Law Week Colorado is recognizing three Outstanding Legal Professionals who play an essential role in their teams’ success. This year’s honorees, all nominated by their colleagues, demonstrate the expertise, initiative and commitment that keep cases moving, support clients and help attorneys do their best work.
Andrew Johnson has spent much of his career translating between technology professionals and the people who use their systems. “I hear the consumers’ needs and bring that back, causing these two groups to speak to one another,” he said.
While he began working in legal technology about 20 years ago, his role as chief information officer at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has recently taken on new significance as the firm explores how artificial intelligence can change the practice and business of law.
Much of his time is spent evaluating AI developments, experimenting with emerging tools and determining which capabilities are worth pursuing. That work, he said, requires balancing potential benefits against risks involving confidentiality, professional responsibility and the consequences of using technology incorrectly.
Johnson views AI as less of a technology challenge than a business challenge. Brownstein has created an “innovation team” that includes former practicing attorneys who work alongside technology and data specialists to identify problems and determine whether to purchase existing technological tools or build new ones.
One initiative Johnson is especially enthusiastic about grew out of a partnership with Alta Clara, a company that provides professional training to law firms. Together, Brownstein and Alta Clara developed an AI-powered deposition simulator for litigation associates.
The simulator allows associates to practice depositions with a virtual witness whose behavior can be adjusted to present different challenges. The witness can be more aggressive or accommodating, for example, giving attorneys opportunities to rehearse scenarios and receive immediate feedback.
Johnson sees the project as an example of how AI can strengthen professional development rather than simply reduce the time required to complete tasks.
Johnson is also helping Brownstein develop tools that identify client needs. The technology is intended to alert lawyers to issues that may affect clients before those concerns become apparent to the clients themselves.
Introducing new technology, however, requires more than pinpointing a promising tool. Johnson said Brownstein’s internal network of technology champions experiments with new tools and shares experiences with colleagues.
“It’s incremental experimentation with peer pressure,” he said.
For lawyers and technology professionals interested in legal innovation, Johnson recommended learning both the technical and practical sides of the field. Attorneys can study AI systems and their underlying economics, while technology professionals should learn how lawyers conduct research, perform due diligence and draft documents.
“You need to understand the mechanics of legal work to do that,” he said. He said he loves the job’s nonstop intellectual challenges and working daily with colleagues who expect excellence.
Outside the office, Johnson spends much of his time with his 4-year-old daughter; one recent outing was a costume contest in which she dressed as Simba, with Johnson as Mufasa. He also enjoys running and biking.