Community in the Time Between Stories: Tom Martin on Connection, Presence, and the Future of Legal

In this episode of This Legal Life, host Ben Chiriboga welcomes Tom Martin, founder of LawDroid and co-founder of Vancouver Legal Hackers, for a thoughtful discussion about community and innovation in the legal industry. Tom shares his journey from East Los Angeles to becoming a builder of legal communities, reflecting on the moments that shaped his commitment to connection and collaboration.

Together, Ben and Tom explore what Tom describes as the “time between stories,” a period of transition where the legal profession is redefining how it works, connects, and creates value. They discuss the growing need for presence, authenticity, and human-centered leadership as technology accelerates rapid change.

Tune in for an insightful conversation about belonging, resilience, and the role of community in the future of legal work.

Meet Our Guest:

Tom Martin is CEO and founder of LawDroid, a generative AI legal technology company, and Principal of Deep Legal, a legal AI transformation consultancy. He is an Adjunct Professor at Suffolk Law School, where he teaches Generative AI, and author of Generative AI and the Delivery of Legal Services, a textbook adopted by law schools nationwide. An ABA Legal Rebel and Fastcase 50 honoree, Tom serves on the ABA Center for Innovation Governing Council and has launched Law Answers AI and Depositron to expand access to justice. He hosts the LawDroid Manifesto newsletter and podcast for 6,000+ subscribers, writes “The AI Law Professor” column for the Thomson Reuters Institute, and speaks at major legal technology conferences including ABA TechShow, LegalWeek, and ILTACON. A Yale University and UCLA School of Law graduate, Tom lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife and two daughters.

You can follow him and his podcast at: lawdroidmanifesto.com

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