Waymakers Wednesday: Women in LegalTech – Meet Vaishali Gopal

Vaishali Gopal is a legal innovation strategist whose mission is to transform how in-house legal teams operate, deliver value, and align with business goals. With expertise in legal operating model design, innovation strategy, and legal technology adoption, she helps legal functions evolve from reactive support units into agile, insight-driven business partners.

Through her work, Vaishali focuses on embedding meaningful innovation, not just chasing trends or tools, but driving culture shifts, smarter collaboration, and future-ready legal operating models. As an active voice in Women in LegalTech under ILTN, she champions reimagining legal functions with creativity, empathy, and strategy.

Here’s a peek into her world:

1. What inspired you to join the Women in Legal Tech community?

My answer hasn’t really changed since the first time Shreya and I spoke about creating this community. The thought then and now was simply that it’s a space like any other tech forum, where women are underrepresented, especially on the builder’s side. Entering this world can feel intimidating; you can feel out of the loop in the conversations whether you’re brand new or already part of it. Creating a forum where women can lean on each other felt essential. I’ve had the privilege of leaning on women like Shreya as I’ve evolved in my career, and this was my way of giving back and making that support available to others.

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2. If you could solve one problem in the legal world or beyond with technology, what would it be?

It’s hard to point to just one problem, but the way I think about it is: can we make legal tech more easily consumable for lawyers in whatever form they’re trying to use it? Other industries adopt tech quickly, but legal is still struggling to envision how to use it effectively. I’d love to see solutions that make tech adoption more intuitive and continuously easier across different use cases. It doesn’t have to be one “silver bullet” use case, just technology that feels natural to use and helps legal professionals focus on what matters.

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3. What’s one book, podcast, or resource that has made a big impact on how you think about work or life?

I’m an avid reader, so it’s hard to choose just one, but a standout for me last year was The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. It’s based on the Harvard adult development study that began in 1938, tracking people’s lives to uncover what truly drives happiness. The biggest lesson was that good relationships, more than career achievements, exercise, or diet, consistently demonstrate broad and enduring importance. That validation reinforced a principle I already try to live by: investing in and nurturing the relationships in your life, whether personal or professional.

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4. Outside of work, what’s something you’re passionate about or love spending time on?

Reading is a huge part of my life. I go through about five books a month. I’m also a big pop culture nerd, always diving into documentaries on art, filmmaking, music, and anything behind the scenes. I love random trivia, and I enjoy easy evenings spent in conversation with friends over a couple of drinks. Nothing major, just the kind of time that makes life enjoyable.

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5. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received as a woman in your career journey?

The advice that has stuck with me is that most negative reactions toward women have little to do with their actual talent or skill. It’s often a reflection of bias or insecurity from others in the room. Women are often hardest on themselves, quick to internalize and blame themselves for not doing enough. Hearing “it’s not about you” was liberating for me. I can’t say I’ve always succeeded in applying it, but it’s the mindset that helps keep the journey onwards and upwards.

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6. If you weren’t working in law or legal tech, what’s another path you would have taken?

I’m a huge history buff, so I probably would have gone into archaeology. Journalism is another path I could have seen myself pursuing. Both are fields that satisfy curiosity and a love of storytelling.

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Vaishali’s journey shows us that true legal innovation goes beyond tools — it’s about reshaping culture, collaboration, and the very DNA of legal teams. She inspires us to see law not just as it is, but as it could be: agile, human-centered, and future-ready.

Are you a woman shaping the future of legal tech? We’d love to hear your story. Our Women in LegalTech community is a space to connect, inspire, and spark conversations that matter. Click here to join and be part of the movement.