Will robots replace lawyers soon?
Ever since the advent of machine learning and writing tools in the last decade, the notion that lawyers could be on the chopping block has been present in the media. Many commentators believe that is only a matter of time before people in this high-powered line of work feel the full force of automation.
But what’s the truth? Probably somewhere more in the middle of the extreme predictions (as it always is).
The hype and the reality
The hype was that AI would replace lawyers, and many people are treating it that way. However, the reality is still different.
For example, AI is being used for things like legal research and drafting. It’s reducing the amount of time professionals must spend on these activities substantially, reducing costs significantly and boosting margins.
It’s also being used for predictive analytics. Lawyers are benefiting from tools that tell them how a particular client is likely to behave in the future, enabling them to adapt their strategy.
Even admin efficiency is benefiting. eDiscovery technology is cutting down on a lot of the process-driven technologies lawyers find themselves embroiled in for most of their professional lives. Things like requests, billing and client intake is being dealt with in the background, with only minor oversight required.
However, while these benefits are real, the day to day life of most lawyers is essentially much the same as before. Tools seem to save on the order of about 5% of working time, which isn’t insignificant. But the work is much more hands-on than a lot of developers realise.
In terms of the drafting and creating documents, AI systems are also prone to hallucinating, even those made specifically for law firms. Tools will sometimes actually invent facts and statistics that aren’t there, forcing attorneys to do extensive fact-checking to verify the reality of the claims being made.
Expert predictions for the coming years
So, where does all this leave us? What’s likely to happen in the legal industry over the coming years?
David Wilkins of Harvard Law is of the view that the demand for lawyers is actually likely to grow until 2030. He sees AI bringing increased opportunities to the sector and accelerating change, requiring new blood. There are risks, but these are often more than offset by using AI correctly in his view.
Capita AI’s Ben Su has a different view. He thinks that AI has the potential to remake legal services in the way many tech entrepreneurs envision. He believes the shift will lead to greater power for clients and more options for those seeking low-cost alternatives.
Then there is the Forbes Tech Council, which has a more mainstream view. It sees there being less admin in the sector going forward, with reduced need for clerks. It says that lawyers will need to think more strategically, focusing less on the law itself, and more on how to use tools to ensure that their role is enacted for themselves and their clients.
Of course, we wait with baited breath to see how things unfold.
