Eugene Coleman: Legal Tech Fellow Spotlight
Why did you want to work at a legal tech startup?
I always wanted to work at a startup and eventually become an entrepreneur. I think technology companies are fascinating because they help make the world more advanced. And I wanted to see firsthand how tech influences the legal community. Technology for the legal profession is rarely discussed in law school because it doesn’t follow the traditional path.
The opportunity to work at a tech company like Evisort gave me insights to the quickly changing intersection of technology and the law.
What skills did you gain working with Evisort? How will you apply those skills in your future career?
Evisort taught me the power of being a sponge. I learned to be forward-thinking and avoid focusing only on current problems. And I learned that being able to help people solve problems makes a lawyer more valuable. Evisort also showed me to never be afraid to think outside the box, because that’s where ground-breaking ideas occur.
What did you learn at Evisort that you didn’t learn in law school?
First, I learned about the problems legal teams have in business and in contracts. Second, I learned practical skills, such as how to help businesses reach their goals by understanding their legal dilemmas — whether that be COVID-19 or new compliance regulations like the CCPA or the GDPR. Evisort also showed me how an in-house attorney thinks and which tools are at their disposal to help mitigate risks efficiently.
How did working at Evisort change your perspective on the legal industry?
Evisort showed me how to use my legal education in new ways. Each week, I had the opportunity to meet with Evisort lawyers and executives. This helped me understand how people use their legal education in ways other than typical paths.
Evisort also helped me see that legal technology is on the forefront of changing the legal community. I can now envision a career path that goes beyond working at law firms or in-house.
What was your favorite part about working with Evisort?
I enjoyed learning about the different business units and understanding the business from the perspective of its executives. I liked working with the customer success team to help clients solve their problems when tracking contract data and clauses. I also had the opportunity to work with the marketing team writing case studies, whitepapers, and researching how artificial intelligence (AI) can help businesses alleviate risk from new regulations.
The data science team showed me how AI learns new languages and helps the client do exactly what they need. Lastly, I helped the COO handle foreign intellectual property litigation and file trademark applications.
What advice do you have for current law students who may be interested in non-legal careers but may be nervous of losing opportunities in big law?
I now know that learning about non-legal careers will not cost you a big law opportunity if you end up wanting to follow that path. Plus, working in business helps you understand whether you want to be in-house, work in tech, in business, or at a firm. Lastly, as an Evisort Fellow you get the opportunity to build a skillset that lets you find the work for which you’re best suited. Gaining this perspective is impossible at a law firm.
Why did you want to work at a legal tech startup?
I always wanted to work at a startup and eventually become an entrepreneur. I think technology companies are fascinating because they help make the world more advanced. And I wanted to see firsthand how tech influences the legal community. Technology for the legal profession is rarely discussed in law school because it doesn’t follow the traditional path.
The opportunity to work at a tech company like Evisort gave me insights to the quickly changing intersection of technology and the law.
What skills did you gain working with Evisort? How will you apply those skills in your future career?
Evisort taught me the power of being a sponge. I learned to be forward-thinking and avoid focusing only on current problems. And I learned that being able to help people solve problems makes a lawyer more valuable. Evisort also showed me to never be afraid to think outside the box, because that’s where ground-breaking ideas occur.
What did you learn at Evisort that you didn’t learn in law school?
First, I learned about the problems legal teams have in business and in contracts. Second, I learned practical skills, such as how to help businesses reach their goals by understanding their legal dilemmas — whether that be COVID-19 or new compliance regulations like the CCPA or the GDPR. Evisort also showed me how an in-house attorney thinks and which tools are at their disposal to help mitigate risks efficiently.
How did working at Evisort change your perspective on the legal industry?
Evisort showed me how to use my legal education in new ways. Each week, I had the opportunity to meet with Evisort lawyers and executives. This helped me understand how people use their legal education in ways other than typical paths.
Evisort also helped me see that legal technology is on the forefront of changing the legal community. I can now envision a career path that goes beyond working at law firms or in-house.
What was your favorite part about working with Evisort?
I enjoyed learning about the different business units and understanding the business from the perspective of its executives. I liked working with the customer success team to help clients solve their problems when tracking contract data and clauses. I also had the opportunity to work with the marketing team writing case studies, whitepapers, and researching how artificial intelligence (AI) can help businesses alleviate risk from new regulations.
The data science team showed me how AI learns new languages and helps the client do exactly what they need. Lastly, I helped the COO handle foreign intellectual property litigation and file trademark applications.
What advice do you have for current law students who may be interested in non-legal careers but may be nervous of losing opportunities in big law?
I now know that learning about non-legal careers will not cost you a big law opportunity if you end up wanting to follow that path. Plus, working in business helps you understand whether you want to be in-house, work in tech, in business, or at a firm. Lastly, as an Evisort Fellow you get the opportunity to build a skillset that lets you find the work for which you’re best suited. Gaining this perspective is impossible at a law firm.