Chris Anderson’s career has always centered legal technology as a force-amplifier. As Director of Technology & Training, Chris’s focus is ensuring that technology works for the firm’s clientele. He is skeptical of innovation theater and impatient with process for its own sake. His test for any system is straightforward: does it make the job easier, client satisfaction higher, or the firm more efficient? If not, it doesn’t matter how impressive the demo was or how much venture capital the vendor has rolled up.
My Approach
I believe in fewer steps, fewer surprises, and fewer things people have to hold in mind while trying to do great work for clients.
Training and technology aren’t separate to me. A tool no one uses confidently is just an expense line item, and a training program disconnected from the systems and the people who run them is theater. I build them together, on purpose. I would rather deploy something simple that everyone uses than something elegant that three people embrace. I would rather quietly solve the small, recurring frictions that cost the firm hours every week than chase whatever sounds important in this month’s vendor pitch.
My goal is a firm that runs with fewer friction points this quarter than last — and a team that knows the mission us all is client success.
My Background
I grew up in Juneau, Alaska: a one highway, one high-school, small town where doors were unlocked and relationships were deeply rooted, for better or worse. After spending a decade in school between Virginia and Chicago, I returned to the Pacific Northwest in 2002. I grew up as a skier, learned to snowboard in my 20’s (from a bunch of elementary school kids), and returned to skiing in my 30’s. I’ve played tennis since middle school and – at least currently – I’m resisting the trend to shift to pickleball (though I love pickles). I recently renewed my SCUBA certification, but the waters around here seem far too cold still.
In my quarter century since law school, I’ve lived in Queen Anne, Bainbridge, Magnolia, Redmond, West Seattle, and Burien – while working in large and small law firms and in-house roles at start-ups and international corporations. I don’t travel nearly as much as I used to, and – even though I’ve been an Alaska Airlines’ frequent flyer since 1981 – I’ve recently lost my MVP status … and I deeply miss my upgrade opportunities.