ILTA Awards
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/1536111
Eric Helal LinkedIn / erichelal 2025 WINNER Y O U N G P R O F E S S I O N A L S T O W A T C H / 2025 A t Dykema Gossett PLLC, Eric Helal serves as Innovation Solutions Manager. In this role, he unites legal training with software architecture to deliver practical, scalable technology across every practice line. He begins each project with a fixed rule: Human workflow is a non-negotiable d e sign c o n s traint . B y a n ch o ring c o d e to th e re a l h a bit s of attorneys and support staf f, he keeps judgment, context, and ethics at the center of technology-assisted law. Eric's portfolio spans algorithmic and AI solutions. He wrote a bespoke Py thon lexicographic solver that collapses NP-hard deposition - scheduling puz zle s into one - click c alendars . He built an interactive tech-navigator that lets lawyers chat with an L L M ab o ut the f irm 's sof t ware c at alogue an d m o del an optimal workflow. He also delivered a Word add-in that uses retrieval-augmented generation against exemplar answers to draft discovery responses aligned with client playbooks, sharply reducing repetitive drafting time in high-volume litigation. Eric codes every layer himself; Python back-ends and Next.js / TypeScript front-ends, supported by test suites that guarantee d e te r m i n i s m w h e re l a w ye r s n e e d i t . H e w r a p s A I c a l l s i n structured prompts, so outputs stay reviewable and defensible. Whether parsing date rules or embedding templates for vector search, he prioritizes reliable behavior over novelty. B uil ding to o l s i s o n ly p a r t of h i s re m i t . E r i c c o ntr ib u te s to evaluating and implementing off-the-shelf technology, retiring l o w - i m p a c t a p p l i c a t i o n s , a n d c h a m p i o n i n g h o m e - g r o w n alternatives when they serve users better. He maintains direct relationships with vendors to thread firm requirements into product roadmaps , and he drives adoption through monthly of fice hours and one - on- one suppor t . Feedback gathered in these forums feeds straight into new code or renewed vendor negotiations, creating a continuous improvement loop that ties user experience to measurable change. ILTA AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2025 3 8