Episode 262: Zack Shapiro on the Claude AI Native Law Firm

Episode 262: Zack Shapiro on the Claude AI Native Law Firm

Author: Michael Geist March 23, 2026 Duration: 42:57
What are the limits of using AI to help run a legal practice? There is much discussion about what an AI future might look like, but with the rapid development of AI tools, the future may be now. The hot AI service of the moment is Claude AI, which targets various verticals, including software development and legal services. Zack Shapiro is a New York lawyer and the founder of the Rains law firm. He is a Yale Law School grad who clerked in the U.S. federal courts and practiced at Davis Polk in New York. In a trio of recent articles, he draws on his own experience to argue that the general-purpose AI service is already sufficiently powerful to have a transformative effect on legal practice. He joins the Law Bytes podcast to discuss how he did it and what it might mean for the future of legal services. This episode is part of a series of Law Bytes episodes accredited by the Law Society of Ontario for continuing legal education Professionalism Hours. The program contains 45 minutes of Professionalism Content.

Navigating the complex and ever-shifting landscape where technology meets the law requires a guide who understands both the code and the courtroom. Law Bytes, hosted by Michael Geist, offers exactly that. This podcast digs into the real-world implications of digital policy, moving beyond abstract theory to examine how laws and regulations are actively shaping our online lives. Each episode is built around conversations with the people on the front lines: scholars dissecting legal challenges, policymakers drafting the rules, and practitioners facing these issues daily. While the focus is firmly on providing a crucial Canadian perspective, the discussions rightly recognize the borderless nature of the internet, frequently exploring international developments and Canada's place within the global digital ecosystem. You'll hear nuanced analysis on topics like privacy, copyright, platform governance, and telecommunications, all framed within the broader context of societal impact and fundamental rights. The result is a thoughtful and accessible exploration of the forces governing our digital world, making sense of the headlines and anticipating what might come next. For anyone curious about the power structures behind their screens, this podcast serves as an essential and engaging resource.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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Episode 264: Jon Penney on Chilling Effects in the Digital Age [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:53
“Chilling effects” is a term people hear all the time: in court rulings, in debates over content moderation, in dealing with online harms, or in news coverage of surveillance and legal reforms. The focus is typically on…