Work Smarter, Lawyer Happier: Erin Walker on AI and Women Rewriting the Rules of Legal Careers

Technology is rapidly reshaping the legal profession, and for early-career attorneys, that can feel both exciting and slightly terrifying.  Not only are you climbing the steep learning curve of lawyering itself, but you’re also trying to keep up with the fast-moving world of legal tech.  Enter Erin Walker, a leader passionate about using technology to make a real difference.  As Director of Marketing Strategy and Enablement at Clio (a cloud-based legal practice management platform), Erin has spent the past eight years helping reimagine how lawyers can work more sustainably and with greater impact.

In this interview, Erin shares how Clio is transforming the day-to-day reality of legal practice and offers her refreshingly practical advice for young lawyers navigating a profession in flux.  We talk about how women can use technology to build legal careers that actually work for their lives, not the other way around.  If you’ve ever wondered whether the future of law could be more balanced, more flexible, and (dare we say) actually fun, this conversation just might change the way you think about what’s possible. 

Sara Santoyo: How did you end up at Clio?  Tell me about your journey.

Erin Walker:  I’ve always been an editor by trade. I have an honors English degree from the University of Toronto and started in book publishing, then moved into magazines, and eventually internet publishing, which I really preferred.  That passion for digital communication led me to run the digital communications portfolio for Canada’s largest airport.  From there, I joined Clio as Director of Content Communications.  I’ve been here a little over eight years, and it’s been a tremendous ride as we’ve grown significantly.

What really drew me to Clio was the mission.  I’ve always wanted to do mission-driven work, and I believe technology can be a force for good.  Clio’s goal is to transform the legal experience for all, starting by helping lawyers do what they do best while making it easier to run the business side of their practice.

SS: Could you describe what Clio does for the Ms. JD readers?

EW: You can think of Clio as being the technical backbone of a law firm.  Whether you’re working from home or in an office, Clio centralizes everything you need to run your practice: your calendar, client intake, case management, documents, billing, and more.  It’s also highly connected, with over 250 app integrations, so you can plug it into the tools you already use.  Clio becomes your reliable law firm partner, helping you run your business and run it really well.

SS: I considered starting my own firm right after passing the bar, but it felt like too big a leap.  A platform like Clio makes that leap feel a lot more manageable, even for a brand new lawyer.

EW:  Exactly.  And now, we’ve added AI capabilities to help lawyers work more securely and efficiently right from the start.  Some attorneys are still managing their practices with spreadsheets or even sticky notes, but starting with the right technology builds in essential security and sets you up for long-term success.

For example, with Clio, you can create a website with a lead capture form, respond to leads, intake clients, schedule appointments, and manage cases all in one place.  We even provide task lists to help you stay on track.  Everything is really thoughtfully designed to help you build processes that scale.

We have over 150,000 legal professionals using Clio, and we just celebrated our 17th anniversary as a company.  We’re constantly evolving based on customer feedback and what we’ve learned.

SS: In a video, Clio’s Lawyer in Residence joked that part of his job is to help make law firms more sustainable and less “soul-sucking.”  That really resonated with me thinking back to my early law firm days!

EW: Totally.  We talk a lot about using the right tool for the right job.  Clio helps lawyers focus on the parts of their work that actually bring them joy. 

When I joined Clio, I didn’t have a legal background, like many people here.  We go through a “Law 101” training, which helps break down outdated perceptions of who lawyers are and what they do.  What I’ve come to understand after eight years of working with them is that lawyers are frontline workers, navigating systems that are often complex and sometimes unfair, all while carrying the emotional weight of their clients’ stories.

It’s no wonder we see high rates of burnout and mental health issues in the profession. That’s why our mission to support them resonates so strongly with me.  Helping the helpers, so to speak, by improving the way they work and live.

SS: Let’s talk to the young lawyers just starting out.  What skills should they be focusing on to stay competitive in a tech-driven legal world? 

