Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers: Legal Technology Now
In the legal profession, we are always looking for ways to gain an edge on the competition. Technology has drastically changed the way we practice law, and when it comes to law and technology, there is no turning back.
Lawyers must adapt and embrace new technologies in order to remain relevant and effectively represent their clients.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is one such technology that is revolutionizing the legal industry.
Take a look at news headlines and you'll see articles like "AI Will Transform the Field of Law" in Forbes, or "How AI is Reshaping the Legal Profession" in the ABA Journal to frightening headlines like "How AI Robots are Replacing Lawyers" or "What's Left for Lawyers" (yikes!). The same day we published today's blog, an article on LinkedIn asking "Is there a human behind that email" (talking about the incredible ChatGPT).
So let's get down to it: it's time to talk seriously about artificial intelligence for lawyers.
On today's blog, we will take a look at some of the AI tools available to lawyers and how they can be used to improve your practice (and for double the information, check out this wonderful article on Clio covering similar topics in this blog).
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology for lawyers
Legal professionals are quickly embracing Artificial Intelligence, leveraging its automation capabilities to streamline their operations and freeing resources for more impactful pursuits. AI tools can efficiently power through simple tasks like case law research or drafting documents, while collecting relevant data from sources such as court records and converting it into interpretable formats that inform litigation strategies. This technology is revolutionizing the legal industry by opening new opportunities for lawyers everywhere - allowing us to exponentially expand our potential in pursuit of justice.
Through law and technology, lawyers are now beginning to take advantage of opportunities not available before.
How can AI technology be used by lawyers?
In today’s world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the way lawyers work. This advanced technology can help professionals with a variety of tasks-- from mediation and research to litigation and contractual disputes.
AI can be effectively used for legal research by quickly trawling through vast quantities of data, identifying relevant documents or precedents faster and more efficiently than ever before. Furthermore, mediation proceedings can be streamlined using AI software as it is better equipped to understand certain nuances present in legal cases--generating an objective opinion that could bode well for any mediation outcomes.
AI tools can even prove useful during trials, analyzing large volumes of documents much quicker than traditional methods while also alerting lawyers to any potential changes in their clients’ stories so they can attempt to address them appropriately. Despite its notable advantages, however, lawyers should always view AI technology as a supplement rather than a substitute to their practice--using it judiciously alongside other more established methods of resolving business disputes.
A Flavor of AI Technology in the Legal Field
There are several types of AI technology that exist for lawyers, including:
Legal research: AI-powered tools that can quickly search through large amounts of legal documents and case law to help lawyers find relevant information for their cases.
Contract review: AI-based tools that can analyze contracts and identify potential risks or issues.
Predictive coding: AI algorithms that can help lawyers prioritize and categorize large sets of documents for review, for example in e-discovery process
Legal writing: AI-based tools that can assist lawyers in drafting legal documents, such as contracts and briefs.
Virtual legal assistance: AI-powered chatbots or virtual assistants that can help with common legal questions or tasks.
Legal analytics: AI-driven tools that can analyze legal data to identify patterns and trends, which can be used to inform strategy and decision-making.
Artificial Intelligence Legal Services: And then there are AI-powered chatbots that aim to provide legal services.
So who is offering these types of services? The list seems to be growing every day. We highlight a few, below:
AI-Research tools
LexisNexis: An O.G. in the legal world, it is no surprise that LexisNexis is on the AI bandwagon. Their AI services include AI-powered legal research tools, including Lexis Advance and Lexis Analytics.
Thomson Reuters: Another pillar in the legal community, Thomson Reuters offers a range of AI-powered legal research and analytics tools, including Westlaw Edge and Practical Law.
Judicata: Offers an AI-powered legal research platform that can help lawyers find relevant case law and statutes.
Casetext: Offers an AI-powered legal research platform that can help lawyers find relevant case law and statutes (fun note: Casetext is a member benefit for Los Angeles Bar Association (LACBA) members, as well as some other bar associations).
