In the world of corporate law, Tyrilly Csillag stands out for her dedication to innovation and excellence, establishing herself as a pivotal force in the future of legal practice and business integration. With more than a decade of experience working with multinational corporations, national enterprises, and government entities, Tyrilly has developed a deep expertise in navigating complex legal and business challenges. Her career trajectory, from early legal practice to a key role in legal innovation, highlights her exceptional adaptability and proficiency across a wide range of legal environments.
Embarking on a double degree in Business and Law straight out of high school in Sydney, Australia, Tyrilly’s passion for internet and law—an emerging field at the time—guided her initial career choices. Her early roles as a paralegal and in litigation provided a solid foundation, leading her to a significant in-house position at Foxtel. Here, she quickly realized the importance of aligning legal advice with business needs and stakeholder communication.
A brief return to private practice allowed Tyrilly to further sharpen her legal skills before moving into a comprehensive in-house role at IBM, where she engaged with virtually every aspect of the business. Since joining Thomson Reuters in 2017, her role evolved from senior lawyer writer in Practical Law Australia to Director of Legal Transformation. In this capacity, she has leveraged her extensive legal and business experience to enhance the firm’s legal resources and drive significant transformation across Thomson Reuters.
Harnessing Language for Change and Impact
Tyrilly’s journey is marked by a deep respect for the power of the written word. This reverence is not merely an abstract appreciation but a lived experience shaped by a lifelong passion for reading and a profound interest in history. For Tyrilly, language is not just a tool but a bridge to understanding and shaping the world.
The pursuit of a law degree further crystallized this fascination. Law, steeped in centuries of historical evolution, provides a framework of rules and principles that govern society. It is a field where language and history converge, revealing the intricate ways in which legal systems reflect and influence human behavior and societal norms.
In studying law, Tyrilly honed critical thinking skills and learned to wield language with precision and power. This academic journey wasn’t just about mastering legal doctrines but about developing the ability to craft arguments, interpret texts, and influence outcomes—skills that extend far beyond the courtroom. Tyrilly’s law degree has become a testament to how the written word can be harnessed to drive change, articulate complex ideas, and leave a lasting impact.
Through this lens, Tyrilly views the written word as a potent vehicle for both recording history and shaping the future. The insights gained from this dual perspective—rooted in historical understanding and legal acumen—continue to fuel a commitment to using language as a means of connection, influence, and transformation.
A Cornerstone for Legal Precision and Confidence
Tyrilly states that Thomson Reuters is a cornerstone for legal professionals seeking to navigate the complexities of their field with precision and confidence. “Our customers trust Thomson Reuters to provide accurate, reliable, and secure solutions,” Tyrilly asserts. “We bring decades of technological and subject-matter expertise to the table, ensuring that our clients can access the most advanced tools and insights available.”
Thomson Reuters excels in delivering not just technology, but a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of the legal industry. From cutting-edge legal research tools to robust productivity solutions, matter management software, and legal spend management systems, the company equips legal professionals with the resources they need to excel. The focus is on reducing inefficiencies and adding substantial value to stakeholders by anticipating future challenges and adapting swiftly.
“Our mission is to empower legal professionals and their teams to harness the full potential of our technology and content solutions,” Tyrilly explains. “By providing trusted answers faster, we help our clients make high-stakes decisions with greater confidence and drive productivity.”
Through its commitment to innovation and reliability, Thomson Reuters stands as a pivotal ally for those navigating the evolving landscape of law, ensuring that they are not only equipped to address current demands but also prepared to meet future challenges head-on.
Equipping Legal Professionals for Success
In her role as Director of Legal Transformation at Thomson Reuters, Tyrilly is a pivotal figure in the legal technology landscape, shaping the future of the industry with her forward-thinking approach. She serves as a conduit between the legal community and cutting-edge technological solutions, offering invaluable insights into industry trends and connecting legal professionals with Thomson Reuters’ suite of advanced tools, including CoCounsel, Legal Tracker, HighQ, Practical Law, and Westlaw.
Tyrilly’s day-to-day responsibilities reflect her commitment to advancing legal transformation. She engages with the broader legal community through thought leadership, presenting at high-profile industry events and maintaining accessibility to key decision-makers. Her role involves not only advocating for the adoption of innovative legal technologies but also providing strategic support to law firms and legal teams as they navigate their transformation journeys. Through her expertise and proactive engagement, Tyrilly ensures that legal professionals are equipped with the latest solutions to enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving field.
The Value of Diverse Experiences in Modern Legal Careers
Traditionally, a legal career followed a well-trodden path: beginning as a paralegal or graduate, progressing to Associate, advancing to Senior Associate, and ultimately aiming for partnership within a law firm. This linear trajectory was once seen as the pinnacle of professional achievement for many lawyers. However, Tyrilly’s career has taken a distinctive turn from this conventional route. Instead of following the traditional path to partnership, she opted to explore the role of in-house counsel early in her career.
In today’s legal landscape, the value of diverse experiences across various workplaces, industries, and roles is increasingly recognized by employers. The key challenge now lies in identifying roles that align with one’s personal values and purpose and effectively demonstrating how one’s skillset can drive success in these positions. Tyrilly’s career trajectory exemplifies how embracing alternative paths and leveraging a broad range of experiences can lead to significant professional opportunities and impact, underscoring the evolving nature of career development in the legal field.
