Clio hires legal tech veteran to overhaul backlogged courts
Legal tech firm Clio has appointed Casetext’s co-founder to lead an initiative integrating AI directly into the court system.
Clio, which currently offers its tech to lawyers and law firms, will create a “dedicated product line” of legal AI software “designed around the distinct needs of courts and judges”.
Lawyer Pablo Arredondo was appointed to oversee the expansion. Previously a patent litigator at Kirkland & Ellis and Quinn Emmanuel, he founded the AI-powered legal research platform Casetext in 2013. This platform was later acquired by Thomson Reuters for $650m (£477m).
This marks a first for the legal AI industry: a legal AI firm of its size and scale is building a dedicated product for the judiciary.
The firm said its focus on the judiciary “is a direct response to the pressures courts are facing, growing caseloads, increasingly complex matters, and resources that have not kept pace.”
The backlog of cases in the English and Welsh courts has reached record levels, creating a significant crisis in the justice system. The Crown Court backlog alone currently stands at roughly 80,000 outstanding cases.
Jack Newton, Clio founder said the legal tech firm has “transformed how law firms run their businesses, expanded into the substantive work of law, and are now bringing that same focus to the judiciary.”
“Courts demand the highest standard, and Pablo [Arredondo] understands both the potential of AI and the responsibility that comes with applying it in this environment.”
“[Arredondo] has been one of the most important builders in legal AI, and I can’t think of anyone better to lead this next chapter at Clio,” Newton added.
Commenting on his new role, Arredondo said the judiciary “is fundamentally different from any other part of the legal system, and technology built for courts has to reflect that.”
“AI can give judges more powerful ways to navigate complex records, arguments, and law, but it has to be developed with a deep respect for judicial independence and the rigour of the decision making process,” he added.
Clio occupies ‘a unique position’ in a competitive field
The legal tech market is a competitive landscape, with firms rivalling Clio, Legora and Harvey, in the lead. At the beginning of August it was announced that Legora is eyeing a new $10bn funding round, nearly double the amount it raised in April.
However, Clio told Morning Wire previously that the legal tech firm is in a “great position” in the marketplace because of its “unique position” with extensive legal data it secured through “the largest M&A transaction in legal history” after completing a $1bn acquisition of vLex, an AI-powered intelligence platform, in November.