Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making significant strides in various industries, and the legal profession is no exception. As technology continues to evolve, I believe that AI will become the biggest game changer for lawyers in 2024. Law practice management platforms are already integrating AI into their software, allowing attorneys to streamline their workflows and enhance their overall efficiency. While some concerns have been raised regarding AI's potential to replace attorneys entirely, Chief John Roberts, in his 2023 report, believes that AI will not replace lawyers (or at least judges). 🤗 However, legal professionals must remain cautious of the limitations of AI technology, as highlighted by former Trump attorney fixer Michael Cohen.

AI has the potential to automate repetitive tasks and streamline complex legal processes, allowing attorneys to focus more on strategic and high-value work. Law practice management platforms are incorporating AI-powered features that assist with various aspects of legal practice, from research document analysis to contract review and client communication.

Traditionally, lawyers spend countless hours sifting through vast amounts of information to find relevant cases, statutes, and regulations. However, with AI-powered research tools integrated into law practice management and legal research platforms, attorneys can now conduct comprehensive searches in a fraction of the time. These tools utilize machine learning algorithms that continuously learn from past searches and user interactions to deliver highly accurate results tailored to specific legal queries.

In addition to research assistance, AI is also transforming how lawyers manage documents. Document analysis tasks that were once tedious and time-consuming can now be automated using advanced natural language processing techniques. Law practice management platforms equipped with AI capabilities can quickly analyze contracts, identify key provisions or clauses, and generate summaries or comparisons. This not only saves valuable time but also reduces the risk of human error inherent in manual document review processes.

Client communication is another crucial aspect of legal practice that benefits from AI integration. Law firms often handle large volumes of client inquiries via emails or phone calls. By utilizing AI-powered chatbots or virtual assistants embedded within law practice management software, attorneys can provide prompt responses while managing multiple client interactions simultaneously. These intelligent assistants can understand natural language queries, offer basic legal advice based on predefined parameters set by attorneys themselves, or redirect clients to appropriate resources within the platform.

But will AI replace lawyers?  A recent federal case in a U.S. District Court in Illinois dismissed a case against the "robot lawyer" DoNotPay, Inc.  The defendant "...offers an online, subscription-based service that it claims will help consumers “[f]ight corporations, beat bureaucracy and sue anyone at the press of a button.” It offers services related to marriage annulment, speeding ticket appeals, timeshare cancellation, breach of contract, defamation, copyright, child support, restraining order"  This non-lawyer is currently free to operate.  But since it was dismissed on standing issues, I won't be surprised if this case (and others similar to it) won't find its way to the courthouse.

Despite this news, Chief John Roberts asserts that AI will not replace attorneys entirely.  He argues that while AI can assist lawyers by handling repetitive tasks or providing legal insights, the human element of legal practice, such as critical thinking and empathy, remains irreplaceable. AI's limitations in understanding nuance and complex emotions make it unlikely to replace the nuanced advice and strategic thinking that lawyers provide their clients.

But caution must still be exercised when relying on AI technology. Michael Cohen, former Trump attorney fixer, serves as a reminder that AI is not infallible. Cohen's experience with using AI-powered software for document review revealed its limitations: He provided in a "sworn declaration in federal court in Manhattan that he did not realize the citations generated by Google Bard [that he provided his attorney] were fictitious.[1] (Why his attorney, i.e., the party who signed the legal pleading, did not check the citations before submitting the pleading to the court is something I have warned about in the past.) This emphasizes the importance of lawyers remaining vigilant and thoroughly reviewing AI-generated results to ensure their accuracy.

I predict AI to be the biggest game changer for lawyers in 2024. As technology continues to advance rapidly, embracing AI as a valuable tool while acknowledging its limitations will be essential for legal professionals in navigating the ever-changing landscape of the legal profession.

MTC

Happy New Year and Happy Lawyering!

[1] https://www.reuters.com/legal/ex-trump-fixer-michael-cohen-says-ai-created-fake-cases-court-filing-2023-12-29/