The Possibility of Generative AI in Law

  • --
  • --
Image Unsplash

Learn more about The Possibility of Generative AI in Law.

In the legal industry, law firms, and other entities have been studying the potential of AI for an extended period, utilizing it in practical and occasionally transformative ways. Our article examines various factors, such as legal professionals' views on the possibility of implementing GenAI in law industry work, the rationales for or against it, and the potential applications legal professionals foresee for GenAI. 
 

Is It Possible To Utilize GenAI for Legal Tasks? 

81% of professionals think that GenAI can be used in workplace settings. The percentage is greater in law firms and corporate legal departments at 85%, and slightly lower in government agencies at 77%. AI has vast potential in the legal field, such as drafting client summaries, generating detailed analyses from large amounts of documents, and assisting smaller firms in competing with larger ones.
 
AI can assist with due diligence in corporate mergers and greatly enhance legal education and knowledge acquisition in complex and rapidly changing fields. A significant demonstration that increased discussions about the legal capabilities of generative AI occurred when the newest version (GPT-4) successfully completed the bar exam. 
 
However, attorneys and law students have a much better understanding of the potential of generative AI beyond just flashy displays compared to the average person. Based on a recent survey, approximately 50% of lawyers anticipate a major change in the practice of law due to generative AI tools, with 92% expecting some level of impact. 
 
77 percent think that the use of generative AI tools will enhance the effectiveness of lawyers, paralegals, or law clerks, while 63 percent also think that generative AI will revolutionize the methods of teaching and studying law. 
 

Is it Suitable To Use GenAI for Legal Tasks? 

There was additional caution regarding the potential use of GenAI in industrial settings. Over fifty percent lawyers indicated that it should be implemented in the operations of a particular sector. This implies that use cases should not only be clear but also actively integrated into daily job responsibilities. Thirty percent were just uncertain. 
 
There was a higher likelihood for corporate legal departments to believe that GenAI should be utilized in their work. A disparity exists between their stance – with 62% supporting its use – and that of their external legal advisors. Slightly more than half of legal professionals maintain that belief. 
 
Law firms might feel pressured by their clients to thoroughly evaluate their GenAI choices, as clients desire assurance that they are indeed getting the efficiency advantages GenAI offers. As per our report, government law agencies and courts had many doubts concerning GenAI. 
 

The Case Supporting The Use Of GenAI For Legal Tasks 

The reason for utilizing GenAI is based on the business-related consequences of the technology. Respondents in the legal industry believe there is significant potential for saving costs. They also acknowledge that it may enable professionals to dedicate more time to important tasks and understand their potential in aiding quality control. 
 
As per a law firm partner, utilizing it correctly will enable better provision of legal services and advice, with a higher quality and speed. Accessing justice has become increasingly challenging during the last 20 years of law practice, and this could make a significant difference. 
 

The Legal Arguments Against GenAI

Doubts exist regarding GenAI's legality. Initially, there are worries regarding the dependability and precision of GenAI solutions. One solution to this problem is to select a tool that utilizes content you have confidence in. Users are required to confirm the origins of all information that the tool presents. 
 
AI-supported research offers summaries and suggests cases for your legal issue, showing the exact process it used to reach its conclusions and providing links to relevant cases. There is also worry about the absence of human warmth or instinct in the instruments. One law firm partner said it has some uses, but they doubt it can fully replace legal advice. 
 
We think it's hard for a computer to mimic the way we make decisions based on our instincts, situations, and individual characteristics. GenAI is unable to take the place of humans in providing legal services. It just enhances their work, handling the tedious task of reviewing cases and contracts to determine your strategy. 
 
It is essential for humans to take responsibility for ensuring results, forming their approach, and gaining support from clients, colleagues, business partners, and other parties involved. Leadership and creativity will be necessary to prepare for the increased efficiencies and support that GenAI will provide. 
 
Roughly 50% of people within the legal field view GenAI as a significant threat or a moderate threat to jobs in the industry. Roughly half of law firm professionals think that GenAI will have an impact on billing and firm revenue. Due to client demands for integrating GenAI, firm executives must determine the best way to adjust their models for sustained success. 
 

Tips On Utilizing GenAI for Legal Purposes 

Legal experts highlighted multiple applications for GenAI. Legal research, reviewing documents, and summarizing documents rank among the top purposes for law firms, corporate legal departments, courts, and government entities. Law firms, courts, and governments would utilize it for drafting briefs and memos, with law firms also finding it useful for drafting correspondence. 
 
The corporate legal sector, along with the courts and government, see potential benefits in contract drafting. Internal teams also find it useful for extracting information from contracts. Some legal firms provide various products that cater to these specific use cases because AI technology dramatically decreases the manual work required for legal research. 
 
Others combine generative AI with resources and tools in Microsoft Word to enhance legal drafting productivity. Some even include Document Intelligence to assist internal legal teams in monitoring, examining, and presenting contract data. Full adoption of GenAI is still a future possibility, as only very few surveyed organizations currently utilize it consistently. 
 

Conclusion 

With the increasing availability of legal-specific tools in the marketplace, our figures are expected to increase. Numerous legal professionals could advance their careers by effectively integrating GenAI into their organizations. It is a period of being careful while also trying new things, which will definitely result in development and change within the industry. 
From Helicopters to Free-Rangers: What Kind of Parent Are You?
Next Post From Helicopters to Free-Rangers: What Kind of Parent Are You?
Related Posts
Commnets --
Leave A Comment