Could AI be building a new glass ceiling in law?

And are we sleepwalking into it?

This week on the Legally Speaking Podcast ™️, proudly sponsored by Clio, I spoke with someone who’s been shaping the future of legal services long before AI dominated the headlines.

Priya Lele is a global thought leader in legal innovation, legal tech and DEI. Over the last two decades, she’s led major transformation initiatives across the UK, Australia and beyond—holding leadership roles at EY, BCLP and HSF, and advising FTSE100 and Fortune 50 legal teams along the way.

She’s also the Co-Founder and Chair of She Breaks the Law—a global community of over 4,000 women across 50+ countries committed to reimagining legal leadership and breaking down barriers.

Here’s what we explored:

🔴 Human-centred design still beats hype: Priya shares why tech only works when it reflects how lawyers actually work—and why most transformation fails without this.

🔴  The gender gap in GenAI is real: Her No Woman Left Behind report (co-authored with Linklaters and Dana Denis-Smith OBE) reveals why women are falling behind in AI adoption—and what the profession must do about it.

🔴 Innovation isn’t universal: It varies by mindset, not just region. Culture, buy-in, and storytelling determine whether change sticks.

🔴 Leadership needs a new formula: EQ (emotional intelligence) + AQ (adaptability quotient) = the future of legal leadership. 

🗣️ And two powerful lines that cut through:

“If she can do it, so can I.”

“AI literacy could become another hidden barrier to career progression—unless we act now.”

If you're building legal tech, leading teams, or just figuring out how to future-proof your legal career—this episode is a must.

Tune in now and hear how Priya is designing a more inclusive and innovative legal profession—one decision, one conversation, one community at a time.

🎥 Available on here on Spotify or Apple, YouTube and all major platforms: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4l43JL3V8hTQSNgfQGaHIh?si=qPA04fZmQfKY-T9aSjGGOA

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