Will AI Replace Lawyers?

It’s safe to say that artificial intelligence (AI) has infiltrated our lives. The technology can  be used to write compelling content, answer questions, and fulfill commands in a matter of seconds.

Despite the excitement this innovative technology holds, it’s also raised a litany of concerns around whether it may eliminate jobs in the legal industry. These fears have been further exacerbated as advances, like ChatGPT and Harvey AI, open up new possibilities—not to mention the technology’s recent acing of the Bar Exam. The president has even signed an Executive Order to manage the risks of AI.

But is AI going to replace lawyers? The short answer: No. If anything, AI is poised to help lawyers. 

In this blog post, we’ll examine the current state of AI in the legal industry, the advantages and drawbacks of the technology, and what AI means for all legal professionals.

The current state of AI in law

AI refers to the ability of machines to mimic functions normally associated with humans, like speech recognition. According to the 2022 ABA Legal Technology Survey Report, 12% of legal professionals said they’re using AI-based tools in their law firm (a slight increase from 10% in 2021). 

As for how they’re using it, most are turning to the technology to automate tedious tasks, like legal research, contract analysis, and document review.

Clearly, the majority of legal professionals aren’t yet using AI to their advantage. So, what’s holding them back? 

When asked about the barriers preventing adoption, the same study listed the accuracy of the technology as the number one concern (36.4%), followed by the cost to implement it (34.2%) and its reliability (33.8%).

Be sure to check out our resource hub on AI for lawyers to learn more.

The perks and pitfalls of AI

Like any new technology, AI has both benefits and downsides for the legal industry. Below, we’ve summarized some of the key ones that you should know about.

Pros

AI can save time. As any lawyer knows, legal work is filled with repetitive, mundane tasks that quickly fill up a day—whether it’s researching laws or scouring through piles of documents. AI has the power to automate this work and complete it in a fraction of the time. The result? Lawyers can focus on what truly matters, which can increase job satisfaction, improve their bottom line, and elevate client relationships.

AI promotes greater productivity. By streamlining processes, lawyers can be more efficient in their work. Take eDiscovery, as one example. Trained algorithms in machine learning can identify patterns in vast amounts of data and identify what information is relevant at an astonishing speed. This allows lawyers to finish tasks at a much faster rate.

AI can elevate lawyers’ work. Legal professionals can use more sophisticated AI-powered tools to augment their work. These tools can assist with tasks like drafting legal documents, conducting legal research, and analyzing contracts. In particular, document automation, which is offered through a legal software solution like Clio Manage, speeds up routine tasks and allows lawyers to focus on higher-level work that require human judgment, such as negotiation, advocacy, and counseling.

Cons

Mistakes happen. Misused source material and factual errors are common downsides associated with artificial intelligence. Compounding this challenge is the fact that technologies, like ChatGPT, don’t provide sources for where information is collected from. As a result, many lawyers struggle to know what’s true and what isn’t—and must exercise increased caution when using them.

It carries ethical concerns. Ethical considerations must be taken into consideration when using AI—including data privacy and security, the potential for misuse, and the risk of bias and discrimination.

Strategic work can be a challenge. Attorneys are skilled at arguing cases and challenging outcomes in a way that machines simply can’t replicate. For instance, an attorney knows from experience if a client is withholding information, and can  probe deeper to test versions of events. While AI can process and analyze data, it does not possess the critical thinking  or emotional intelligence skills necessary for reading people. Plus, while humans can work with incomplete information, AI is poor at reasoning from it. 

To sum it all up: it’s unlikely that AI will replace human lawyers. This is largely because the technology lacks the ability to solve complex challenges, think critically, and even possess the empathy that’s so critical to client relationships. 

That said, there are areas where AI can be beneficial, such as in automating tasks to help increase billable hours. That’s precisely where its true power lies.

The potential impact of legal education

AI isn’t only transforming how law firms work; it’s also changing the way legal education is delivered.

In recent years, many law schools have evolved their curricula to include courses and training in AI and other technologies. Doing so is playing a profound role in equipping law students with the skills needed to thrive in this changing landscape, whether it’s to use the technology for repetitive tasks, assess its accuracy, or protect client confidentiality. 

As a result, many students are graduating with new skills that make them competitive. They can enter the workforce with the knowledge of how to construct legal arguments, and also stand out as an adopter of the latest in innovative technology and legal tools.

Today, law students must have a firm grasp of technology for a successful career in law moving forward. Read up on the best law school rankings in 2023.

Clio’s industry-leading legal technology helps prepare students for the future of legal. With our Academic Access Program, instructors, administrators, and students receive complimentary access. The program provides valuable learning tools for students and instructors, including on-demand training and learning resources, step-by-step guides, fictitious case study assignments, and fully functional Clio accounts at no cost.

The future of legal with AI

Just as AI will augment, not replace, the work that lawyers do, so too will AI reshape the future of legal.

As we look to the future, here are three predictions for how AI will continue to shape the legal industry.

A changing regulatory landscape. As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in the legal profession, there will be an even greater need for new rules and guidelines to ensure that these tools are used in a way that’s safe, ethical, and effective. As a result, we will likely see a crop of regulations emerge for AI in the legal industry. This means that lawyers must keep a pulse on the current regulatory landscape and closely follow how it evolves in the near future.

Access to justice will be top of mind. AI-powered legal tools have the potential to increase access to justice by making legal services more affordable and accessible. This is because it reduces the time to complete tasks, which means that law firms can pass those savings on to clients. However, there are concerns that AI could also exacerbate existing inequalities and widen the justice gap, due to biases inherent in the data sets.

Law firm structure will change. AI is likely to change the structure of law firms, with smaller firms having access to the same AI-powered tools as larger firms. This could level the playing field, making legal services more affordable and accessible. It may also lead to the creation of new types of legal service providers that specialize in AI-powered legal services.

Learn more about the AI Bill of Rights and discover everything you need to know about the principles of the law.

So, is AI coming for lawyers? Our final thoughts

While it has the potential to reshape the legal profession, it is unlikely that AI will replace lawyers.

This is because AI simply can’t perform tasks that require human judgment, like arguing a case before a jury, offering a creative strategy, or building lasting relationships with clients.

Rather than making lawyers obsolete, AI will instead serve to enhance their work. Used effectively, it can empower lawyers to be more productive, produce work with greater accuracy, and focus on more strategic tasks. In short, it can help them gain a competitive edge. 

The legal industry is constantly changing, and it’s more important than ever to stay informed on the advancements in AI and be prepared to adapt to the changing landscape. Training and education are a great way to keep a pulse on the industry.

For example, our latest CLE-eligible webinar demystifies AI and our annual Clio Cloud Conference shines a light on the latest advances in legal technology. You’ll also find new articles each week covering the latest technologies in our newsletters—you can subscribe here.