BigLaw Flunks Tech Audit: Associates Don't Know How to Use Word, Excel

Law Technology News:  Big Law Whipped for Poor Tech Training:

D. Casey Flaherty, corporate counsel at Kia Motors America, really does have good intentions as he humiliates Big Law firms about their dismal technology skills — and he is careful never to embarrass a partner.

Flaherty mesmerized a standing-room-only crowd on the opening day of LegalTech West Coast at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles with his electric keynote, "Raising the Bar on Technological Competence — the Outside Counsel Tech Audit."

Frustrated by ridiculous bills for routine "commodity" matters, Flaherty decided to strike back, and recently launched his technology audit program, where firms bidding for Kia's business must bring a top associate for a live test of their skills using basic, generic business tech tools such as Microsoft Word and Excel, for simple, rudimentary tasks.

So far, the track record is zero. Nine firms have taken the test, and all failed. One firm flunked twice.

"The audit should take one hour," said Flaherty, "but the average pace is five hours." In real life, that adds up to a whole lot of wasted money, he said. Flaherty uses the test to help him decide winners of the beauty contests, and to set rates and set performance goals. "I take 5 percent off every bill until they pass the test."

• Video
• PowerPoint Slides
• Kia Motors Tests Outside Counsel Tech Skills
• Kia Motors Tests Outside Counsel Tech Skills, Part II

(Hat Tip: ABA Journal.)