Leigh Jones on embracing video for legal news

What value does video add to the news?

When it’s all said and done, being a lawyer means helping people solve problems. Incorporating video is a quick, engaging way to show who those problem solvers are, who they’re helping, and how they’re getting it done.

A key component of these videos, as I mentioned, is helping lawyers enhance their practices, so we’re planning for much of the video effort to be forward looking. In other words, the videos will capture what’s coming down the pipe that lawyers need to be aware of—whether it means what cases, what deals, what moves by competitors, or what laws and regulations are in the works that will affect their practices. 

In addition, we want to go beyond the court filings and the paper practice and reveal the personalities that are winning and losing the big cases, those lawyers that are fighting for criminal justice reform and civil rights, those that are scoring the big deals, and forging new practices.

We also want to put a spotlight on the problems in the legal industry, including the profound lack of diversity, the small numbers of minority and women partners, and the problems in legal education.

There are some stories where videos are the best way to tell them. It’ll give us an opportunity to take the issues that we’re covering and kind of slice them in a way that provides more of the human side and an informative side.

I want to emphasize that because busy lawyers don’t have a lot of time just to sit around and watch a bunch of videos, we are very mindful that we want to give them videos that help them in their work, and we’re going to—that’s one of the main objectives.

What makes a great interview?

The ability to find those lawyers who have a great story to tell. And to really provide the human experience to practicing law.

It’s also when the viewer can stay engaged and come away from it and say, “I learned something.”

What’s one thing you want viewers to know about the new videos?

Lawyers are super-busy people that often bill by the hour. The one thing that I would like viewers to know is that the quality and content coming from the Reuters team is going to make watching these videos worth their time.

Reuters is renowned for its photography and its video efforts and we can bring that to bear for the Westlaw audience.

What value can attorneys expect to get with Westlaw Today?

With Westlaw Today, you get the vast collection of premier legal content that comes with Westlaw, including all the case information and supplemental material you need to run your everyday practice. You also get the huge benefit of Reuters with experienced journalists that bring you the legal news you need to run your practice.

Westlaw Today brings you up to date with what’s happening in the industry, as well as with your practice area.

How do analysis and insight play into the videos?

With access to such experienced reporters and journalists, we have the industry knowledge about where things fit in context within the legal industry so it’s not just a one-off decision or a particular move of one attorney from one firm to another. With that experience, we’re able to identify for our clients and customers why that’s important.

We also have unparalleled integrity in the newsroom. All of us follow the Reuters trust principles which makes a huge difference in the quality of the journalism that is included on Westlaw Today.