Joe Borstein, a familiar face in the legal tech community and partner at Baretz+Brunelle, has made a triumphant return to Above the Law after nearly a decade. Borstein, who predicted the rise of legal tech billionaires back in 2017, checks in on the accuracy of his claims and shares his journey through the evolving landscape of legal technology.

Back in 2017, Borstein boldly claimed that by 2027, the legal industry would not just be populated with billionaires, but that these high rollers would be the innovators and entrepreneurs of legal tech rather than traditional practicing attorneys. With 2026 upon us, he points to the creation of 16 legal tech unicorns as evidence that his prediction is on track. Borstein’s career itself mirrors the growth he forecasted, having transitioned from running a legal outsourcing business to helping grow legal tech firms at Baretz+Brunelle.

Borstein revisits his three foundational beliefs about the legal tech industry: the vast market potential, the tight-knit community of alt.legal professionals, and the transferable skills that attorneys bring to tech. He notes that the market for legal innovation, pegged at $27.8 billion in 2025, has exploded beyond the early billions that once impressed the industry, with legal tech funding reaching a record $4.6 billion in 2025 alone.

The community around legal tech has also expanded dramatically. Where once Borstein felt part of a small group of regulars at industry conferences, events like ILTACON now draw thousands, transforming into major networking hubs that rival tech giants’ gatherings.

As for the skills lawyers carry into the tech world, the narrative remains the same. Borstein argues that the core competencies of good lawyers—hard work, persuasive writing, and strong organizational skills—are invaluable in legal tech. This is evidenced by the steady stream of lawyers transitioning from traditional firms to cutting-edge tech roles, a trend supported by law schools integrating tech training into their curriculums.

Looking ahead, Borstein plans to reconnect with the legal tech entrepreneurs he once profiled, tracing their paths through the industry’s seismic shifts. His follow-up will likely uncover stories of success, adaptation, and perhaps unexpected career turns, providing a comprehensive view of where the legal tech field stands nearly a decade after his initial predictions.

Stay tuned as Borstein continues to explore the transformations within legal tech, offering insights that could guide the next generation of legal innovators.