AI-Contract Review and Analysis (Before and After Contract Execution)
LawGeex, LegalSifter, Kira Systems, Klarity, SpellBook by Rally, ClearLaw, and LexCheck: These companies offer AI-powered contract review platform/services, including abilities to analyze NDAs, contracts, and legal documents in minutes. Note that these services can differ depending on when they are used for contracts, such as for a pre-execution contract review or for post-execution contract analysis.
For example, AI-based providers such as LegalSifter offer a variety of solutions to clients, including AI-enabled services. For instance, at the pre-execution stage, LegalSifter utilizes AI and the expertise of Ken Adams to streamline contract review, identifying missing sections and reducing time and risk. Additionally, for post-execution, their products and personnel extract crucial metadata from signed contracts, reducing the risk of accidental auto-renewal and potential penalties for missed provisions.
As an attorney who works with drafting, negotiating, and analyzing employment contracts on a daily basis, I was super impressed with this emerging technology. It is well worth a peek for any firms that regularly work with legal contracts.
Luminance, Legal Robot and Diligen are also in this category, as an AI-powered platform for due diligence (Luminance) and contract review (both), using machine learning algorithms/natural language processing to extract relevant information and identify potential risks or issues. And LegalSifter also provides AI-backed solutions for clients that help extract relevant data from contracts for due diligence, organization, data upload into a CLM, regulatory searches, among other needs.
There are even industry-specific companies like eBrevia, offering an AI-powered contract review platform for the real estate industry.
AI-Document Management
RAVN Systems: Offers a range of AI-powered legal document management and review tools. In addition to organizing, it can also summarize documents.
AI-Tasks/Administrative Duties
LawDroid: Offers an AI-powered virtual legal assistant that can help with common legal questions and tasks. The company also offers legal tech consulting and can help build and manage custom chatbots for law firms (think: intake help!).
Neota Logic: Offers a platform that allows lawyers to create AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants for legal tasks.
Also for consideration: OneLaw's AI-powered legal assistant and Legalist's BriefAnalyzer or AI-powered services for discovery, from CSDisco (game-changer for any attorney with discovery woes!)
Legal.io also developed an impressive AI-assistant software (LARA), but it does not appear to still be offered by the company at time of this blog publication.
Litigation Prediction
Wishing you had a crystal ball for your case? There are AI-powered services that offer litigation prediction, like ExParte or Klear.ai (for worker's compensation) as well as software aimed at assisting in litigation financing, like Legalist.
These companies offer a variety of services, from contract review to legal research, and are using AI to automate and streamline different legal tasks. Some of them have a specific focus, like contract review, while others offer a broader range of services. Additionally, many of these companies also offer API's for their services to be integrated into other platforms.
These are just a few examples of the many companies in the market, providing this sort of AI technology and services, and the list is constantly growing as the technology develops.
AI-Powered Legal Services Chatbots
And for the finale...the "robot lawyer" service, like DoNotPay . This technology uses AI to provide legal services, such as helping to contest parking tickets or help with negotiating bills - and the list is growing. But you couldn't actually service to court...could you? On February 22, 2023, DoNotPay will make its debut in the courtroom representing a defendant to fight a parking ticket.
Unsurprisingly, there is also A.I. for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Field (and as an employment law mediator, we love talking about this topic, too!)
Artificial Intelligence in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Field
AI technology is being used in the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) field in a variety of ways, including:
Matching disputes with appropriate arbitrators or mediators: AI-powered platforms can use natural language processing to analyze disputes and match them with arbitrators or mediators based on their expertise and past experience.
Providing insights and analytics on past cases: AI-powered platforms can analyze large amounts of data on past cases to provide insights on legal trends and patterns, which can be used to inform dispute resolution strategies.
Automating and streamlining the dispute resolution process: AI-powered platforms can automate and streamline various aspects of the ADR process, from scheduling and case management to online dispute resolution (ODR)
Providing recommendations for dispute resolution: AI-powered platforms can use natural language processing and machine learning to analyze disputes and provide recommendations for resolution, such as potential settlement terms.
