Experience

As a legal technologist and licensed attorney, I operate in a unique space.  Since being an early participant in the ReInvent Law program at MSU Law, I have become part of an international network of professionals interested in improving use of technology and innovation in the legal industry.

I currently work with the Practice Innovations team at Chapman and Cutler, where I help design and implement legal and business solutions for the firm and its clients. I have served in similar roles at two Am Law 100 firms, as a “legal solutions architect” on Seyfarth Shaw’s Seyfarth Lean Consulting and Davis Wright Tremaine’s De Novo teams.

Check out my LinkedIn profile here.

Resume available by request.

Education

J.D. Michigan State University College of Law, 2013, Top 10 in Class

Legal coursework included e-discovery, quantitative methods for lawyers, legal information engineering and technology, virtual law practice, cyberlaw, trademarks, and clinical work with small businesses and non-profits.

B.A. Tufts University, 2010

Economics & Political Science

Presentations

• Legal Talk Network, Kennedy-Mighell Report podcast, July 28, 2023, "Fresh Voices on Legal Tech with Amani Smathers"

• Chapman and Cutler Women in Finance event, June 8, 2023, Panel: “Artificial Intelligence: Transforming the Way We Work and Live”

• Legaltech Hub & EY Automation Conference, June 8, 2023, Panel: “[Why and] How to Drive Adoption of Document Automation”

• ARK Group KM Legal, October 28, 2022, Panel on Using KM Tools for Pro Bono

• ABA TECHSHOW, March 4, 2022, “21st Century Practice: Creating a Sustainable Workplace for the Next Generation” with Jordan Furlong

• Pioneers and Pathfinders podcast, November 10, 2021, “Pioneers and Pathfinders: Amani Smathers”

• Legal Value Network Webinar, October 28, 2021, “Innovation Inspiration for Legal,” moderator

• Legal Value Network Webinar, May 26, 2021, “Sustaining Innovation in Legal” with Candice Carr and Professor Bill Henderson

• Center for Disability & Elder Law, February 25, 2021, “2021 CDEL Partner of the Year - Chapman and Cutler LLP”

• Legal Value Network Webinar, February 25, 2021, “Hype vs. Value: Delivering Value with Innovation”

• Innovation Subcommittee, Legal Value Network Education Committee, 2020-2021

• Conference Planning Committee Member for LMA P3 - The Practice Innovation Conference 2020

• International Pacific Rim Advisory Counsel (PRAC) Conference, October 7, 2019, “Transforming Service Models”

• Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Bar Association Regional Law Conference, September 13, 2019, “The Future 'T-Shaped' Lawyer: Emotional or Artificial Intelligence … or Both?”

• LMA P3, June 12-14, 2019, “Legal Design and Technology Solutions”

• Northwestern Pritzker School of Law panel, April 3, 2018, “Trendsetters Who are Transforming Legal Practice with Technology”

• MSU Law, Legal RnD Workshop, January 12, 2018, “Introduction to Project Management”

• MSU Law, Legal RnD, August 28, 2017, "The T-Shaped Lawyer: Skills & Technology for the Modern Lawyer"

• Janders Dean & Chicago Kent Legal Horizons, July 13, 2017, "Using Intelligent Constraints to Spark Creative Thinking About Law Firm Strategy" (video)

• ABA TECHSHOW, March 17, 2017, "Five Steps to Six Sigma? Yes, and You Can Apply Them to Your Law Firm" (co-presenter Debbie Foster)

• Chicago Legal Innovation and Technology Meetup, March 16, 2017, "Using Constraints to Spark Creative Thinking About Law Firm Strategy"

• ABA TECHSHOW, March 16, 2017, "The Devil Is In The Details - How to Map and Fix Processes" (co-presenter Gina Bongiovi)

• Legal Week Strategic Technology Forum, October 5, 2016, on multidisciplinary teams and legal managed services

• Clio Cloud Conference 2016, September 20, 2016, "Leveraging Legal Technology: What's Here, What's Coming, & What to Do About It" (video)

• AALL Annual Meeting & Conference, July 18, 2016, "Disruption in the Legal Industry: What’s Arrived & What’s Coming"

• InSession: Transforming Practices through Technology (Florida Bar Convention/Clio), June 15, 2016, "Leveraging Legal Technology"

