Robot Lawyers Ahead . . Or Not?
Jacqui Coombe* The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming various industries, including the legal profession. Should lawyers be worried about ‘robot lawyers’?
While lawyers have traditionally relied on human expertise and judgment, the increasing use of AI is raising questions about the future of legal practice.
We have previously reported on the major changes, including one Biglaw CEO (Virginia Briggs, pictured) saying it would also lead to the death of the billable hour.
One of the key questions being asked by legal professionals is whether AI will lead to robot lawyers.
What is the impact of AI on the legal industry and examine whether AI technology will replace lawyers.
AI is already being used in the legal industry, and its potential applications are vast. Allen & Overy have deployed a new AI tool and other firms are doing the same.
According to Traverse Legal, AI technology can generate better legal documents than lawyers, optimize the contract drafting process, and provide educational information for clients to speak more intelligently to their attorneys.
AI also has the potential to streamline legal research and due diligence, making the process more efficient and cost-effective.
But There Are Challenges, Too
However, the use of AI in the legal industry is not without its challenges. As reported in Fortune, AI legal technology products will not change the legal industry’s business model, as large law firms are built on an ownership structure where partners get to share profits each year.
However, some claims about the abilities and benefits of AI are exaggerated, leading to concerns that AI may not live up to its potential in the legal industry.
It’s early days, but there can be little doubt about the overall impact that AI will have on lawyers and their work, just as will for most other professionals.
An item recently on LinkedIn spoke of the the potential to reduce errors in cases and improve the accuracy of legal documents. In addition, AI can enhance the client experience by providing more accessible and cost-effective legal services.
Given the potential benefits and challenges of AI in the legal industry, it is clear that the future of legal practice will be shaped by the role of AI.
How AI is Currently Used in the Legal Industry
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used in the legal industry, and its applications are numerous. In this section, we will explore some of the key ways that AI is currently being used in the legal industry.
Document Review and Analysis
One of the primary applications of AI in the legal industry is document review and analysis. According to The New York Times, AI software with human-like language fluency could take over much of the work typically performed by lawyers.
This includes tasks such as reviewing contracts, analyzing legal briefs, and identifying relevant case law. AI tools can scan vast amounts of data in a fraction of the time it would take a human to do so, making the process more efficient and cost-effective.
Contracts and Agreements
Another area where AI is being used in the legal industry is in contracts and agreements.
As noted in Traverse Legal, AI can generate better legal documents than lawyers, optimizing the contract drafting process. This includes identifying potential issues and recommending solutions, as well as ensuring that contracts are compliant with relevant laws and regulations.
Legal Research and Due Diligence
AI is also being used to streamline legal research and due diligence.
AI platforms can analyze large amounts of data, including case law and legal briefs, to identify relevant information and insights. This makes the research process more efficient and cost-effective, allowing lawyers to provide better service to their clients.
Examples of AI Tools Currently Used by Law Firms
There are already many examples of AI tools being used by law firms. One such tool is Harvey, an AI platform that will be used by Allen & Overy, the seventh largest law firm in the world, to help lawyers perform legal tasks in areas such as due diligence, litigation, and compliance.
Other AI tools used by law firms include Kira Systems, which uses machine learning to analyze contracts, and ROSS Intelligence, which uses natural language processing to answer legal research questions. These tools are already making a significant impact on the legal industry, and their use is likely to continue to grow in the years to come.
Potential Benefits of AI in the Legal Industry
The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal industry has the potential to deliver significant benefits. In this section, we will explore some of the key benefits of AI in the legal industry.
Increased Efficiency and Cost Savings
One of the primary benefits of AI in the legal industry is increased efficiency and cost savings. As noted in Traverse Legal, AI technology can generate legal documents more efficiently than lawyers, optimizing the contract drafting process. In addition, AI can streamline legal research and due diligence, making these processes more efficient and cost-effective.
Improved Accuracy and Reduced Errors
Another benefit of AI in the legal industry is improved accuracy and reduced errors. According to LinkedIn, AI has the potential to reduce errors in cases and improve the accuracy of legal documents. This is particularly important in areas such as contract law, where even small errors can have significant legal and financial consequences.
Enhanced Client Experience and Satisfaction
AI can also enhance the client experience and satisfaction. As noted in Traverse Legal, AI can provide educational information for clients to speak more intelligently to their attorneys. In addition, AI-powered legal services can be more accessible and cost-effective, making legal services more widely available to clients.
Increased Accessibility to Legal Services
Finally, AI has the potential to increase the accessibility of legal services. AI-powered legal services can provide cost-effective and efficient legal services, making legal services more accessible to a broader range of clients.
This is particularly important for underserved communities who may not have access to traditional legal services and it also provides additional stimulus for lawyers seeking a rewarding legal career, rather than being cast into the ‘e-discovery boiler room’ where tedious tasks are undertaken, now overtaken by AI.
Given these potential benefits, it is clear that AI has the clear potential to revolutionize the legal industry.
But what are some of the concerns about AI replacing lawyers?
Concerns about AI Replacing Lawyers
As artificial intelligence (AI) technology continues to evolve, there are concerns that AI may eventually replace lawyers.
Lack of Intuition and Judgment
One of the primary limitations of AI technology is its lack of intuition and judgment. AI lacks the ability to make decisions about the unknown, which is something human lawyers rely on.
While AI can analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns, it cannot provide the same level of judgment and intuition as a human lawyer.
