The advent of the Information Age has made technology ubiquitous in our daily lives. It has improved not only how we conduct our day-to-day lives but has also brought significant innovations into the world of business and commerce. A major innovation that has been brought about in this era has been the creation of artificial intelligence (AI). From document review to legal research, contract management, and even litigation prediction, AI has revolutionized the legal field in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.[1]
One of the most significant impacts of AI in law is the automation of repetitive tasks. Traditionally, these tasks were performed by lawyers and paralegals, and they were time-consuming and prone to human error. With AI, these tasks can be completed more quickly and accurately, allowing lawyers to spend more time on higher-value tasks such as advising clients and developing legal strategies.[2]
Another area where AI is having a significant impact is legal research. With AI-powered legal research tools, lawyers can quickly find relevant information, saving time and increasing productivity. These tools can also identify patterns and trends in legal data that may not be immediately apparent to human researchers.[3]
AI is also transforming the way lawyers manage contracts. Specifically, it allows lawyers to streamline the contract management process, making it more efficient and less prone to error.[4] These tools can also identify potential legal risks and suggest ways to mitigate them, helping lawyers to better protect their clients.[5]
AI is also playing a significant role in litigation prediction. Predicting the outcome of litigation is a complex task, and it requires lawyers to analyze vast amounts of data, including case law, court records, and legal pleadings. AI allows lawyers to quickly sift through and analyze these enormous quantities of data quickly and accurately with the goal of using the information to develop legal strategies and to advise clients on the best course of action.[6] The larger beneficial impact of AI is that it allows for higher-quality legal services to be provided at considerably lower costs.[7]
While the impact of AI in the legal industry is undoubtedly significant and positive, there are also concerns about its impact on the profession. One of the most significant concerns is that AI may replace human lawyers, particularly in tasks such as document review and legal research. An example of this is the lawsuit against DoNotPay, a company that provides AI representation to help people fight parking tickets. The company has been sued in multiple states for practicing law without proper licensing.[8] Another concern is that AI may exacerbate existing biases in the legal system. AI-powered legal tools rely on algorithms, and these algorithms are only as unbiased as the data they are trained on. If the data used to train these algorithms is biased, then the tools themselves may be biased.[9]
AI is transforming the legal industry in numerous ways, and its impact is only going to increase in the coming years. However, it is important to recognize that AI is not a replacement for human lawyers. While it can automate repetitive tasks and help lawyers work more efficiently, it cannot replace the judgment, empathy, and creativity that human lawyers bring to the table.
[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/robtoews/2019/12/19/ai-will-transform-the-field-of-law/?sh=4814a2b47f01
[2] Id.
[3] https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/en/insights/articles/ai-and-its-impact-on-legal-technology
[4] https://www.forbes.com/sites/robtoews/2019/12/19/ai-will-transform-the-field-of-law/?sh=4814a2b47f01
[5] Id.
[6]https://www.westlaw.com/Document/I921da953d77d11e698dc8b09b4f043e0/View/FullText.html?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)&VR=3.0&RS=cblt1.0
[7] https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2023/03/20/how-ai-will-revolutionize-the-practice-of-law/
[8] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-law-analysis/analysis-donotpay-lawsuits-a-setback-for-justice-initiatives
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8963864/