Jordan Furlong
@jordanfurlong.com
Legal sector analyst, consultant, author, speaker, and reformer (he/him). I publish a free bi-weekly Substack newsletter: https://jordanfurlong.substack.com/ "We have the chance to turn the pages over." Luke 12:24-32.
"FinTRAC identified 4,300 suspicious transaction reports that totalled $7.99-billion ... and 67,500 electronic funds transfer reports with a collective value of $13.8-billion." Lawyers' unwillingness to deal with money laundering will do them in someday. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Opinion: Lawyers are the ‘black hole’ of money laundering. Why is Canada turning a blind eye?
Canada’s 2025 national risk assessment rates lawyers and Quebec notaries as having a ‘high vulnerability’ to money-laundering risks
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
"FinTRAC identified 4,300 suspicious transaction reports that totalled $7.99-billion ... and 67,500 electronic funds transfer reports with a collective value of $13.8-billion." Lawyers' unwillingness to deal with money laundering will do them in someday. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
"The ultimate beneficiaries of this new industrial revolution may not be the providers of the general-purpose technology itself, but those that apply it. ... The fact that Nvidia is financing its customers to buy its products is not a supportive signal." spencea.substack.com/p/double-dou...
Double Double Toil & Trouble
AI & General Purpose Technologies
spencea.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:32 PM
"The ultimate beneficiaries of this new industrial revolution may not be the providers of the general-purpose technology itself, but those that apply it. ... The fact that Nvidia is financing its customers to buy its products is not a supportive signal." spencea.substack.com/p/double-dou...
Nvidia's CEO meets two other Korean tech CEOs for fried chicken -- and chicken-related stocks immediately increase, including a company that makes chicken-frying robots.
The bubble is going to burst, and a whole lot of chaos will follow. Get yourself as mentally and financially prepared as you can.
The bubble is going to burst, and a whole lot of chaos will follow. Get yourself as mentally and financially prepared as you can.
The AI bubble has reached its ‘fried chicken’ phase ft.trib.al/VGyrH8K
The AI bubble has reached its ‘fried chicken’ phase
This is nuts. When’s the crash?
ft.trib.al
October 31, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Nvidia's CEO meets two other Korean tech CEOs for fried chicken -- and chicken-related stocks immediately increase, including a company that makes chicken-frying robots.
The bubble is going to burst, and a whole lot of chaos will follow. Get yourself as mentally and financially prepared as you can.
The bubble is going to burst, and a whole lot of chaos will follow. Get yourself as mentally and financially prepared as you can.
It's interesting to think how history might have unfolded differently if nuclear technology had been developed first as a clean power source and later used as a weapon, rather than the other way around. Much of the world might now be powered by nuclear stations.
October 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
It's interesting to think how history might have unfolded differently if nuclear technology had been developed first as a clean power source and later used as a weapon, rather than the other way around. Much of the world might now be powered by nuclear stations.
"Trump’s personal worth has increased by $3.4 billion over just the first eight months of his presidency, to say nothing of the wealth funnelled into the accounts of his party, sycophants, and allies. And he’s just getting started."
Essential reading (especially for Americans) right now.
Essential reading (especially for Americans) right now.
I tried to cobble together a narrative of the industrial-scale corruption of the Trump state, and to think about why it's not breaking through.
www.bugeyedandshameless.com/p/guide-to-d...
www.bugeyedandshameless.com/p/guide-to-d...
A Guide To Donald Trump's Kleptocracy
Donald Trump is getting richer. That's a threat to democracy.
www.bugeyedandshameless.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:38 PM
"Trump’s personal worth has increased by $3.4 billion over just the first eight months of his presidency, to say nothing of the wealth funnelled into the accounts of his party, sycophants, and allies. And he’s just getting started."
Essential reading (especially for Americans) right now.
Essential reading (especially for Americans) right now.
