In the realm of legal operations, it's time for a radical shift in how essential systems are perceived and utilized. Depositions, often seen as mere procedural necessities, are in fact as crucial as contract records in litigation, holding a structured record of legal fact that must be accurately and authentically preserved. Yet, inefficiencies, high costs, and outdated equipment plague the deposition process, accepted by the industry as just part of the job.

Karl Seelbach, a seasoned personal injury defense litigator and co-founder of Skribe.ai, is championing a transformative view of deposition technology. He argues that it should be considered not just an enhancement but a fundamental infrastructure of legal practice, crucial for improving trust, clarity, and efficiency within legal systems.

In a recent interview, Seelbach shared insights from his extensive experience with depositions across Texas. Traditional methods, he noted, are not only slow and costly but also involve cumbersome equipment that hinders the momentum of cases and saps client resources. This inefficiency is mirrored in contract management, where static documents lack the structure and clarity needed for quick and reliable reference.

Seelbach’s Skribe.ai is at the forefront of addressing these issues, piloting in federal court a system that creates instant transcripts from audio recordings and employs Generative AI to assist in drafting proposed orders. This integration of technology aims to eliminate human bottlenecks, enhance access, and increase transparency in legal proceedings.

The core challenge, according to Seelbach, lies not in resistance from legal professionals but in a lack of familiarity and education about the capabilities and legality of non-stenographic depositions, which have been permitted under federal rules since 1993. Similarly, many legal teams are unaware that contract review processes can now be automated to identify risks and certify third-party documents for fairness.

For in-house legal teams, the message is clear: deposition systems and contract workflows should be treated as parallel infrastructure layers that require reliable data capture, structured outputs, and measurable performance. Seelbach urges these teams to demand technological upgrades from their vendors, aiming to shift from managing mere files to managing robust, scalable systems.

In summary, Seelbach’s mission is to catalyze a shift in the legal industry’s approach to deposition technology, advocating for its recognition as critical infrastructure. This, he believes, is essential for speeding up the wheels of justice by making legal data more accessible and usable. As legal practices continue to evolve, embracing these technological advancements could redefine their operational landscapes, enhancing efficiency and trust across the board.