EW: One key skill is being open to learning.  Be curious and willing to try new things. In law, you’re often expected to be the smartest person in the room.  But in certain contexts there’s a lot of power in saying, “I don’t know, but I’m willing to learn.”

Also, make time to implement better systems.  It can be hard to slow down enough to implement systems that will ultimately speed you up, especially when you’re just trying to get through your day.  But carving out small pockets of time to improve your workflow will really pay off.

And I’d definitely recommend the book The Client-Centered Law Firm by our CEO Jack Newton.  I helped with the editorial side, and it’s a great resource not just for lawyers, but for anyone serving clients in a meaningful way.

SS: Such valuable insights, and I’m adding the book to my list.   

Let’s shift to AI.  Many young professionals are curious but hesitant to use it.  What would you say to someone just starting to explore AI who isn’t sure how to integrate it into their work? 

EW:  Clio has a ton of free AI resources: webinars, blog posts, a full AI guide for law firms, and our recent AI Summit recordings.  

AI is where I spend a lot of my brain space.  I get to teach thousands of lawyers around the world how to use it.  The first thing I tell people is this: AI today feels experimental, but I truly believe it will become the spellcheck of our generation.  No one asks, “Did you use spellcheck?” because of course you did.  AI will become just as normalized.

That said, you are still responsible for the output.  You have to be very familiar with what it’s generating and confident in putting your name on it.  I’ve been experimenting with these tools since they hit the scene, and I’ve never taken an AI-generated draft and sent it as-is.  But it’s fantastic for breaking writer’s block or remixing existing content. 

Also, use the right legal-specific AI tools.  There’s a difference between legal tasks and legal-adjacent tasks.  Legal-adjacent tasks, like marketing, research, or learning, can be done with general AI.  But legal-specific tasks, like drafting contracts or analyzing confidential data, require secure platforms.

SS: I really like the idea of experimenting with AI where there’s no pressure or risk.

EW: What I always recommend is to first try it in the context of something you enjoy that isn’t part of your profession, just to get comfortable with the technology.  You can have it generate a pattern for knitting or plot out your garden for the spring.  Ask it to plan meals for the week with dietary restrictions or a tight schedule and see what it produces.  There are all sorts of things you can do, and it’s only scratching the surface of what the tools are capable of.

SS: What would you say to a young woman who’s just starting out as an associate, curious about AI but feeling guilty, like she’s cutting corners?

EW: I would say two things.  First, that’s a really common response, and it comes from the emotion tied to your craft.  You’ve worked hard to master these skills, and using a tool might feel like diminishing that value.  So, start by using AI for the things that aren’t your core expertise, like scheduling, marketing, or brainstorming.

Second, remember this: Jack Newton says, “AI won’t replace lawyers, but lawyers who use AI will replace lawyers who don’t.”

That’s real.  You don’t need to be a tech expert, but you do need to get familiar with it.  You’re going to be competing with people who are already leveraging it.  And to ease any guilt, just be upfront about when you’re using it.  Also, use it in the background of your work in its “coach” mode rather than “author” mode.  Feed it your draft and ask for suggestions.  Use it to refine, not replace, your thinking.

SS: So lawyers don’t need to worry about AI replacing their jobs?

EW:  AI is going to change legal jobs, not erase them.  It will help you level-up how you spend your time.Think about how email replaced handwritten letters.  It didn’t eliminate communication, it just made it faster.  AI is doing something similar with legal work.  In 2023, 19% of lawyers said they were using AI.  Just one year later, that jumped to 79%.  That level of adoption is unprecedented. 

Legal is uniquely positioned, it’s both ripe for automation and full of professionals who are increasingly open to innovation.  Lawyers are leading the charge as an industry, and that’s an exciting place to be.  If you haven’t started learning AI basics, now is the time.

SS: That is a clear call to action for our readers. 

Let’s shift to equity.  How do you see legal tech helping to level the playing field for women in law?

