Legal AI Interview

In a recent episode of the Scalable Law Podcast, Clio CEO Jack Newton delivered some key insights into the future of legal tech, including the billion-dollar AI bets shaping it, and why Australia is at the forefront of key developments.

As the founder of the world’s leading cloud-based legal practice management platform, Newton has a front-row seat to how technology is reshaping law firm operations, client experience, and the business of law itself.

Here are the key takeaways from his conversation with the podcast on the legal AI developments that are occurring so fast:

🔹 1. Legal AI Isn’t a Side Feature. It’s the Core.

Clio is betting big on AI—and not as an add-on. Newton argues that AI is transforming legal workflows from the inside out: document drafting, client intake, legal research, and case management are all being reimagined with embedded intelligence. “The law firms that win,” Newton says, “are the ones that go native with AI, not the ones who bolt it on.”

🔹 2. Culture as a Competitive Advantage

Clio’s success isn’t just about code—it’s about culture. Newton emphasizes the importance of building mission-aligned teams and embedding purpose into every layer of the company. That purpose? Transforming access to justice at scale.

🔹 3. Access to Justice Is the Real Tech Opportunity

Clio is approaching the justice gap not with charity, but with innovation. By using AI and automation to lower the cost and complexity of delivering legal services, Clio is enabling lawyers to serve more clients—more affordably, and more efficiently.

🔹 4. Why Australia Matters

Australia is no longer just a peripheral legal market—it’s a global testbed for innovation. High cloud adoption, openness to legal ops, and strong regulatory infrastructure make it a priority region for Clio’s expansion. Newton confirmed Clio is building locally tailored features for Australian firms, from billing formats to regional compliance tools.

🔹 5. The Next Frontier Is Clients, Not Courts

Clio sees the future of legal AI not in replacing lawyers, but in amplifying their capacity. This is about shifting from firm-centric systems to client-first platforms—a theme Newton sees as inevitable across the industry.

As AI enters its exponential phase, Clio’s position is clear: the law firms that adapt early will gain compound advantages. And the markets that embrace change—like Australia—are positioned to lead the next era of law.