This week, LexisNexis announced the opening of its new Customer Innovation Lab in New York City. This initiative marks a shift in how the company approaches legal AI development. Instead of the traditional method, where products are internally crafted and subsequently validated externally, LexisNexis proposes a collaborative model. Legal professionals are invited to bring their challenges directly into the lab. Engineers, working with leading AI companies like OpenAI and Amazon Web Services, work alongside them to develop solutions in real time. Prototypes that meet expectations can be rapidly integrated into tools such as Lexis+ with Protégé.
Guiding this pioneering effort is Greg Dickason, the Chief Technology Officer of LexisNexis Legal & Professional. Having joined the company in 2019, Dickason previously oversaw LexisNexis’s Asia-Pacific operations and led the launch of Lexis+ AI in the region. His tenure at the company is characterized by a focus on innovative technology solutions, having transitioned from his previous role as CTO at CoreLogic.
In a detailed conversation with host Bob Ambrogi, recorded before the lab’s launch, Dickason delves into the lab’s operations. Engineers work on-the-fly in response to client needs, a departure from the customary after-the-fact customer feedback process. The lab’s initial output includes the Protégé Vault, a tool enabling lawyers to query video depositions. The lab’s primary focus is legal drafting, and Dickason shares insights on how he envisions AI agents reshaping this aspect of legal practice.
The lab’s innovative approach underscores the evolving dynamics in legal technology development, reflecting a broader industry trend toward closer client collaboration and more agile product cycles. Legal professionals and tech developers alike will be watching closely as initiatives like this reshape the landscape of AI in legal services.