LegalTechTalk Uncovered 2025 - Akil Hunte - E05

0:00Welcome to the Legally Speaking Podcast Legal Tech Talk Uncovered Mini Series 2025 sponsored by Clio. We're back with our red mic for a behind the scenes series all about legal innovation at Europe's largest legal tech event. So we're granted access to meet some of the greatest speakers, sponsors, brands in the whole legal tech world. We've got 300 speakers with over 70 sessions with over 4 ,000 attendees from all across the globe hitting us here over the next two days at Legal Tech Talk live in London. From AI to access to justice to smart compliance, you name it, we're covering it all. This isn't just another conversation or another conference.

0:41It's a blueprint for community and transformation. So buckle up. We're speaking with some incredible people about policy change, change makers, legal innovation, and so much more. Over and out. Welcome to the Legally Speaking Podcast, recording live at Legal Tech Talk. I am joined by name, title, and organization.

1:02Akil Hunte:Thank you so much, man. My name is Akil. I am chair of NRG Lawyers, and it is a blessing to be on Legally Speaking Podcast. And I am a lifelong fan of yours and your mission, everything you've stood for and watched your own journey and seen you grow and you're still just getting started. So in one sentence, what problem are you trying to solve in legal? Yeah, so the problem I'm trying to solve in legal is how do we build genuine and authentic connection and community insights to modernize law, bring more non-Rothbic students and graduates onto the table to lead for the future? yeah i love that and i know you did a recent event and i'd love for you to tell people about that and what it was all about yeah yeah so the event was last night that we did so we did a side event for legal tech talk it was called bring law to the 21st century so it was a very specific title we wanted it to be a conversation that transcended time and it definitely was we had an absolutely stellar panel we had general counsel such as kate tires who are incredible at their work we had Vanessa Whitman from CMS we had Hadja Baghbaderani she's a legal specialist at Robin AI Atalanta from Robin AI who helped to support the event as well and we also had Miriam Owusu who was speaking on the panel too so an illustrious panel powerful woman you know sold out event so many people were attending and showed up for us so beautiful evening with beautiful people yeah and it's a testament to you and what you're building and all the great work you're doing with NRG lawyers.

2:28This year's themes at Legal Tech Talk are law and tech, evolution, revolution, access to justice, purpose-driven law, collaboration, smart compliance. Which of those stand out to you the most and why?

2:40Akil Hunte:Yeah, yeah. So I'd definitely say collaboration is definitely something, you know, because you're a big fan of collaboration over the years. And you've actually taught me the power of collaboration in terms of how to work together as ecosystems so we can thrive as a modern industry. And I think for us, we're very collaborative. We've never excluded anyone from my room actual fact a lot of our panelists yesterday were from russell universities so people who are from russell universities genuinely love what we do but they're thinking what you want to get non-russell group in the room i'm in yeah because they love the fact that we're just so clear about our mission and we love what we do so very collaborative very forward thinking and we want to make it genuine and authentic so you know that's what we want to do so yeah and you're doing a great job and i always say we is greater than me and this collaboration domination our listeners have heard me say that a million times which is so true and you're doing it so well as of today what's been your biggest surprise so far of legal tech talk 2025 biggest surprise the biggest surprise is there's a list of them but for me the biggest surprise i've had is how amazing amazing the team and the the sponsors all work together for one pacific mission i think i was so surprised because i didn't come last year i was unable to attend just due to my own circumstances however i think coming this year seeing the work the team are doing i've just been like you've got the right guy doing the podcast you've got like the right people doing the speaking you know you got me and one of the hosts as well as part of this event it's just like yo like we're all together yeah like in the same space just doing what we're here to do which is to serve the industry like and that's what i love and i love it yeah and let's look forward then because you're on a mission you're someone who's exceptionally driven you're passionate and you'll knock down walls to get what you need to do in terms of doing good for community and helping others.

4:23What do you hope will be gone and finally fixed in the world of law?

4:26Akil Hunte:Let me break it on from both perspectives. So why would we go for legal industry is the idea that we are not equal. I want it to be gone. We are all equal too. I want it to be gone that people who are not part of an already established network cannot forge those networks. I want it to be gone I want everyone to be able to develop a network No matter where they've come from But free and most importantly for me I want what's to be gone And finally fixed Is the idea that We should not have an industry That represents 2025 That's what I want finally gone I want us all to represent that Because once we all represent that As an industry This is not an echo chamber This is a catalyst for legal transformation And that's what I want to make sure That is the next step In us making sure we make it happen and beautifully said and we fully support that here at the legally speaking podcast so before i let you go what's been your biggest aha or standout moment of legal tech talk thus far you know what i'm not even just saying this because i'm here but actually seeing you in your element and seeing you connecting with people i've met different people today and i've had beautiful conversations that some of them were very private and personal conversations and some of them were very you know what do you do what do i do how do we work but when i came here i I actually haven't been anywhere as long as I've actually been near to your store because people actually resonate and connect with you because of who you are as a person.

5:50Akil Hunte:Not necessarily because of just your brand or just because, you know, you have a podcast, but you were doing this before you had a podcast that was sponsored by Clio. Like, you were doing this before everyone knew what you were doing. Like, I remember how you guys started. Yeah, you came to my office. I remember, you know, before the pandemic. Before the pandemic, I saw your setup. It was literally, I just want to share people's stories. And that's what you've wanted to do. longer than the past five years. So, you know, your story is just so inspiring for me. Just seeing everyone connect with you and just care about you, you know, and what you do.

6:22And we appreciate that. And I'm really honoured to be part of NRG Lawyers and be an advisor to that organisation and what you're doing and what you're leading. And so before we wrap up, where can people go to find out more about NRG Lawyers or if they want to support or get involved?

6:37Akil Hunte:Oh gosh, yeah. NRG Lawyers, find us on the website, nrg-lawyers.com. You can also find us on social media. so LinkedIn is the best place we've got over 2 ,000 followers on LinkedIn so find us on LinkedIn find us on Instagram you know we're not always active on Instagram you know I'm not really using Instagram very much myself and neither does my team so you know you're probably going to find us at our events find us on our mailing list we've already sent more emails than we actually sent our Instagram posts so we're very very loyally like so yeah I'll find us there but find me as well on LinkedIn Nakil, Han wherever you find me I'm finally finding before I let you go because I always get inspired by you and learn from you What's one piece of wisdom you've picked up over the years That you always like to share with people Or would like to share with our listeners One piece of wisdom I think that we are all idiots

7:28Akil Hunte:I think that's one piece of wisdom Is we are all idiots I include myself in the we I think we are all idiots Because quite frankly None of us have the solution None of us know what we're doing And I think just us understanding that we are all idiots. Like we do not know what is going to happen tomorrow. Anything can happen to us. We are not English. I can't even make air. Like if I can make air and breathe on my own, then I am a genius. But until I can make air, I can make an earth, I can make a moon, I cannot do anything. I think we are all idiots. And quite frankly, the wise thing I can say is if you think that you're not an idiot, it probably makes you even more of an idiot.

8:06Akil Hunte:So I would definitely call myself an idiot. You know what I'm saying? So yeah. Well, from one idiot to another, thanks so much again for joining us and reconnecting and i encourage people also to go back and listen to akil's story we've also had him on the league's been podcast for a full episode go check that out as well but for now from all of us on the league's been podcast over and out blessings thank you for listening to this week's episode if you like the content here why not check out our world leading content and collaboration hub the legally speaking club over on discord go to our website www.legallyspeakingpodcast.com for the link to join our community there.

8:44Over and out.