AI & the Law: Another Tool in the Toolbelt

 As AI begins to gain more traction within professional settings, it will only be a matter of time until an attorney is expected to use it. It seems that every day some new version of AI is coming out and more and more people claim that AI will hinder the job market. That begs the question: “will AI really be able to replace lawyers?” I think that the answer is clearly no. 

At the point where AI right now, lawyers should be using it as a document drafter or at least to get drafting ideas onto paper. This is even more important when the big legal research databases like Lexis and Westlaw have begun developing AI tools on their site. However, the work that lawyers do on a daily basis cannot purely be replaced by the currently available AI tools. Lawyers are responsible for completing tasks outside the current capabilities of AI tools today. While AI tools may generate a basic understanding of a case or a certain point in the law, there will still be a need for lawyers who know how to craft legal arguments. A lot of what lawyers research in write does not fit neatly into boxes requiring lawyers to analogize to other caselaw and make nuanced legal arguments. The tools of AI may provide a basic understanding of a certain legal issue, but it certainly does not provide the nuanced legal analysis required for good legal writing. AI may provide a base level of knowledge, but legal professionals will be needed to apply that knowledge to client’s cases and the specific facts of a case. 

In any event, a law office may look very different in the future if the advances in technology continue. Some of the clerical work may be replaced by AI tools and there may be less attorneys as efficiency grows. Nonetheless, there will always be a need for a lawyer behind the desk to ensure that the cited authorities are correct and to understand how best to fix a clients issue. Lawyers should begin and continue using these technologies to make their practice more efficient and meet client expectations.