University of Miami School of Law Professor Michele DeStefano, a recognized American Bar Association “Legal Rebel,” founder of LawWithoutWalls, and the Larry Hoffman Greenberg Traurig Business of Law Professor, continues to lead the national conversation on legal technology, organizational culture, and client-centered innovation.
Known for her seminal books Leader Upheaval and Legal Upheaval, DeStefano’s recent work tackles the pressing reality of navigating artificial intelligence without surrendering human collaboration or critical legal protections.
AI and the Attorney-Client Privilege: Tool, Team Member, or Consultant?
In her research paper, "AI and the Attorney-Client Privilege: Is AI a Tool, Team Member, Or Consultant?,” DeStefano explores the legal exposure created by integrating generative AI into day-to-day corporate legal workflows. Selected for presentation at the Northwestern AI for Law Scholars Conference, the article examines how courts treat AI interactions under the attorney-client privilege and work-product doctrines.
How Lawyers Can Add Value in the Age of AI
In her article for Harvard Law School’s The Practice, titled "How Lawyers Can Add Value in the Age of AI”, DeStefano addresses the challenges AI poses to traditional legal billing and expertise models. As generative tools rapidly automate research and drafting, she argues that a lawyer’s primary value shifts from raw technical knowledge to cross-disciplinary collaboration, active listening, and adaptive problem-solving.
Leading Businesspeople with Law Degrees
Also featured in The Practice, DeStefano explores the evolving role of Chief Legal Officers through an in-depth conversation with Mark Smolik, chief legal officer of DHL. Their dialogue highlights how modern General Counsels are expected to serve as proactive business partners rather than reactive gatekeepers. Through this lens, DeStefano illustrates how top legal executives blend legal expertise with business strategy to foster innovation and strong team culture across global enterprises.
Beyond the classroom, DeStefano frequently delivers keynotes and facilitates design-thinking workshops for professional service providers worldwide helping them strengthen leadership, spark innovation, build client-centered cultures, and influence change across their organizations.