• ABA TECHSHOW, March 17, 2016, "Empower Your Client Through Technology"

• Evolve Law, March 15, 2016, "Legal Tech Innovators Showcase: The Next Big Thing in Legal Tech"

• Social Media for Lawyers @ MSU Law, June 27, 2015, "Introduction to Twitter" for law students

• Legal Hackers Congress, April 24, 2015, "Legal Practice 2.0" Panel

• Chicago Legal Innovation and Technology Meetup, November 19, 2014, "Tiny Data" (co-presenter with Andrew Baker)

• Seattle Legal Innovation and Technology Meetup, November 18, 2014, Hacking Legal Education panel (remote)

• MITRE/Judiciary Engineering and Modernization Center (JEMC) Day, April 23, 2014, "ReInvent Law Laboratory - Emerging Trends in the Legal Industry"

• Detroit Legal Innovation & Technology Meetup, April 15, 2014, "Intro to the #Legalhack Movement" and "The T-Shaped 21st Century Lawyer"

• COPRAC Ethics Symposium, April 12, 2014, "'Disruptive' Ethics? Innovative Models of Providing Legal Services" panel

• ABA Bar Leadership Institute (BLI), March 13, 2014, "Opportunities for Innovation in a Changing Legal Landscape" series

• ReInvent Law NYC, February 7, 2014, "The T-Shaped 21st Century Lawyer" (video)

• ReInvent Law Silicon Valley, March 8, 2013, "Rebranding Lawyers to Reach New Markets" (video)

• LawTech Camp London, June 29, 2012, "More Disputes Are Being Resolved by Non-Lawyers: Tap into Latent Markets with New Services and New Delivery"

FLorida BAR/Clio: INSeSSION

June 15, 2016, "Leveraging Legal Technology"

Detroit Legal Innovation & Technology Meetup, April 2014

April 15, 2014, "Intro to the #Legalhack Movement" and "The T-Shaped 21st Century Lawyer"

Lex Hacks: Hackathon for legal community

June 7, 2015, Presenting our hackathon entry

COPRAC Statewide Ethics Symposium 2014

April 12, 2014. I was asked to talk about "Innovative Models of Providing Legal Services" at the California State Bar's Ethics Symposium

Legal Hackers Congress 2015

April 24, 2015, "Legal Practice 2.0" Panel

ABA Bar Leadership Institute 2014

March 13, 2014. I was asked to reprise my presentation "Rebranding Lawyers to Reach New Markets" at this national conference for new bar association leaders.

ReInvent Law NYC 2014

February 7, 2014, "The T-Shaped 21st Century Lawyer"

Introduced the concept of the “T-Shaped Lawyer.” Click image to view video.

ReInvent Law Silicon Valley 2013

March 8, 2013, "Rebranding Lawyers to Reach New Markets"

Click image to view video.

LawTech Camp London 2012

June 29, 2012, "More Disputes Are Being Resolved by Non-Lawyers: Tap into Latent Markets with New Services and New Delivery"

Courses

Adjunct instructor at the Michigan State University College of Law (MSU Law) - Center for Law, Technology & Innovation, teaching:

• Delivering Legal Services: New Legal Landscapes, Spring 2022, Spring 2023 & Spring 2024

• Entrepreneurial Lawyering, Fall 2021

• Delivering Legal Services: New Legal Landscapes, with Dennis Kennedy, Spring 2021

Articles

• Design Thinking for the Legal Profession, "Chapter 11: Designing Your Legal Career," co-authored with Amy Monaghan, 2019

• "The 21st Century T-Shaped Lawyer," July/August 2014 ABA Law Practice Magazine "Big Ideas" issue.

MENTIONS

• Center for Disability & Elder Law, “2021 CDEL Partner of the Year - Chapman and Cutler LLP" (February 25, 2021).

• Emily Lever, “Chapman, Legal Aid Chicago to Launch App to Clear Records” (November 8, 2020).

• Press Release, “The Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL) Launches Estate Planning Documents App Developed by Chapman’s Innovations Team” (Sep 14, 2020).

• Victor Li, "ThinkSmart and Michigan State team up for class on legal process automation," ABA Journal Online (Aug 18, 2016).

• Dan Elliott, "LexHacks: Ahead of Our Time," Law Technology Today (July 7, 2015).

• Amani Smathers MSU Law Alumna Profile (circa 2015).