Mediating disputes: AI-powered platforms can act as a mediator between the disputing parties by communicating with them and helping them to reach a resolution.
Assessing the credibility of parties and witnesses: AI-powered platforms can use natural language processing and machine learning to analyze statements and other data to assess the credibility of parties and witnesses in a dispute.
Supporting the decision-making process: AI-powered platforms can provide data-driven insights to support the decision-making process of the arbitrators or mediators.
Online Dispute Resolution (ODR): AI-powered platforms can facilitate online dispute resolution process by providing a virtual platform for communication, document sharing, and decision making.
Overall, the use of AI in ADR can bring significant benefits in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness, but it's important to consider the potential limitations of the technology and ensure that human oversight is maintained. Some of these types of services may be referred to as technology mediated dispute resolution (TMDR) (see informative article by David Allen Larson on technology's ability to reduce dispute costs).
Companies that provide AI technology to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services include:
Judicata: Offers an AI-powered platform that can help in the resolution of disputes by providing insights and analytics on past cases and legal trends.
Modria: Offers an AI-powered platform that can help to automate and streamline the dispute resolution process, including online dispute resolution (ODR) and case management.
Court Innovations (Matterhorn): Offers an AI-powered virtual dispute resolution platform that can be used for a variety of disputes, including small claims and landlord-tenant disputes.
SmartSettle: Offers online dispute resolution services, including by leveraging algorithms to help parties reach resolutions.
CyberSettle: Offers AI-powered dispute resolution that "compares the parties’ submissions to determine if they are in range of a mutually-acceptable settlement. If not, it prompts the parties to submit their next offer. If yes, the parties arrange payment. Neither party sees the other party’s offer or demands (double-blind) unless and until a settlement is reached."
ADR Notable: Offers mediation software for case and practice management (while not necessarily AI-driven, ADR Notable is technology-focused and worthy of consideration when leveraging technology for an ADR practice).
These companies are using AI technology to automate and streamline various aspects of the ADR process, from matching disputes with appropriate arbitrators or mediators, to providing insights and recommendations for resolution. Additionally, many of them also offer ODR (Online Dispute Resolution) services and some of them have a focus on specific type of disputes.
Tips on how to get started using AI technology in your law practice
Getting started with AI technology in a law practice can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. It's important to remember that ethics are paramount when introducing AI into your work.
Identify areas in your practice where AI can be useful, such as document review, contract analysis, and legal research.
Research and evaluate different AI tools and technologies that can help automate these tasks.
Implement the AI tools and train them with the appropriate data sets.
Continuously monitor and evaluate the performance of the AI tools, and make adjustments as necessary.
Stay current with developments in AI and its potential implications for the legal profession.
Communicate with clients about how you are using AI in your practice, and address any concerns they may have.
If you are working on cases with other attorneys, consider how AI can be used to improve collaboration and communication.
Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations and ethical standards.
And some basic tips:
1. Research the ethics of AI applications and best practices to use while incorporating them into your practice. Remember, ABA's Rules include “Competence,” including an attorney's obligation to provide “competent representation to a client.” In 2012, the ABA added that the ability to competently practice law includes understanding “the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology.”
2. If possible, enlist the help of technology experts who feel comfortable implementing these changes seamlessly into your operations. Utilize their knowledge and expertise to explore the various options needed for a successful deployment.
3. Finally, make sure you understand exactly how the AI will fit into your workflow and regularly review its performance—these steps may take some time and effort initially, but will help reap big rewards down the road.
Conclusion
We're living in an age with incredible AI technology that today's lawyers have at their fingertips. There is an abundance of tools, services and strategies available to help lawyers maximize efficiency in all areas—from day-to-day operations to high level strategic planning. We would love for you to explore how these possibilities could benefit your own practice – get in touch with us now so we can share our insights on getting started.
Let's continue the conversation on LinkedIn - we love talking about #futureofwork, #legaltech, #atatwork, and #artificial intelligence. Connect with us on LinkedIn.