35 Years of Changing Technology at Law Firms - Manifest in the Field
From green-screen terminals and paper-based workflows to cloud platforms, AI, and cybersecurity, law firms have spent decades adapting to constant technological change. Join us as we look back at 35 years of transformation in legal technology, explore the lessons learned from successful transitions, and discuss practical strategies for managing change in an era where innovation never slows down.
Take concepts from what we’ve learned in the past and make your current transition to A.I. a successful one.
PLTG Virtual Session - NEW TIME
Friday November 13, 2026; 10:00 - 11:30 am Eastern
Attend the virtual event from 10 - 11:30 ET,
then join a "social time" post-session discussion from 11:30 am to Noon Eastern.
Co-Host
John Attinger
Parker Poe LLP
John Attinger writes: "I lead AI solutions and enablement at Parker Poe, focused on turning emerging AI capabilities into practical tools and workflows for lawyers and business professionals.
"What does that mean on a day-to-day basis? I spend my time figuring out how to make AI genuinely useful inside a law firm. I work with lawyers and business professionals to turn tools like Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT and CoCounsel into practical, repeatable ways of working. That includes building prompts, skills, agents, and workflows; helping teams personalize AI for how they actually practice; and driving the training and change management needed to make those tools stick.
"I’m especially interested in the gap between what AI can do and what people will actually trust and adopt. Closing that gap means getting the technology right, but it also means understanding workflow, user experience, security, confidentiality, governance, and the realities of practicing law.
"I like solving problems where technology alone isn’t the answer. The goal isn’t AI adoption for its own sake. It’s giving people better ways to do their work."
Co-Host
Dan Earley
Paul Hastings LLP
Dan Earley is the President of PLTG and brings more than 30 years of experience in the technology field. His career began with a start-up company and a consulting firm, laying a strong foundation for a diverse and evolving technology journey. Dan’s legal technology experience started at Morrison & Foerster and continues through his current work with Paul Hastings.
Throughout his career, Dan has held numerous roles across IT and Talent Management, consistently serving as a vital liaison between technology teams and the business. In his current role as a Digital Learning Specialist, he consults internally on learning and development initiatives, delivers live presentations, and creates engaging digital content to support organizational growth.
Dan has developed and delivered webinars, designed educational programs, and contributed to the editing of e‑learning and legal technology publications. He is deeply passionate about helping others understand and adapt to technology that enhances their daily work and aligns with broader business goals. Dan has also been an active leader within PLTG, previously serving as Co‑Vice President of Membership and Co‑Vice President/Secretary on the board.
Panelists
Erika Barber
Traveling Coaches
Erika Barber is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in Learning and Development, distinguished for her leadership in the field. With a rich background in directing training initiatives across diverse modalities, including instructor-led and virtual environments, Erika excels in designing and executing high-impact training and talent development strategies. She has skillfully nurtured a team of talent development experts, crafted competency models, and produced SCORM-compliant eLearning modules.
In her previous role as a Learning & Development Manager, Erika spearheaded the establishment of the inaugural Learning & Development department, overseeing a comprehensive overhaul of onboarding processes. Introducing innovative methodologies such as flipped learning and persona-based training, she transformed the learning experience. Erika's commitment to efficiency enhancement and bridging skill gaps is reflected in her tailored training solutions, which address learners' current skill levels and unique learning preferences.
Currently serving as a Learning Strategist at Traveling Coaches, Erika collaborates with law firms to optimize their learning ecosystems in alignment with organizational objectives. Leveraging her expertise, she not only facilitates strategic planning sessions to identify and assess learning goals but also develops comprehensive communication and adoption strategies for integrating technologies such as iManage Work, Microsoft Office 365, Net Documents, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Copilot. Erika monitors progress towards these goals and provides data-driven insights to evaluate the effectiveness of learning interventions.
Erika's proficiency extends beyond conventional training paradigms; she specializes in revamping new hire onboarding processes and developing role-based learning paths. Her expertise lies in creating a culture of continuous learning within organizations, empowering employees to develop relevant skills and knowledge. This approach ensures sustained growth and adaptability, making her an invaluable asset to clients seeking transformative learning solutions.
Michael Barshinger
UniversitySite
Michael Barshinger is the founder and CEO of Profiscience and author of Stay CLEver!. He has spent more than 30 years at the intersection of law-firm technology, learning, and professional compliance. Michael created UniversitySite to help law firms simplify learning, professional development, and CLE administration—reducing reliance on spreadsheets, email, and manual processes. To date, the platform has served more than 400,000 law firm employees, with client relationships averaging over 14 years.
Debbie Dalrymple
Savvy Consulting
Debbie Dalrymple is an independent technology trainer and consultant who has helped law firms and their people adapt to new technology since 1994, and has worked with Savvy Training & Consulting since 2011. She has guided firms of all sizes through generations of change: from WordPerfect to Microsoft 365, and from PC Docs to iManage and NetDocuments. Today she trains legal professionals on AI tools including Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, bringing the same practical, people-first approach to the latest major shift in legal technology.
A Microsoft Certified Trainer and NetDocuments Certified Trainer with a background that includes coursework in counseling psychology, Debbie believes successful technology adoption starts with understanding the people who use it. Rather than delivering canned training, she learns how each organization actually works and tailors instruction to its workflows and challenges. She has seen firsthand that even the most powerful tools are only as effective as the people using them.
A Colorado native and avid cyclist, Debbie has ridden nearly every paved mountain pass in Colorado above 9,000 feet. She brings that same persistence to helping people tackle steep learning curves.
Sherry Kappel
Technology Evangelist
Sherry Kappel is a retired Technology Evangelist, Change Champion and Innovator.
