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/

On the December episode of The UpLevel View, Stephanie Corey, CEO of UpLevel Ops, is joined by Brian Hupp, Sumi Trombley, and Brandi Pack for “2024 Legal Ops: What We’ve Learned, What’s Next – An UpLevel Ops Roundtable.” Reflecting on this year’s advancements in AI, workflow automation, and value-based pricing, the panel shares bold predictions and actionable strategies to prepare for the year ahead. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion to inspire your 2025 Legal Ops goals!

Highlights

• Discussion about AI trends in workflow automation.
• Brian on AI chatbots and workflows.
• Sumi on contract management trends.
• Brandi on the rapid adoption of AI.
• Legal professionals under pressure to adopt AI.
• Importance of not switching models frequently.
• Brian on the surprise of AI adoption.
• Change management in AI adoption.
• Legal operations professionals' role in AI transformation.
• AI assistance for routine tasks.
• Outside counsel management challenges.
• Problems with hourly billing.
• Ethics of AI-related savings in law firms.
• 2025 predictions: AI acceleration in legal operations.
• Upskilling and trust in AI tools.
• The rise of independent AI agents.
• Legal operations’ strategic evolution.

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/

In the November episode of the UpLevel View, Stephanie Corey, CEO of UpLevel Ops, chats with Alison English, Head of Legal Ops at White Cap, about building resilient legal frameworks. They’ll share practical tips on aligning strategies with business needs, implementing agile processes, and thriving during uncertain times. Tune in for actionable insights and enhance your legal leadership vision today!

Highlights

• Pivoting in response to a crisis or change.
• Encouraging teams to embrace change.
• Legal ops and cross-functional collaboration.
• Small wins in change management initiatives.
• Leadership buy-in is essential.
• Getting alignment with the General Counsel (GC).
• Leveraging Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tools.
• The importance of understanding legal spend.
• Flexibility and tech-enabled operations are essential.
• Legal ops as a translator in organizations.

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 Alison English
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonenglish/

Join the UpLevel View as Senior Advisors Sumi Trombley and Brian Hupp chat with Checkbox CEO Evan Wong about the "Secrets to Implementation Success." Discover how to navigate legal tech rollouts, overcome roadblocks, and drive team adoption. Gain expert tips on aligning technology with business goals, fostering collaboration, and optimizing legal service delivery. Tune in for actionable strategies to transform your legal department and enhance your legal leadership vision today!

Guest

Evan Wong is the CEO and co-founder of Checkbox, a multi-award-winning no-code workflow automation platform. Evan has worked with many legal teams globally on their digital transformation projects by leveraging the power of no-code automation. He has helped redefine how lawyers conduct intake and triage, generate documents, provide advice, and facilitate workflows.

Highlights

• Evan Wong’s dream automation: laundry.
• Process comes before technology.
• Aligning technology with corporate strategy.
• Importance of defining success early.
• Recognizing the signs when to start looking for solutions.
• The risks of distraction in legal work.
• How to identify when ready for technology implementation.
• Cultural and mindset shifts for tool adoption.
• Perfection as the enemy of good.
• Importance of early stakeholder alignment.
• Tips for managing stakeholder feedback.
• Bringing stakeholders on the journey.
• Leadership buy-in is crucial for success.
• The role of training and AI chatbots in change management.
• Common pitfalls in technology implementation.
• The need for project management rigor.
• Importance of intentionality in legal operations.

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 Evan Wong
• https://www.checkbox.com/

In the September episode of the UpLevel View podcast, "Reimagining Legal Services: Professor Andrew Perlman on ChatGPT and the Future of Law," ULO Founder and CEO Stephanie Corey and Andrew Perlman, Dean of Suffolk Law School, discuss how AI, particularly ChatGPT, is transforming legal research, document generation, and client interactions. Tune in to discover AI's transformative potential and enhance your legal leadership vision today!

Highlights

• Implications of OpenAI on legal services
• Biggest transformative technology in legal services
• Lawyers vs. AI: Embrace or fall behind
• Generative AI drafting and critiquing legal documents
• Starting to use generative AI in everyday tasks
• The importance of mastering basic generative AI tools
• Examples of using generative AI in legal studies assessment
• Law firms’ adaptation to technology; billing model changes
• Law schools’ integration of technology in the curriculum
• Generative AI: Lawyers practicing at the top of their license
• Addressing access to justice with legal technology innovations
• Technology-enhanced legal services as a game changer

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/
• ULO Custom GPT Master Chef: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-oVwrdPo0I-master-chef
• CLOC: https://cloc.org
• LINK: http://Linkforlegal.com

In the August episode of the UpLevel View podcast, we are honored to welcome back Whitney Stefko from Ford and Christian Lang of LEGA, who join hosts Brian Hupp and Brandi Pack to discuss advancements in AI capabilities and adoption. We'll explore strides in productivity and efficiency within legal operations, reflecting on past predictions and new developments. Tune in to discover AI's transformative potential and enhance your legal leadership vision today!

Highlights

• Changes in client interactions regarding GAI over the past year.
• Whitney on industry’s poor change management and needing to focus on the human aspect.
• Importance of holistic training on technology usage, with anticipation for GPT-5’s release.
• Brandy’s perspective on organizational readiness and leadership modeling.
• The risk of employees smuggling unapproved GAI tools into the workplace.
• Need for companies to be proactive with AI adoption rather than having a “zero risk” mentality.
• Brian on the importance of creating safe spaces for AI experimentation.
• Whitney on the variance in organizations’ maturity regarding GAI adoption.
• Prediction: Increased focus on back-office use cases with clearer ROI in the next year.
• Christian’s prediction: More significant security incidents likely in the next 12 months.
• Whitney’s prediction: Impact of GPT-5 and the rise of hyper-personalized GAI.
• Discussion on community collaboration and sharing best practices through GAI networks.

Episode Resources

• General Counsel Thought Leadership Hub at UpLevel Ops: https://uplevelops.com/gc_thoughtleadership/
• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447
• https://linkforlegal.com/
• Whitney & Christian's original UpLevel View Podcast appearance in October 2023: https://open.spotify.com/episode/31U353bdPUmpavmuRGTlu2?si=4254ac330d0d4b14
• Brandi's article: The AI Advantage: Stay Ahead or Fall Behind: https://www.law.com/legaltechnews/2024/06/21/the-ai-advantage-stay-ahead-or-fall-behind/
• Join the LINK Community here: http://linkforlegal.com
• Connect with Stephanie Corey
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephcorey-ulo
• https://fr.linkedin.com/company/uplevel-ops
• https://uplevelops.com/