The Evolving Role of AI in Legal Practise
Iesha Agnihotri
AI’s Transformative Impact on the Legal Profession'
The legal profession, traditionally known for its cautious and labour-intensive nature, has seen significant change in recent years, thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is reshaping how legal professionals approach decision-making, strategy, and innovation today. This article explores how AI is transforming the industry, the opportunities and challenges it presents, and its potential future. '
Legal Research
Legal research has long been tedious for lawyers, consuming countless hours as they sift through statutes and case law. Platforms such as Westlaw Edge, LexisNexis, and Ravel Law use machine learning algorithms and natural language processing (NLP), which have revolutionised this process, allowing lawyers to sift through massive amounts of data in seconds.
Predictive Analysis
The real game-changer is predictive analysis. For companies facing complex legal risks, AI can flag compliance issues and predict litigation outcomes. This allows lawyers to craft data-driven strategies, reducing guesswork and providing clients with clearer guidance. It also lowers billable hours, benefiting both law firms and clients. However, lawyers must still apply their expertise to interpret AI-driven insights and avoid over-reliance on machine predictions.
AI in Leading Firms
Clifford Chance, one of the world’s largest law firms, uses Kira Systems to enhance legal research. Kira’s AI surpasses traditional methods in reviewing and locating case law, allowing solicitors to focus on strategic tasks rather than background work.
Contract review and drafting are other areas where AI is making its mark. Traditionally, this process is tedious and prone to human error. AI-powered tools like Kira Systems and Luminance help by scanning contracts, identifying problematic language, and suggesting improvements. They can cross-reference new contracts with existing databases to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
At Allen & Overy, AI platform Harvey has transformed contract evaluation, reducing manual review time by 40% and identifying inconsistencies and legal issues faster than ever. While this doesn’t replace a lawyer's judgement it definitely makes their work more precise and efficient.
Litigation and E-Discovery
AI’s role in litigation, particularly e-discovery, is another game-changer. In complex cases, especially those involving corporate or regulatory issues, vast amounts of electronic data must be analysed. Manual document review methods are labour-intensive, costly, and often ineffective.
AI-driven e-discovery tools like Logikcull and Relativity expedite this process by classifying and screening large datasets to quickly identify relevant documents. These solutions reduce the time and costs of manual reviews by using algorithms to detect keywords, themes, and patterns in emails and other electronic assets. AI allows lawyers to focus on more strategic aspects of litigation, such as client advocacy and case strategy.
Legal Decision-Making
AI also enhances legal decision-making through analytics. Tools like Lex Machina and Premonition offer insights into judge rulings, case durations, and successful legal strategies. With this information, lawyers can make more informed decisions about case approaches, such as selecting the right jurisdiction or predicting settlement amounts. The ability to analyse historical data empowers lawyers and provides clients with more accurate predictions regarding case outcomes and timelines.
Ethical Concerns
Despite its advantages, AI raises significant ethical concerns in the legal profession. One major worry is bias in AI systems, which may unintentionally perpetuate existing prejudices in the judicial system3 due to training on past data. For example, AI used in sentencing algorithms or predictive policing has been criticised for reinforcing gender and racial biases.
Additionally, there are concerns about the opacity of AI decision-making. Many AI algorithms function like "black boxes," making it difficult for judges and lawyers to understand how specific decisions are made. This lack of transparency can lead to accountability issues, particularly in sensitive areas like immigration law or criminal justice.
Impact on the Job Market
The effects of AI on the legal job market pose a significant challenge. There are concerns that AI could replace legal researchers, junior associates, and paralegals by automating basic tasks. While AI can enhance lawyers’ productivity, worries about job displacement and reduced entry-level opportunities persist.
The Future of AI in Law
Looking ahead, AI’s potential is vast. AI-powered virtual assistants may soon answer complex legal questions, translate documents in real time, and even play a role in dispute resolution, providing affordable legal services. As AI continues to evolve, it will likely become a partner in legal strategy and decision-making, not just a tool for efficiency.
To thrive in this evolving landscape, lawyers must adapt by learning how to work with AI and integrate its insights into legal strategies. Legal education may also need to shift to prepare future lawyers for this technology-driven world. While AI enhances accuracy and efficiency in the legal industry, ethical concerns and job market impacts must be carefully managed. Ultimately, AI can complement human competence, leading to a symbiotic relationship between lawyers and technology.