AI Won’t Replace You. But Lawyers Using AI Will: Game-Changing Insights from Kellam T. Parks

November 27, 2025 Joe Stephens

Contrary to popular belief, AI won’t replace lawyers. But it’s important to remember that lawyers who use AI are a formidable opponent.

In this episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Kellam T. Parks, Managing Member at Parks Ziegler, to explore how AI and modern technology are reshaping law firm economics, why legacy systems are costing you more than you realize and the concrete strategies to future-proof your practice.

What You’ll Learn:

How to transition from billable hours to alternative fee arrangements using AI efficiencies
Why digital court reporting and AI-powered document review can reduce paralegal costs by 80-90% while improving accuracy
The three-step framework for law firms beginning their technology transformation
How to build a modern law firm using KPIs and business metrics across five key areas: financial, operational, marketing, employee satisfaction, and client satisfaction
The critical gap between technological fluency and business acumen in newly licensed attorneys
Why "AI will replace lawyers using AI, but not AI itself" and how to future-proof your practice

This conversation reveals all the perks of embracing technology - a reminder that it can transform your profitability, client service and quality of life tomorrow.

Want to watch this episode of Between the Briefs instead? Get the full video on YouTube.

About the Contributors

Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno's Director of Legal Solutions as well as a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. With over 15 years of experience in criminal defense and public service, he founded and led Texas' largest rural public defender office, which serves a 12-county area. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (cum laude) and Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Stephens currently serves as a Board Member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) and sits on multiple State Bar of Texas committees. His expertise spans the intersection of legal practice and technological innovation in the justice system.

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Adrian Cea

Adrian Cea is Steno's Social Media Manager, leading content strategy, audience engagement, and digital brand-building across platforms. He also produces and co-hosts Between the Briefs, Steno's podcast covering the intersection of legal technology, court reporting, and the future of litigation. With a background spanning content creation, field marketing, and sales at companies like Sell Better and Chili Piper, Adrian brings a multi-disciplined lens to making complex legal tech topics accessible and engaging.

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