Reposted by Jordan Furlong
Polling is not an indicator of peoples' deeply-held, immutable, moral convictions — it's a function of people pressing a button on a phone after having had three seconds to think about a topic.
It is *a* data point, not a fact of nature.
It is *a* data point, not a fact of nature.
October 29, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Polling is not an indicator of peoples' deeply-held, immutable, moral convictions — it's a function of people pressing a button on a phone after having had three seconds to think about a topic.
It is *a* data point, not a fact of nature.
It is *a* data point, not a fact of nature.
The sound of the '70s haunts the legal sector to this day:
October 29, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The sound of the '70s haunts the legal sector to this day:
New from me at Substack: What happens when the capacity to solve legal problems is no longer exclusive to lawyers, and can instead be found on every desktop and smartphone? What does it mean when legal reasoning becomes ubiquitous? We're about to find out. jordanfurlong.substack.com/p/the-new-le...
October 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
New from me at Substack: What happens when the capacity to solve legal problems is no longer exclusive to lawyers, and can instead be found on every desktop and smartphone? What does it mean when legal reasoning becomes ubiquitous? We're about to find out. jordanfurlong.substack.com/p/the-new-le...
Reposted by Jordan Furlong
ordinary americans are filming ice agents and trying to save their neighbors. for all the hemming and hawing during 2024 about how democracy was an elite concern, the elites gave up far more quickly than average people.
October 24, 2025 at 1:51 PM
ordinary americans are filming ice agents and trying to save their neighbors. for all the hemming and hawing during 2024 about how democracy was an elite concern, the elites gave up far more quickly than average people.
For no particular reason, read this timeless list of 18 reasons why complex systems fail: how.complexsystems.fail
How Complex Systems Fail
how.complexsystems.fail
October 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM
For no particular reason, read this timeless list of 18 reasons why complex systems fail: how.complexsystems.fail
"On well-scoped, single-jurisdiction research questions, AI systems — especially legal-specific ones — can deliver accurate, well-cited outputs faster than baseline human performance and with fewer outright misses."
But there's a lot more going on here: www.legaltechnologyhub.com/contents/can...
But there's a lot more going on here: www.legaltechnologyhub.com/contents/can...
Can Legal AI Outperform Lawyers on Legal Research? The New VLAIR Study Says Yes
The new VLAIR Legal Research study from Vals.ai evaluates how AI-native legal research products perform on real-world tasks, introducing two new important baselines: performance against human lawyers,...
www.legaltechnologyhub.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:23 PM
"On well-scoped, single-jurisdiction research questions, AI systems — especially legal-specific ones — can deliver accurate, well-cited outputs faster than baseline human performance and with fewer outright misses."
But there's a lot more going on here: www.legaltechnologyhub.com/contents/can...
But there's a lot more going on here: www.legaltechnologyhub.com/contents/can...
I couldn't watch any debate knowing the outcome has already been decided. This is epically illustrated by the current SCOTUS, but it's been the case for decades now: You always know how each judge will rule in every case.
Same for the electoral college, BTW. It's built into major US institutions.
Same for the electoral college, BTW. It's built into major US institutions.
Kagan: "It's not about intentional discrimination because Section 2 isn't about intentional discrimination, it's about effectual discrimination."
Again, this should be the winning argument. It won't be.
Again, this should be the winning argument. It won't be.
October 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I couldn't watch any debate knowing the outcome has already been decided. This is epically illustrated by the current SCOTUS, but it's been the case for decades now: You always know how each judge will rule in every case.
Same for the electoral college, BTW. It's built into major US institutions.
Same for the electoral college, BTW. It's built into major US institutions.
New from me at Substack: In the post-AI legal sector, lawyers will be called on for different functions than before. Here are three essential attributes lawyers must possess to meet that new demand. We need to start training lawyers to develop them -- now. jordanfurlong.substack.com/p/three-core...
