Turning to technology

We are thrilled to feature Len Polsky, K.C., in the inaugural revival of the Spotlight series. He is originally from Montreal, where he earned degrees in commerce, civil law, and common law from McGill University. He studied in The Hague and worked at a law firm in Geneva, Switzerland. In Calgary, he practiced law for almost 30 years and was a managing partner at his litigation firm.

Today, Polsky is the Law Society of Alberta’s legal technology and mentorship manager. He leads the innovative regulation group spearheading the Innovation Sandbox project and also manages the Law Society’s practice technology programs.

CBAAB: What enticed you to leave private practice and join the Law Society of Alberta?  

LP: After a great run in private practice, I decided to try something different when the cases I was handling started to feel routine. I had previously volunteered on the Law Society’s practice review committee, so when an opportunity arose to join the practice management department, I took it. It was completely different than private practice but tapped into my experience and background as a lawyer. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

CBAAB: Today, you’re the manager of legal technology and mentorship. Have you always had an interest in technology and law? What do you credit this interest?

LP: When I was in high school, computers were very different and something the nerds did during their lunch break. The idea of treating computers as anything more than a distraction never occurred to the rest of us. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates showed us how wrong we could be.

Once I started practicing, it was fascinating to see the new tools that became available and apply them to my practice. My firm was a litigation boutique, and technology allowed us to work smarter. It also helped us level the playing field against much bigger firms with far greater resources, which greatly appealed to me as a litigator.

CBAAB: You are instrumental in the Law Society’s Innovation Sandbox. Can you describe the project’s goals and why it started?

LP: The Innovation Sandbox is a great example of looking at old problems through a new lens. In the past, professional regulators tended to focus just on disciplining the bad lawyers while ignoring how to serve the public interest by helping the good lawyers do better. The Sandbox creates opportunities to test ways of doing things differently in a safe, controlled environment. It challenges rules and assumptions that can stand in the way of doing law better. It represents a very different perspective on how legal regulators can fulfil their responsibilities.

CBAAB: Since the Sandbox began, what has surprised you?

LP: The biggest surprise has been the variety and creativity behind the proposals we’ve received from lawyers and non-lawyers alike. It’s hard to know what the next Sandbox application will look like. Technology? Law firm structures? Different models for handling legal disputes? They’re all there.

CBAAB: You are also instrumental in connecting young lawyers with mentors. Why is mentorship important?

LP: Law schools do a great job explaining the law but can fall short in teaching new lawyers how to develop good reputations and become the lawyers they want to be. These are things that can’t be learned from a book. Introducing new lawyers to those with more experience helps them develop these critical intangible skills and learn from those who have walked this path before. Another problem is that new lawyers are often personally and professionally isolated, regardless of the size of their firm. Mentorship reinforces that they are not alone and that there are good people ready and willing to support them. New lawyers should consider mentors as their personal board of directors, ready to guide and advise them at various stages of their careers.

CBAAB: How has private practice changed in the past 30 years?

LP: Technology has fundamentally changed the practice in a host of ways. Generative AI is about to take that to an entirely different level. However, an even bigger change I see is the willingness of young lawyers to challenge the relationship between their jobs and the rest of their lives. They question the wisdom of sacrificing their personal lives, their families or their health for the sake of career advancement. They’re willing to work just as hard as earlier generations but must be convinced it’s the right thing to do. That may not be such a bad thing.

CBAAB: Is that something that sticks out from your experience working in Switzerland?

LP: The lawyers I worked with in Geneva managed to maintain a remarkable degree of balance in their lives. Their office was always empty by 4:30 p.m., and they rarely worked evenings or weekends. Despite that, the work they performed was exceptional. They maintained the highest standards and were professional in every sense of the word. Far from treating a balanced life as a luxury, for them it was critical to their success and the satisfaction they gained from practising law.

CBAAB: What advice would you give new lawyers starting in private practice? 

LP: More than anything else, get involved. Whether it is the CBA, other professional groups, or even organizations that have nothing to do with the law, step up and do it. Developing a circle of contacts and learning from them will pay untold dividends as a lawyer develops new friendships and skills and raises their profile in the profession and the wider community. It also makes them a more interesting person. None of this happens while waiting for the telephone to ring. Get out there and get involved.

* This interview has been edited for clarity and length

If you know a lawyer or legal professional who deserves to be in the Spotlight, please email communications@cba-alberta.org with their name and a brief description of their contributions to the legal profession.