Most Lawyers Are Ignoring AI’s Biggest Risk: Insights from Steve Embry

February 12, 2026 Joe Stephens

AI has taken over legal in a way lawyers didn’t expect. But what if lawyers and AI could evolve alongside each other?

In this episode of Between the Briefs, hosts Joe Stephens and Adrian Cea sit down with Steve Embry of embryLaw LLC, national litigator and renowned legal tech writer, to explore the collision between artificial intelligence and traditional legal practice.

What You’ll Learn:

The Verification Paradox: How the time saved using generative AI tools may be offset or entirely negated by the time required to verify outputs
Why senior lawyers must understand AI regardless of personal preference
How to train the next-generation of litigators without over-reliance on AI
The billing model crisis generative AI creates and what’s going to replace it
Why market differentiation matters when it comes to AI implications
Why the real risk isn’t technology failure; it’s creative stagnation

AI isn’t all it’s cut out to be—this episode reveals what it is.

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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