Is the Legal Practice Ready for Artificial Intelligence?
The legal industry is at a stage where it is starting to define new roles compared to traditional set-ups, especially ones that would involve levering on technology providers such as managed IT services Virginia Beach or elsewhere in the US.
AI is not totally new to the legal industry and has in fact been utilized as a software component in several litigation discovery processes for a decade.
Law Firms are Starting to Incorporate AI in some Areas
It is a clear fallacy for computers to take over jobs from lawyers or a robot representing a client in court. This fear goes back to the early 1950’s when the concept of machine autonomy started to get into the conversation arena.
Back then, AI was still a mythical idea and without anything to support the idea, it gave rise to fears that machines could take over the profession. But as time went on and advanced technologies have emerged, the prospect of AI in the legal industry is starting to become clear and more justifiable.
AI can find its uses in taking over redundant tasks in the firm such as data and profile filing, data collection, organizing case files, detecting fraud and reinforcing the roles of associates in the firm.
Strategic Roles for Associates
AI has defined clear and strategic roles for legal associates by embracing the growing number of applied technology options that would support the profession.
One of this is case research. AI can improve and shorten research during case studies, instead of eating up precious hours flipping through hundreds of pages for each case.
Rather than taking over the salient research work from accountants, it takes the skill of a human specialist to manage data and information that goes through the AI system.
The data-analyzing capabilities of AI networks in the legal system also provides opportunities to develop and train future lawyers in the industry.
Measuring up with Technology
One key necessity for the legal industry to embrace AI systems is the inevitability of change in applying law and jurisprudence in the technology space.
It brings to the fore the dilemma of a “David and Goliath” scenario where cutting edge technology is faced with archaic regulations. This is one of the primary reasons why the legal industry, to become relevant, must also keep in step with technological advances.
To answer the question if the legal industry is ready for AI? Industry experts agree that it should be, and it is something that law firms and IT companies in Virginia Beach and elsewhere need to join heads to integrate AI and other advanced technology models to the legal industry soon.