EW: Tech has huge potential to create access and flexibility.  Not everyone wants to be in an Am Law 100 firm.  Many people, especially women, are now building sustainable practices that align with their values, their families, or their stage in life.

Legal tech allows you to run a high-functioning solo or small firm with high-level service.  You can work remotely, control your hours, and use tools like chatbots and intake forms to maintain a digital presence and gather leads, even while you’re away.  That opens doors to greater work-life balance, autonomy, and entrepreneurship.  Whether you’re a mom, a caregiver, or pursuing another passion on the side, tech gives you the flexibility to keep practicing law on your terms.

SS: In Losing Our Best Minds, the California Lawyers Association highlights how unsupportive workplace cultures drive many women out of law because of competing priorities and the need for sustainability.  Platforms like Clio help create real options for staying in the profession on our own terms.  

Is there anything else you want our readers to know?

EW:  Yes—supporting other women entering the workforce has always been really important to me.  I’ve had the opportunity to participate in events like the Women in Tech Regatta, and anytime I get to speak to early-career professionals, one of the best pieces of advice I give is to be vocal.

Tell people what you’re trying to do and what you’re aiming to achieve.  What I’ve learned is that sometimes the most casual conversations can open unexpected doors.  It could be a quick chat with the person checking out your groceries, that aunt twice removed, or someone you hadn’t considered part of your “professional” network.  And suddenly, they say, “Oh, I know someone you should talk to.”  Those moments can lead to opportunities that might not have been available otherwise.

SS: So true. Some of my best opportunities have come simply from being open about what I do and what I hope to build.  Sometimes it took a year or two, but people remembered, and eventually reached out.

What’s one piece of career advice you wish you’d gotten earlier?

EW: Be clear about what you’re great at, and what you’re learning.  It’s okay to say, “I’m not super familiar with this, but here’s what I’m doing to learn.”  That builds trust and helps you land in roles that are actually a good fit.  A job description is a wish list, no one checks every box. 

Alongside that, it’s important to remember that sometimes things just don’t fit, and that’s not a reflection of your value.  If something no longer serves you, whether it’s because of your season of life, the person you’re working for, or the nature of the work itself, it’s okay to move on.  It’s not a failure to choose something better suited for you.

SS: Last question… What gives you hope about the future of the legal profession?

EW: The openness.  The genuine willingness among so many lawyers to keep learning and to bring their full personality into the practice of law.

I see it again and again in the incredible people I get to meet, especially those recognized by our Reisman Awards program.  These are lawyers doing deeply mission-driven work, often serving underserved communities.  Some are solving problems through the pure practice of law, others through innovative uses of technology, but all of them are making an impact.  There’s an incredible ecosystem in this field.  

That’s what gives me optimism about the legal profession: the potential to marry legal expertise with whatever you’re passionate about, whether that’s building a more balanced life, serving a specific client group, or driving change in your community.

I love that more and more lawyers are showing up as their full selves in how they practice law.  That’s a beautiful shift.

SS: What a perfect note to end on. Thank you, Erin, for sharing your time and wisdom, and thanks to Clio for supporting the work we do at Ms. JD.

Whether you’re a 1L still figuring it all out or a junior associate juggling deadlines and doubts, Erin’s perspective is a breath of fresh air, and a powerful reminder that with the right systems, tools, and mindset, you can build a career that works for you.  To learn more about Erin’s work and explore the tools Clio offers to help lawyers work smarter and live better, visit www.clio.com and www.youtube.com/@GoClio.

Sara Santoyo is on a mission to diversify the field of law, one woman of color at a time. As a first-gen attorney who passed the hardest bar exam in the nation and who overcame the barriers she faced as a WOC in law to land her dream attorney role, she developed the skills and confidence that comes from knowing that she can turn any adversity into an advantage. Sara now devotes her professional life to coaching young WOC lawyers to do the same and more.