Gareth Walker, CEO of LEAP in the UK and Ireland
By Gareth Walker, CEO at Legal Futures Associate LEAP UK
Artificial intelligence (AI) simulates human intelligence processes through machine learning, analysing vast amounts of data to identify correlations and patterns. This allows AI to uncover valuable insights and predicts future outcomes, profoundly influencing our daily lives. From online shopping and music playlist recommendations to managing smart motorways and enabling virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa, whether we embrace it or not, AI’s impact is undeniable.
AI is also transforming our working lives, particularly in fields like legal services, which often involve complex, repetitive, and time-consuming tasks. This makes the profession ideally suited to benefit from the efficiencies AI provides. Its impact on law firms today is as significant as that of cloud technology 15 years ago. We are witnessing another technological revolution that is reshaping the future of legal service delivery.
This transformative shift in the rise of AI is heralding a new age of efficiency, providing law firms access to game-changing innovation that is altering the way they practise law and deliver client service.
AI-driven solutions are transforming traditional legal processes and enhancing the capabilities of legal practitioners. Instead of replacing lawyers, AI serves as an invaluable assistant, supporting various aspects of legal practice, such as drafting and analysing legal documents, performing legal research, recording time, and summarizing cases. The growing acceptance of AI within the profession, thanks in part to innovations like ChatGPT, has catalysed further investment in AI capabilities by technology providers.
The opportunity presented by AI
For lawyers, time directly translates to money. AI can automate essential tasks that once took days, completing the same work in seconds. This is especially valuable for those handling fixed-fee work. By streamlining these activities, AI allows practitioners to develop areas of their business where legal technology cannot assist, enhancing the service received by clients in less time and at a lower cost.
A couple of areas within a lawyer’s daily routine that can be significantly streamlined by AI include:
- Legal research: AI can analyse extensive databases of case law and statutes, providing comprehensive, contextually relevant insights swiftly.
- Document drafting: AI enables quick creation, adaptation, and review of legal documents and summaries.
Being AI , these tools are accessible 24/7 empowering lawyers to receive instant responses to questions, prepare documents, and review case law anytime and anywhere. By automating low-value and low-skilled tasks, AI enables law firm staff to focus on higher-value work. This not only provides opportunities for upskilling existing employees but also ensures a clear return on investment.
The introduction of these innovative features represents a significant advancement in equipping lawyers with cutting-edge AI technology. Pioneering software providers are investing time and resources into AI development within their software so that law firms can manage cases with optimal efficiency, conduct research with greater precision, and ultimately increase productivity and the quality of legal services delivered.
While much has been said about AI potentially replacing lawyers, less attention is given to how it can complement and enhance their capabilities. By leveraging legal software AI tools and by understanding the optimal use of these applications, lawyers can greatly benefit from this technological revolution.
Matter AI, LawY and Template Generator are available and included as part of the LEAP subscription. For more information on AI within LEAP, visit leap.co.uk/ai.
