Legal Ops is evolving—are you ready? In the March episode of the UpLevel View Podcast, ULO CEO Stephanie Corey is joined by two standout leaders from The L Suite—Greg Raiten, Co-Founder, and Shaun Sethna, General Counsel—for an honest conversation about the evolving relationship between General Counsel and Legal Operations. Together, they explore why Legal Ops is no longer just a support function but a strategic partner in building agile, scalable legal teams. From navigating CLM implementations (spoiler: they’re never as easy as they look) to adopting AI and value-based pricing models, this discussion gets into the real-world challenges legal departments face—and the solutions that actually work. The trio also reflects on the recent LINK + L Suite events and the magic that happens when legal leaders and ops professionals share a room (and a few hard truths). Whether you’re a solo GC or leading a mature legal department, this episode is packed with insight, candor, and a healthy dose of humor. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation—subscribe now and take your legal leadership to the Next Level!

Highlights

• Greg’s Insight: Hiring Legal Ops as a first hire.
• Sean’s View: Legal Ops importance across economic cycles.
• Greg’s Observation: Lawyers don’t learn operational efficiency.
• Steph on Legal Strategy: Aligning legal teams with business growth.
• Greg on Events: Successful merge of communities.
• Greg’s Approach: Legal ops communities and event strategy.
• Sean’s Insight: GC curiosity and legal ops evolution.
• Greg on Legal Tech: Importance of adapting to change.

Episode Resources

• UpLevel Ops Master Chef GPT: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-oVwrdPo0I-master-chef
• UpLevel Ops Wanderlust GPT: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-eDSeep6qT-wanderlust-guide
• Thought Leadership from UpLevel Ops: https://uplevelops.com/thoughtleadership/
• LINK (Legal Innovators Network): http://Linkforlegal.com
• Connect with Stephanie Corey
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephcorey-ulo
• https://fr.linkedin.com/company/uplevel-ops
• https://uplevelops.com/
• https://uplevelops.com/legal-operations-consulting/
• https://uplevelops.com/thoughtleadership/
• https://uplevelops.com/services/gai-management/
• The L Suite: https://www.lsuite.co/
• Shaun Sethna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunsethna/
• Greg Raiten on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregraiten/

What does value mean in legal operations, and how is it evolving in 2025? Join Stephanie Corey, Co-Founder and CEO of UpLevel Ops, Maureen Harms, VP and Associate General Counsel, Transition Management at 3M, and Ken Callander, Managing Principal of Value Strategies—now an UpLevel Ops company—for an exclusive discussion on the future of legal operations and pricing strategies. Together, UpLevel Ops and Value Strategies offer a powerhouse of expertise, presenting a united vision for delivering transformative results in legal departments. Steph, Maureen, and Ken will delve into the evolving definition of value, the cultural shifts driving innovation, and actionable strategies for optimizing outside counsel management and implementing value-based pricing. Tune into the UpLevel View and enhance your legal leadership vision today!

Highlights

• Rethinking hourly rates: Shift to value-based pricing.
• Legal industry’s reluctance to change billing methods.
• Alignment with business objectives equals value.
• AI’s impact on future legal services efficiency.
• In-house teams reconsidering bringing work internally.
• Managing change in law firms: A slow but necessary process.
• Creating competition within legal departments to drive change.
• Success metrics: Meeting client expectations and budget.
• Efficient legal spending: The importance of partnering with firms.

Episode Resources

• UpLevel Ops Master Chef GPT: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-oVwrdPo0I-master-chef
• UpLevel Ops Wanderlust GPT: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-eDSeep6qT-wanderlust-guide
• Thought Leadership from UpLevel Ops: https://uplevelops.com/thoughtleadership/
• LINK (Legal Innovators Network): http://Linkforlegal.com
• Connect with Stephanie Corey
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephcorey-ulo
• https://fr.linkedin.com/company/uplevel-ops
• https://uplevelops.com/
• https://uplevelops.com/legal-operations-consulting/
• https://uplevelops.com/thoughtleadership/
• https://uplevelops.com/services/gai-management/
• Connect with Maureen Harms
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-harms-8018a727/

In the January episode of the UpLevel View, UpLevel CEO Stephanie Corey and Monica Zent of ZentLaw discuss the transformative role of ALSPs in legal departments. They tackle misconceptions, highlight ALSP benefits like reducing contract backlogs and fostering collaboration, and share real-world success stories. The conversation explores how ALSPs pave the way for legal tech adoption and future innovations like AI. Packed with insights, this episode is essential for legal professionals seeking Next Level, cost-effective, agile solutions to navigate today’s challenges.

Guest’s Info
Monica Zent is a distinguished attorney, entrepreneur, and investor, renowned for her innovative contributions to the legal industry. As the founder of ZentLaw, she reimagined the traditional law firm model by integrating the efficiencies of outsourcing with the strengths of conventional legal practice, establishing one of the nation's leading alternative law firms.

Highlights

• Strategic hire vs. augmenting with flex talent.
• Misconceptions about ALSPs and quality of talent.
• Legal departments using ALSPs for competitive advantage.
• Clearing backlogs to boost the legal team’s reputation.
• How ALSPs contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
• Successful onboarding strategies for ALSP partnerships.
• Try before you buy: converting flexible talent to permanent hires.
• Future role of ALSPs and flex talent in the legal profession.

Episode Resources

• UpLevel Ops Master Chef GPT: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-oVwrdPo0I-master-chef
• UpLevel Ops Wanderlust GPT: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-eDSeep6qT-wanderlust-guide
• Thought Leadership from UpLevel Ops: https://uplevelops.com/thoughtleadership/
• LINK (Legal Innovators Network): http://Linkforlegal.com
• Connect with Stephanie Corey
  https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephcorey-ulo
• https://fr.linkedin.com/company/uplevel-ops
• https://uplevelops.com/
• https://uplevelops.com/legal-operations-consulting/
• https://uplevelops.com/thoughtleadership/
• https://uplevelops.com/services/gai-management/
• Connect with Monica Zent
• https://zentlawgroup.com/