October 9, 2025 at 1:41 PM
New from me at Substack: In the post-AI legal sector, lawyers will be called on for different functions than before. Here are three essential attributes lawyers must possess to meet that new demand. We need to start training lawyers to develop them -- now. jordanfurlong.substack.com/p/three-core...
"White used ChatGPT to identify potential errors in a judge’s decision ... [to] overturn her eviction notice and avoid roughly $55K in penalties and more than $18K in overdue rent. 'I never, ever, ever, ever could have won this appeal without AI.'" www-nbcnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.nbcn...
People are using ChatGPT as a lawyer in court. Some are winning.
From pickleball disputes to eviction cases, litigants are using ChatGPT to fight their court battles — and they’re starting to win.
www-nbcnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org
October 8, 2025 at 9:16 PM
"White used ChatGPT to identify potential errors in a judge’s decision ... [to] overturn her eviction notice and avoid roughly $55K in penalties and more than $18K in overdue rent. 'I never, ever, ever, ever could have won this appeal without AI.'" www-nbcnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.nbcn...
SQE1 exam results from July 2025 (legal knowledge competence exam for solicitors in England/Wales) report a pass rate of just 41%. Even excluding repeat takers, it's just 46%. sqe.sra.org.uk/news-item/20.... The SQE1 pass rate has never exceeded 56%. This should be a red flag for the SRA. 1/
sqe.sra.org.uk
October 6, 2025 at 1:39 PM
SQE1 exam results from July 2025 (legal knowledge competence exam for solicitors in England/Wales) report a pass rate of just 41%. Even excluding repeat takers, it's just 46%. sqe.sra.org.uk/news-item/20.... The SQE1 pass rate has never exceeded 56%. This should be a red flag for the SRA. 1/
ACC reports growth in number of in-house counsel outstripped growth in law firm lawyers 87%-23% since 2008: www.law360.com/pulse/modern.... Two thoughts:
1. This is mostly just redistribution of lawyers from multi-client private practice to single-client employment.
2. AI will shrink both numbers.
1. This is mostly just redistribution of lawyers from multi-client private practice to single-client employment.
2. AI will shrink both numbers.
In-House Counsel Numbers Grow Much Faster Than Outside - Law360 Pulse
A report from the Association of Corporate Counsel released Tuesday highlights "a dramatic and consistent rise in the number of in-house lawyers" in the U.S., showing that their numbers have nearly do...
www.law360.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:17 PM
ACC reports growth in number of in-house counsel outstripped growth in law firm lawyers 87%-23% since 2008: www.law360.com/pulse/modern.... Two thoughts:
1. This is mostly just redistribution of lawyers from multi-client private practice to single-client employment.
2. AI will shrink both numbers.
1. This is mostly just redistribution of lawyers from multi-client private practice to single-client employment.
2. AI will shrink both numbers.
“Revolutions and long weekends don’t go together”: Georgia Meloni giving it her best Marie Antoinette.
Italy paralysed as Gaza protests mount pressure on Meloni on.ft.com/433zjAJ
Italy paralysed as Gaza protests mount pressure on Meloni
Italian premier under fire amid strikes and clashes with police in solidarity with Palestinians
on.ft.com
October 3, 2025 at 9:28 PM
“Revolutions and long weekends don’t go together”: Georgia Meloni giving it her best Marie Antoinette.
All states are purple. Both Republicans and Democrats prefer to overlook this.
Some statistics about the 16 blue states Russ Vought wants to target:
- 39% of the country lives in those states.
- They contribute 44% of GDP.
- They are also home to almost a third of 2024 Trump voters, some 24 million of them.
www.pbump.net/o/sorry-abou...
- 39% of the country lives in those states.
- They contribute 44% of GDP.
- They are also home to almost a third of 2024 Trump voters, some 24 million of them.
www.pbump.net/o/sorry-abou...
