid
in
full.
The
government
also
claims
that
the
reduced
rate
netted
James
just
over
an
extra
$1,000
in
the
seller’s
credit
at
settlement.
The
problem
is
that
the
indictment
yaddayaddayaddas
over
several
elements
of
the
supposed
crime,
which
strongly
suggests
that
it
was
done
on
purpose
because
filling
in
the
blanks
would
fatally
undermine
the
prosecution.
The
Low
Rider
Paragraph
6
of
the
indictment
alleges
that:
The
loan
was
originated
by
OVM
Financial
under
a
signed
Second
Home
Rider,
which
required
James,
as
the
sole
borrower,
to
occupy
and
use
the
property
as
her
secondary
residence
and
prohibited
its
use
as
a
timesharing
or
other
shared
ownership
agreement
or
agreement
that
requires
her
to
rent
the
property
or
give
any
person
any
control
over
the
occupancy
or
use
of
the
property.
That
language
roughly
mirrors
Fannie
Mae
Form
3890,
which
James
almost
certainly
signed
as
part
of
her
mortgage
application.
It
says:
6.
Occupancy.
Borrower
must
occupy
and
use
the
Property
as
Borrower’s
second
home.
Borrower
will
maintain
exclusive
control
over
the
occupancy
of
the
Property,
including
short-term
rentals,
and
will
not
subject
the
Property
to
any
timesharing
or
other
shared
ownership
arrangement
or
to
any
rental
pool
or
agreement
that
requires
Borrower
either
to
rent
the
Property
or
give
a
management
firm
or
any
other
person
or
entity
any
control
over
the
occupancy
or
use
of
the
Property.
Borrower
will
keep
the
Property
available
primarily
as
a
residence
for
Borrower’s
personal
use
and
enjoyment
for
at
least
one
year
after
the
date
of
this
Security
Instrument,
unless
Lender
otherwise
agrees
in
writing,
which
consent
will
not
be
unreasonably
withheld,
or
unless
extenuating
circumstances
exist
that
are
beyond
Borrower’s
control.
Plainly
the
intent
of
that
rider
is
that
the
borrower
agrees
to
“maintain
exclusive
control”
over
the
property.
So,
while
James
couldn’t
turn
the
home
into
a
time-share
or
sign
an
agreement
that
required
her
to
rent
the
property,
there
was
no
bar
to
renting
it
in
the
short
term.
That’s
why
the
rider
says
that
James
agreed
to
keep
the
property
“available
primarily
as
a
residence.”
In
fact,
Fannie
Mae
revised
this
rider
in
2019
to
make
it
clear
that
buyers
were
free
to
rent
out
their
second
homes
on
sites
like
Airbnb.
As
one
mortgage
specialist
noted
at
the
time,
the
new
rider
“explicitly”
allows
for
those
sorts
of
short-term
rentals
of
second
homes.
And
so,
even
if
James
had
rented
out
the
Norfolk
property,
she
probably
wouldn’t
have
violated
the
Fannie
Mae
rider.
But
Did
James
Even
Rent
Out
Her
Second
Home?
The
short
answer
is:
We
don’t
know.
The
indictment
says
that
James
rented
the
property
to
a
family
of
three
and
collected
“thousand(s)
of
dollars
in
rents
received.”
That
seems
deliberately
vague,
suggesting
perhaps
that
James
netted
tens
or
even
hundreds
of
thousands
of
dollars.
In
fact,
she
netted
somewhere
between
$1,000
and
$5,000,
according
to
a
2020
financial
disclosure
dug
up
by
a
“forensic
accountant”
named
Sam
Antar.
In
2023,
Antar
was
convicted
of
securities
fraud
in
connection
with
the
Crazy
Eddie
electronics
chain,
of
which
he
was
CFO.
He’s
since
rebranded
himself
as
an
“investigator
of
financial
fraud,”
presumably
on
the
theory
of
it
takes
one
to
know
one.
(Yes
that)
Roger
Stone’s
“Stone
Zone”
recently
ran
an
exposé
on
James
drafted
by
Antar
which
included
such
trenchant
observations
as:
Adding
to
the
mystery,
James
consistently
reported
this
mortgage
in
the
range
of
$100,000-$150,000
for
three
consecutive
years
(2020–2022),
but
then
in
2023,
the
reported
value
inexplicably
drops
to
$75,000-$100,000
without
explanation.
While
this
could
potentially
be
related
to
payment
of
principal,
the
absence
of
any
official
record
of
this
mortgage
in
ACRIS
[New
York’s
real
property
registration
site]
makes
it
impossible
to
verify
the
actual
terms,
origination
date,
or
even
existence
of
this
substantial
financial
obligation.
She
paid
down
her
mortgage?
Lock
her
up!
