The Geek In Review (3 Geeks and a Law Blog)

Abdi Shayesteh and Jeanine Conley Daves on AI, Deliberate Practice, and the Future of Legal Training

The podcast episode spotlights two parallel developments reshaping legal practice: a new European survey measuring AI adoption across law firms, and AltClaro’s AI‑driven deposition simulator that brings deliberate practice to associates. Nikki Shaver explains how the survey, conducted with Lexo, will benchmark European firms against U.S. counterparts, revealing divergent tool usage and maturity levels. Meanwhile, CEOs Abdi Shayesteh and trial lawyer Janine Connley Daves discuss AltClaro’s evolution from a written‑work feedback platform to a full‑scale “flight simulator” for depositions, leveraging structured AI rubrics to deliver instant, objective performance scores. Key insights include the shift from passive CLE hours to active, feedback‑rich training, the importance of assignment diversity for skill growth, and the tangible benefits observed during a pilot with six firms that logged 160 hours of testing. Participants praised the realism of AI‑generated hostile witnesses, opposing counsel, and court reporters, noting that the tool helps them rehearse on‑the‑fly adjustments and refine questioning strategies. The platform’s success earned an ALM Legal Week award and rapid adoption by over 100 AmLaw 200 firms. Notable quotes illustrate the philosophy: Shayesteh likens the model to pilot training—“you put in hours, get feedback, then you fly”—while Connley emphasizes the value of realistic scenarios for building confidence. The discussion also references Anders Ericsson’s deliberate‑practice research, arguing that law firms must move beyond checklist CLE to iterative, data‑driven skill development. Implications are clear: firms that integrate AI‑enabled simulators can accelerate associate competence, reduce time spent on low‑value drafting, and create measurable training pipelines. The European AI maturity survey will further pressure firms to adopt structured technology strategies, making AI‑enhanced deliberate practice a competitive differentiator in talent development and client service.