Sorry about your luck, 24 million Trump voters
It has been the case since Donald Trump's first tenure as president that he wants to slice the size of the federal workforce. During his period in the political wilderness (also known as the Biden adm...
www.pbump.net
October 2, 2025 at 3:25 PM
All states are purple. Both Republicans and Democrats prefer to overlook this.
“It takes two to lie, Marge. One to lie, and one to listen.”
what's the stupidest/randomest Simpsons quote that lives in your head rent free? Mine is the urge to say "you said go to bread" every time I am about to head to bed.
October 1, 2025 at 7:31 PM
“It takes two to lie, Marge. One to lie, and one to listen.”
Reposted by Jordan Furlong
It is undeniable that this moment is being shaped by people who marinated for years in an informational environment where reality was not only demoted but actively disdained. It took a while for that bubble to become impermeable but it did and now we have a chunk of people who know nothing but.
September 30, 2025 at 1:09 PM
It is undeniable that this moment is being shaped by people who marinated for years in an informational environment where reality was not only demoted but actively disdained. It took a while for that bubble to become impermeable but it did and now we have a chunk of people who know nothing but.
"Full-service" law firms that handle both commercial and litigation matters can work, up to a certain size anyway. But as this article suggests, "BigLaw" is really only corporate law firms now; litigation is a secondary distraction. Look for this divergence to continue. www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Trial Separation: Courtroom Lawyers Are Breaking Up With Big Law
Top litigators are leaving elite firms to start boutique firms, a trend that is accelerating in the Trump era.
www.wsj.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:30 PM
"Full-service" law firms that handle both commercial and litigation matters can work, up to a certain size anyway. But as this article suggests, "BigLaw" is really only corporate law firms now; litigation is a secondary distraction. Look for this divergence to continue. www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
There are clear cases of AI's applicability to legal tasks, there are edge cases, and there are "of course not" cases. Letting AI anywhere near the drafting of court judgments is squarely in the third category - if for no other reason than public confidence in the courts. www.law.com/legaltechnew...
AI Opinion-Drafting Tools Are Emerging, but Will They Gain Traction With Judges? | Law.com
Some on the bench are already employing gen AI to help draft routine orders, but even as specialized tools become available, judges remain cautious about just how far the tech’s uses extend.
www.law.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:24 PM
There are clear cases of AI's applicability to legal tasks, there are edge cases, and there are "of course not" cases. Letting AI anywhere near the drafting of court judgments is squarely in the third category - if for no other reason than public confidence in the courts. www.law.com/legaltechnew...
I don't like this new version of the TARDIS.
See the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, autumn colors in New Hampshire, damage from Super Typhoon Ragasa in Hong Kong, the start of the Oktoberfest in Munich, and much more.
Photos of the Week: Rainy Games, Police Pups, Beard Championship
See the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, autumn colors in New Hampshire, damage from Super Typhoon Ragasa in Hong Kong, the start of the Oktoberfest in Munich, and much more.
bit.ly
September 26, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I don't like this new version of the TARDIS.
Me, whenever the Harvey AI Discourse Machine powers up:
September 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Me, whenever the Harvey AI Discourse Machine powers up:
Sincere thanks to @stephenpoor.bsky.social and his "PIoneers and Pathfinders" team for inviting me back to their terrific podcast! I was surprisingly (even to me) blunt about the mid-term prospects for law firms, but hopeful for the future of lawyers after AI. www.seyfarth.com/news-insight...
Pioneers and Pathfinders: Jordan Furlong Returns
We're pleased to welcome back Jordan Furlong. Jordan is one of the legal industry's leading voices on the future of the profession. He continues to advise legal organizations through his consulting…
www.seyfarth.com
September 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Sincere thanks to @stephenpoor.bsky.social and his "PIoneers and Pathfinders" team for inviting me back to their terrific podcast! I was surprisingly (even to me) blunt about the mid-term prospects for law firms, but hopeful for the future of lawyers after AI. www.seyfarth.com/news-insight...