Artificial intelligence (“AI”) is transforming almost every aspect of our lives, and the legal industry is no exception. AI is becoming increasingly popular in the legal industry as it offers a range of benefits, from streamlining legal processes to reducing costs and improving efficiency. In this article, we will discuss the current trend for the legal industry to utilise AI and its implications for legal professionals and clients.
AI in Legal Research
Legal research is a critical aspect of the legal industry, and it can be time-consuming and expensive. AI-powered legal research tools are becoming increasingly popular as they help to speed up the research process and provide more accurate and relevant results. AI tools can also help lawyers to find legal precedents, analyse case law, and provide recommendations on legal strategies.
One example of an AI-powered legal research tool is ROSS Intelligence. This tool uses natural language processing to understand legal questions and provide answers based on its analysis of legal databases. This tool can help lawyers to save time and money while improving the quality and efficiency of their research.
AI in Contract Review and Analysis
Contract review and analysis is another area where AI is being heavily utilised in the legal industry. Contracts are essential documents that govern business relationships and transactions, and reviewing them is an everyday aspect of legal work. AI-powered contract review tools can help lawyers to identify potential issues in contracts and provide suggestions on how to address them.
An example of AI-powered contract review tool is Kira Systems. This tool uses machine learning algorithms to analyse contracts and identify relevant clauses, risks, and obligations. Kira Systems can help lawyers to save time and reduce the risk of missing critical information in contracts.
AI in Predictive Analytics
Predictive analytics uses historical data to identify patterns and make predictions about future events. In the legal industry, predictive analytics can be used to identify potential risks and opportunities for clients.
Premonition is an example of an AI-powered predictive analytics tool. This tool uses machine learning algorithms to analyse data on lawyers, judges, and legal cases to identify patterns and provide insights on how to win legal cases. Premonition can help lawyers to improve their legal strategies and increase their chances of success in legal cases.
Implications of AI for the Legal Industry
The increasing use of AI in the legal industry has several implications for legal professionals and clients. One of the most significant implications is that the role of lawyers may change. As AI-powered tools become more sophisticated, some of the tasks that were previously done by lawyers may be automated. This could lead to job loss for some legal professionals, but it could also lead to new job opportunities as the legal industry adapts to the use of AI.
One very positive effect that this will have on the legal industry is the move to more affordable and accessible legal services. AI-powered tools can help to reduce the time and resources required for legal work, which could lead to lower fees for clients. This could make legal services more accessible to individuals and small businesses who may not have been able to afford them in the past.
There are concerns in the legal industry about privacy, data security, and bias with increased reliance on AI-powered tools. These tools require access to large amounts of data, which could include sensitive information about individuals and businesses. There is also the risk of data breaches and cyber-attacks, which could compromise the confidentiality of legal information. Furthermore, AI-powered tools may be biased if they are trained on data that reflects historical biases in the legal industry. This could lead to unfair outcomes for clients and perpetuate existing inequalities in the legal system.
In conclusion, the trend for the legal industry to utilise AI is here to stay. AI-powered tools are becoming increasingly popular as they offer a range of benefits, from improving efficiency and reducing costs to providing more accurate and relevant results. The modern day lawyer needs to take the time to fully consider what tools AI can provide to optimise their workload.
– Christian Tabor-Raeside