Here’s
Antar’s
smoking
gun:
Note
that
James
discloses
“rental
income”
for
a
property
in
Brooklyn,
but
describes
income
on
the
Norfolk
property
as
“investment.”
According
to
the
indictment,
James
rented
the
property
to
a
family
of
three.
But
Halligan
never
says
for
how
long,
and
she’s
pretty
hand-wavey
about
how
much
rent
James
took
in
—
two
things
she
almost
certainly
knows,
since
her
predecessor
Erik
Siebert
interviewed
multiple
witnesses
about
this
case.
Income
of
less
than
$5,000
is
consistent
with
a
short-term
rental
explicitly
permitted
by
the
Fannie
Mae
Second
Home
Rider.
And
indeed
the
second
half
of
2020,
during
the
height
of
Covid,
was
a
time
when
many
people
were
making
ad
hoc
living
arrangements.
We
simply
don’t
know
what
happened
here.
But
Lindsey
Halligan
does
know,
and
she
chose
not
to
mention
it
in
this
indictment.
In
any
event,
James
has
not
disclosed
any
income
from
the
Norfolk
property,
rental
or
otherwise,
since
2020.
The
“Crimes”
Suppose
for
the
sake
of
argument,
that
James
was
prohibited
from
renting
the
Norfolk
property
and
did
so
anyway.
The
bank
fraud
statute,
18
U.S.C.
§
1344,
makes
it
a
crime
to
“knowingly
execute”
a
“scheme
or
artifice”
to
either
defraud
a
bank
or,
more
broadly,
to
obtain
funds
from
the
bank
“by
means
of
false
or
fraudulent
pretenses,
representations,
or
promises.”
And
18
U.S.C.
§
1014
similarly
makes
it
a
crime
to
“knowingly
make[]
any
false
statement
or
report…
for
the
purpose
of
influencing
in
any
way”
a
covered
mortgage
lender.
To
convict
James,
the
government
must
not
only
prove
that
she
lied
on
the
mortgage
application,
but
that
she
did
so
“knowingly”
and
as
part
of
a
corrupt
“scheme”
to
improperly
influence
the
mortgage
lender.
Prosecutors
would
have
to
show
that
James
knew
she
was
going
to
rent
out
the
Norfolk
property
at
the
time
she
signed
the
loan
application
but
covered
up
that
fact
and
that
she
did
so
for
the
purpose
of
defrauding
the
bank
into
offering
her
a
lower
rate
of
interest
on
the
loan.
In
other
words,
if
this
case
were
to
somehow
go
to
trial,
prosecutors
would
have
to
prove
beyond
a
reasonable
doubt
that
James
concocted
a
fraudulent
scheme
in
advance
to
get
an
eight-tenths-of-one-percent
reduction
on
a
modest
loan
that
she
voluntarily
paid
off
11
years
early
…
all
so
that
she
could
earn
a
couple
thousand
dollars
in
rental
income.
When
you
say
it
out
loud,
it
doesn’t
make
much
sense.
And
it’ll
probably
make
even
less
sense
when
James
herself
starts
talking.
RelativityFest
kicked
off
last
week
with
a
song
and
dance
number
—
well,
a
keynote
followed
by
a
song
and
dance
number,
anyway
—
welcoming
some
1,834
attendees
to
Chicago’s
Hyatt
Regency.
As
with
most
user
conferences,
the
opening
keynote
offered
a
platform
to
rile
up
the
crowd
with
exciting
new
announcements.
And
the
announcements
were
indeed
significant,
though
they
will
end
up
making
more
waves
with
the
people
outside
the
ballroom
this
week.
Unlike
the
last
couple
years,
where
Relativity
showed
off
the
promise
of
new
AI-enabled
products
in
the
“aiR”
family
—
aiR
for
Review,
aiR
for
Privilege,
and
aiR
for
Case
Strategy
—
this
year’s
big
announcement
was
less
about
what’s
coming
and
more
about
what’s
here
right
now.
The
products
we’ve
heard
about
as
speculative
forays
into
an
AI-assisted
eDiscovery
future
are
going
to
become
the
baseline
from
now
on,
with
aiR
for
Review
and
aiR
for
Privilege
moving
to
a
standard
offering
in
RelativityOne.
And
aiR
for
Case
Strategy,
in
Limited
General
Availability
since
March,
will
likely
soon
to
follow.
For
Relativity
customers
across
the
legal
industry,
this
is
a
big
deal.
The
problem
with
an
announcement
like
this
at
a
customer
conference
is
that
the
folks
in
the
room
represent
the
self-selecting
population
of
super
users
who
already
jumped
at
access
for
these
products
during
their
limited
run.
For
this
crowd,
the
announcement
isn’t
changing
much
about
their
day-to-day
practice.