Complexity of Legal Practice
Another limitation of AI technology is the complexity of legal practice. As noted in Fortune, the legal industry is highly complex, and the tasks performed by lawyers require a high level of expertise and judgment. While AI can automate some legal tasks, it cannot replace the expertise and judgment of a human lawyer.
Limited Scope of AI Technology
Finally, AI technology has a limited scope, and there are some legal tasks that it cannot perform. AI is not yet capable of providing the same level of human interaction and communication as a human lawyer.
This includes tasks such as negotiating deals, mediating disputes, and providing legal advice and counsel.
Given these limitations, it is unlikely that AI will completely replace lawyers in the legal industry. Instead, AI is likely to enhance the work of lawyers and make legal practice more efficient and cost-effective. In the next section, we will examine the future of AI in the legal industry and explore how it is likely to shape legal practice in the years to come.
The Future of AI in the Legal Industry
While there are concerns about AI replacing lawyers, the reality is that AI is likely to have a significant impact on the legal industry in the years to come. In this section, we will examine the future of AI in the legal industry and explore how it is likely to shape legal practice.
Increased Use of AI in Legal Practice
As AI technology continues to evolve, it is likely that its use in legal practice will continue to increase.
According to Fortune and other sources, AI platforms are already being used to perform tasks such as due diligence, contract review, and legal research and also making workers happier, as well as increasing productivity. In the future, AI may also be used to perform tasks such as drafting legal briefs, analyzing evidence, and predicting case outcomes.
Changes to the Legal Industry Business Model
The increasing use of AI in the legal industry is also likely to lead to changes in the legal industry business model. Large law firms are built on an ownership structure where partners get to share profits each year.
However, AI legal technology products are unlikely to change this business model, as they are more likely to be used to improve efficiency and reduce costs rather than to replace lawyers.
AI tools will play their role in increasing productivity, reducing the ‘tedium’ element in legal work and (hopefully) delivering greater value to clients, while at the same time doing so at an effectively lower cost to both client and law firm.
New Skills and Expertise Required
As AI technology becomes more prevalent in the legal industry, there will be a need for new skills and expertise.
As noted in The New York Times, lawyers will need to become more familiar with AI technology and how it can be used in legal practice. In addition, they will need to develop new skills such as data analysis, programming, and machine learning.
Ethical and Regulatory Implications
The increasing use of AI in the legal industry also raises ethical and regulatory implications. A recent report on Ai and ethics noted that as artificial intelligence was becoming more central to services and products so too were ethical concerns and issues being developed to cope with issues that will almost certainly arise.
One big law AI innovator is DLA Piper who are already lobbying Washington for regulations to AI and have recruited 10 data scientists for the firm to help advise clients on the use of the new technology, including ethical issues.
The Financial Times reported that Tony Samp, a senior policy adviser at the firm, was the founding director of the US Senate’s Artificial Intelligence Caucus. The FT said that DLA also employs Paul Hemmersbaugh, who drafted the first federal autonomous vehicle policy when working for the US government. Such expertise, DLA’s management stressed, would not itself be replaced by AI. “There is no technology on Earth right now that replaces human judgment or that automatically administers law,” Tobey said. “And I’m not sure there will ever be.”
However, there are concerns about the ethical implications of using AI for certain legal tasks, such as predicting case outcomes or making legal decisions. Then there are issues relating to privacy and bias, and even the challenge to human judgment on matters that can give rise to serious ethical concern.
These are all matters requiring focus by humans, rather than machines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the use of AI in the legal industry is likely to have a significant impact in the years to come. While AI is unlikely to completely replace lawyers, it is likely to enhance legal practice and make legal services more efficient and cost-effective. As the use of AI in the legal industry continues to evolve, it will be important to consider the ethical and regulatory implications, as well as the need for new skills and expertise.
Wrapping Up
AI technology has the potential to revolutionize the legal industry, but it is unlikely to completely replace lawyers. Instead, AI is likely to enhance legal practice and make legal services more efficient and cost-effective. In this article, we have explored the benefits of AI in the legal industry, as well as the concerns about AI replacing lawyers and the future of AI in the legal industry.
If you found this article useful, be sure to check out our other great content on the impact of technology on various industries. From healthcare to finance to education, we explore how technology is changing the way we live and work.
Answers To Common Questions
Q. Who is concerned about AI replacing lawyers?
A. People in the legal industry are concerned about AI replacing lawyers, including the lawyers themselves in some cases. However the concern is largely focused on a lack of understanding about the scope of AI and its regulation by ‘human’ laws.
Q. What are the limitations of AI technology in the legal industry?
A. AI technology lacks intuition and judgment, and it cannot replace the expertise and judgment of a human lawyer. The full scope of AI’s abilities however remain massive.
Q. How will AI impact the legal industry in the future?
A. AI is likely to enhance legal practice and make legal services more efficient and cost-effective in the short-run. In the longer term it will continually also be in a position to handle more complex transactional and other legal issues.
Q. Who will benefit from the use of AI in the legal industry?
A. Both lawyers and clients will benefit from the use of AI in the legal industry.
Q. What are the ethical implications of using AI in the legal industry?
A. The use of AI in the legal industry raises concerns about the ethical implications of using AI for certain legal tasks.
Q. How can lawyers adapt to the increasing use of AI in the legal industry?
A. Lawyers can adapt by becoming more familiar with AI technology and developing new skills such as data analysis and programming. They also need to increasingly embrace and understand the technology in order to use it effectively and safely and within appropriate ethical bounds.
