A U.S Magistrate Judge’s Guide to Win the Legal AI Game: Insights from Judge Allison Goddard

Moving from receptionist to federal magistrate judge is the kind of journey we see on the silver screen. For Judge Allison Goddard, that’s just life. And, for us on Between the Briefs by Steno, it's proof that embracing serendipity, maintaining genuine human connection and leveraging emerging technologies can fundamentally reshape legal practice and judicial efficiency. Tune into the latest episode as hosts Adrian and Joe sit down with Judge Allison Goddard, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of California, to explore her unconventional path to the bench, her innovative approach to settlement conferences, and her forward-thinking integration of AI tools into judicial operations. From candid insights on building credibility with litigants to the critical importance of maintaining human-centered legal practice as technology transforms the profession, this episode uncovers it all.

Moving from receptionist to federal magistrate judge is the kind of journey we see on the silver screen. For Allison Goddard, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of California, that’s just life. And, for us on Between the Briefs by Steno, it's proof that embracing serendipity, maintaining genuine human connection and leveraging emerging technologies can fundamentally reshape legal practice and judicial efficiency.

What You’ll Learn:

How to establish authentic relationships with litigants in settlement conferences

The role of facilitating psychological safety in in settlement cases

Why "baby rattlesnake" lawyers (mid-level associates with full venom but no regulatory control) require different mentorship strategies

The art of “balanced advocacy” that acknowledges opposing perspectives

How AI functions as a thought partner rather than a decision-maker for judges and attorneys

Why mandatory AI disclosure requirements are counterproductive

The "authenticity imperative" for legal professionals over the next AI-driven decade

How transparency and approachability in judicial opinions strengthen public confidence in the judiciary

From candid insights on building credibility with litigants to the critical importance of maintaining human-centered legal practice as technology transforms the profession, this episode uncovers it all.

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction & Meeting Judge Allison Goddard

02:44 From Receptionist to Federal Judge: An Unconventional Path

04:36 Understanding the Magistrate Judge Role and Settlement Strategy

10:50 Private vs. Public Law: The Ebbs and Flows

17:24 Building Authentic Relationships to Facilitate Settlement

20:23 Recognizing the "Baby Rattlesnake" Phase in Legal Practice

24:08 AI as a Thought Partner: Practical Applications for Litigation

27:16 Why Mandatory AI Disclosure Requirements Backfire

32:33 Preventing Complacency: Maintaining Human Oversight of AI Tools

36:32 The Future of Legal Practice: Authenticity as Competitive Advantage

40:31 The Judiciary's Role in American Society and Public Trust

41:19 Judge Allison’s Hot Take: Authenticity Will Reign Supreme

44:15 Key Takeaways & Final Thoughts

Quotes:

“When I first got on the bench, people would say, how is your stress level? It must be so stressful to be a judge. And I would say it's like kindergarten because I don't have the stress of being on the receiving end of nasty emails about a discovery dispute.”
“I call the mid-level associate the baby rattlesnake phase because, I don't even know if this is true, but it's the myth here that baby rattlesnakes have all the venom, but none of the ability to regulate it. And that's kind of like that band of lawyers - where you haven't had enough experience to recognize what's important and what’s not.”
“I think if you're going into deposition these days and you've got a client that you're defending and you haven't at least done that, it's going to become kind of malpractice not to be prepared that way.”
“I think that the most important quality that successful people are going to have over the next 10 to 20 years is authenticity. And I think we're going to have to find a way to be our real selves. Which also means that we have to work on being better selves.”
“Well, I'm from a big family in Tennessee and there were no lawyers in my family but I always had a strong sense of right and wrong and justice. And I, also think all of my siblings will tell you, I was always pushing against power. So that was something that I always did from a young age.”