Relativity
aiR
Privilege
and
Review
have
already
been
used
by
200+
customers
in
1,500+
workspaces
and
made
some
100M+
review
predictions,
and
those
are
the
flavor
of
customers
who
fly
to
Chicago
for
a
show.
With
the
audience
reacting
more
with
nods
of
approval
than
raucous
applause,
a
disinterested
observer
in
the
room
might
have
dismissed
this
as
a
relatively
—
see
what
we
did
there?
—
mundane
announcement.
But
for
the
Relativity
users
out
there
who
aren’t
sending
their
people
to
RelativityFest
—
the
sort
of
firms
that
may
harbor
some
wariness
over
shelling
out
for
new-fangled
AI
tools
—
it’s
monumental.
CEO
Phil
Saunders
stressed
that
customers
shouldn’t
be
satisfied
with
improvements
when
they
really
want
perfection.
Part
of
that
approach
is
Relativity’s
cautious
product
roll
out,
holding
products
in
limited
availability
status
until
leadership
is
confident
that
those
tools
are
ready
for
primetime.
Understood
through
that
lens,
the
announcement
wasn’t
about
adding
a
new
offering
to
a
tier
of
customers,
but
a
signal
that
Relativity
decided
that
its
aiR
products
have
passed
all
the
internal
quality
control
benchmarks
to
warrant
general
release.
That’s
a
milestone
moment
and
one
that
the
customers
who
aren’t
on
the
bleeding
edge
will
appreciate.
Purpose
Legal
reportedly
used
Relativity
aiR
for
Review
to
complete
a
300,000-document
review
in
just
one
week,
which
is
the
sort
of
task
that
used
to
require
an
army
of
junior
associates,
a
lot
of
luck,
and
a
truckload
of
Red
Bull.
And
probably
cocaine.
With
these
products,
it’s
about
to
become
routine.
“Relativity
aiR
for
Review
helped
us
and
our
client
address
demands
that
otherwise
would
have
been
impossible
to
meet,
enabling
our
team
to
complete
a
large-scale,
complex
review
under
an
extremely
tight
deadline,”
said
Jeff
Johnson,
Chief
Innovation
Officer
at
Purpose
Legal.
“We
reduced
review
time
by
85%,
eliminated
more
than
4,000
hours
of
manual
work,
and
delivered
cost
savings
of
more
than
$70,000.”
Now
those
sorts
of
gains
are
coming
for
everybody.
The
second
pillar
of
the
keynote
announcement
dealt
with
the
company’s
drive
toward
the
left
of
the
whole
EDRM
equation.
The
newest
member
of
the
aiR
family
will
be
aiR
Assist,
a
natural
language
search
application
intended
to
deliver
insights
for
early
stage
case
assessment.
Along
with
aiR
for
Case
Strategy,
aiR
Assist
is
promises
“litigators
can
identify
the
‘who,
what,
and
when’
of
a
matter
much
earlier
in
the
discovery
process,
prepare
for
interviews
and
depositions
with
clarity,
and
dramatically
reduce
the
time
required
to
analyze
complex
case
materials.”
In
a
press
release
in
conjunction
with
the
keynote,
Antonio
Avant,
Director
of
Legal
Technology
at
Troutman
eMerge,
described
the
early
case
assessment
power
of
the
tools,
“From
early
case
assessment
to
deposition
prep,
the
platform
helps
us
see
the
story
we’re
trying
to
tell
while
helping
our
attorneys
ramp
quickly,
bring
clarity
to
data
sprawl
and
transform
how
we
build
our cases.”
The
final
prong
of
the
keynote
addressed
the
company’s
long-term
vision.
Saunders
unveiled
Rel
Labs,
a
nod
to
the
famous
Bell
Labs,
to
embark
on
investment
and
innovation
projects.
As
he
explained,
the
pace
of
innovation
is
too
rapid
for
any
one
company
to
stay
ahead
of
it.
Through
the
Rel
Labs
initiative,
Saunders
hopes
to
identify
and
then
invest
in
better
and
better
tech.
The
keynote
wasn’t
a
flashy
spectacle
—
at
least
until
the
aforementioned
song
and
dance
number
—
lardered
up
with
future
product
announcements
promising
near
sci-fi
level
results
for
lawyers.
But
it
did
stick
to
another
unabashedly
Saunders-driven
theme:
“get
shit
done.”
This
was
a
get
shit
done
keynote
that
didn’t
leave
the
audience
with
a
ton
of
new
toys
to
talk
about,
but
a
company
explaining
its
own
grind
to
get
better
results
to
more
customers.
It’s
an
approach
you
don’t
see
often
in
the
middle
of
this
AI
hype
cycle,
but
it’s
a
refreshing
one.
Kathryn