Streamlining Legal Practice Through Innovative Solutions
Legal transformation represents a crucial journey for all legal teams, focused on enhancing effectiveness with a forward-looking perspective. For Tyrilly, this journey unfolds in three interconnected dimensions: the individuals who make up the team, the technology that empowers these individuals, and the organization that benefits from their collective efforts. This framework is applicable to both private practice and in-house legal environments.
At Thomson Reuters, the mission is to demystify complexity and provide solutions that streamline legal practice, making it more efficient, enjoyable, and strategically aligned. By focusing on these core areas, Thomson Reuters helps lawyers maximize their effectiveness and better support their organizations in navigating the future. Tyrilly’s role is pivotal in this transformation, ensuring that legal professionals are equipped with the tools and insights needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.
Bridging the Gap Between Tradition and Innovation
One of the most formidable challenges in Tyrilly’s role is navigating the resistance from lawyers entrenched in a corporate culture that resists evolving practices. This challenge is particularly pronounced with the rise of generative AI, which has sparked a divide between those adopting new methodologies and those maintaining a cautious ‘wait and see’ approach. The rapid advancement of generative AI technology in the legal sector means that those hesitant to embrace these changes risk being outpaced by their more progressive counterparts.
At Thomson Reuters, Tyrilly leverages the extensive research and market insights provided by the Thomson Reuters Institute to address these challenges. Her role involves educating the legal industry about emerging trends and reassuring professionals that Thomson Reuters offers the expertise and tools necessary to navigate this transformative period. By partnering with legal teams at various stages of their transformation journey, Tyrilly helps bridge the gap between existing practices and future-ready solutions, ensuring that firms can confidently move forward in an increasingly dynamic legal landscape.
The Power of Gratitude in Leadership
Tyrilly’s personal leadership philosophy is rooted in the principle of ‘an attitude of gratitude.’ Having had the privilege of working with exceptional leaders throughout her career, Tyrilly has come to deeply appreciate the importance of making team members feel valued, acknowledged, and confident. This philosophy underscores her approach to leadership, emphasizing that every event hosted, presentation delivered, and legal solution implemented is the result of the collective effort of numerous talented individuals.
For Tyrilly, fostering a culture of kindness and respect is fundamental. She believes that regardless of one’s role, it is crucial to recognize and appreciate the contributions of others. This inclusive and appreciative mindset not only enhances team morale but also drives collective success, ensuring that every individual’s efforts are acknowledged and celebrated.
How Generative AI Is Shaping the Future of Law
The most profound technological influence on legal services today is the rapid evolution of generative AI (genAI) and its swift integration into the legal industry. Tyrilly observes a unique phenomenon in the field: for the first time in history, there are five generations of lawyers practicing simultaneously, each witnessing the technological transition from early computers to the internet. In comparison, the pace at which genAI is reshaping legal practice is unprecedented.
GenAI is revolutionizing every facet of the legal profession—from the training and development of junior lawyers to shifting client expectations and redefining the value of legal services. According to Thomson Reuters, the near future will see all lawyers working with a genAI legal assistant, highlighting the critical shift in the role of legal technology. What was once considered an auxiliary tool is now essential for delivering effective legal services. This rapid technological advancement underscores the necessity for legal professionals to adapt quickly and leverage genAI to stay competitive and meet evolving demands.
Igniting Innovation
Tyrilly takes immense pride and finds great fulfillment in initiating conversations with lawyers, knowing that from that moment, their perspectives on legal practice are about to expand. Witnessing the excitement as lawyers explore new ways of working and envision the future of their practice is a gratifying experience. Another rewarding aspect of her role is seeing a lawyer implement a legal solution that resolves a significant pain point, accompanied by genuine gratitude for the team’s support.
At Thomson Reuters, building strong partnerships with clients is a core value. Tyrilly and her team are dedicated to fostering a community that shares their passion for empowering lawyers and enhancing the value they provide to their clients. This collaborative approach not only addresses immediate challenges but also contributes to the broader goal of advancing the legal profession and improving client outcomes.
Call for Legal Professionals to Master Generative AI
Tyrilly advocates for lawyers of all experience levels and across various industries to cultivate their curiosity about how legal technology can revolutionize their work and enhance client service. Reflecting on the past emphasis on digital literacy, she underscores that in 2024 and beyond, a robust understanding of generative AI (genAI) is essential.
As the legal landscape evolves, mastering genAI tools will become a fundamental skill crucial to future success. Tyrilly emphasizes that developing a deep proficiency with these technologies will be integral to thriving in the legal profession, making it vital for lawyers to embrace and explore the transformative potential of genAI in their practices.
Guidance on Pursuing Passion in Law
Tyrilly asserts the importance for aspiring legal professionals to pursue careers that align with their passions, values, and interests. For those interested in roles similar to hers in the legal industry, she advises that loving what you do, where you work, and with whom you work is crucial for long-term career satisfaction and success. She encourages individuals to follow their passion and actively seek opportunities to expand and build their skill set. By doing so, they can pursue roles that not only energize them but also create meaningful impact and align with their broader purpose. This approach ensures that their career is both fulfilling and impactful, driving personal and professional growth in the legal field.
