How AI is Exposing Decades of Legal Incompetence ft. Nicole Black

March 5, 2026 Joe Stephens

Legal Technology Legal AI Legal Industry Trends

Everyone’s worried that AI will take their job. But what they should be worried about is AI exposing how bad some people have been at their jobs.

In this episode of Between the Briefs, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome Nicole Black, Principal Legal Insight Strategist at 8AM, for an eye-opening discussion on how AI is really shaping the ground reality of law today.

What You’ll Learn:

Why hallucinated case citations and fabricated legal propositions represent a systemic competence crisis
How to build internal AI governance policies and training frameworks that protect your firm
The strategic difference between guardrailed AI systems and open-ended legal research AI
Why not using AI may soon constitute malpractice once hallucination problems are solved
How to evaluate legal tech adoption for firms of all sizes, from solo practitioners to large firms
Why authentic access-to-justice promises often mask profit-driven corporate interests

Her insights as a legal technology authority make for essential listening.

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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