The Next Era of Between the Briefs

September 24, 2026 Adrian Cea

75+ episodes. 1,200+ followers. A new look. A bottle of hot sauce. And a legal industry that is changing faster than most people can keep up with.

In this special episode of Between the Briefs by Steno, hosts Joe Stephens and Adrian Cea record live from ILTACON 2026 to reflect on the conversations, guests, hot takes and recurring themes that have shaped the show so far.

Join them as they revisit standout guests including Elaine Barsom, Colin Levy, Eric Friedman, Andrew Finkelstein, Matthew Pringle, Bob Simon, Katie DeBorde, and others, while also introducing the show’s new Hot Takes hot sauce.

What You'll Learn:

Why “go slow to go fast” keeps coming up in legal AI conversations
Why AI is better understood as leverage, not a lawyer replacement
How legal tech is changing firm structures, billing models, hiring, training and education
Why law schools are still figuring out which AI skills actually matter
Why empathy, relatability and storytelling remain major legal advantages
How guest conversations have shaped Joe and Adrian’s view of the industry
Why attorney-client privilege and consumer AI use are becoming urgent client-counseling issues
Why judges and clerks keep coming back to the same advice: be brief
How private equity, remote-first firms, and AI-driven models are shifting the business of law
Why the rebrand marks a new chapter for Between the Briefs, not a reset

This episode is a milestone, a reintroduction and a reminder that the future of legal innovation will not be built by technology alone. It will be built by people who know how to use it well.

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

About the Contributors

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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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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