With each passing year, technology becomes more powerful, extending its influence into new areas. It’s no surprise that it has now made its mark on the legal field. During the pandemic, courts swiftly transitioned to virtual courtrooms to keep the justice system moving. Although most courtrooms have since returned to in-person sessions, virtual courtrooms remain in use for certain cases. It’s clear that technology is reshaping how legal services are delivered and it’s necessary to understand how to embrace technology while also maintaining the human element of the legal profession.
I. Stephanie Boyce, solicitor and former President of the Law Society, emphasises this balance between innovation and tradition:
“Artificial intelligence is an amazing tool, but there are some things that humans will still need a human being to input in. It is going to disrupt possibly the way that we provide our services as lawyers and legal services”
In this blog, we’ll explore the immense potential of AI and technology in the legal field, while also discussing where technology falls short and why certain aspects of legal work still demand a human touch.
The Increase of Technology
Over the past decade, technology and software specifically designed for the legal industry have seen significant growth. A major driver of this advancement is AI, with AI-powered document review systems that can analyse huge amounts of case law and legal texts to find relevant information. This technology can save lawyers countless hours of manual labor, allowing them to focus more on strategy and less on administrative tasks.
Additionally, predictive analytics can assess the likely outcomes of legal cases, and virtual legal assistants can provide basic legal advice to clients. These advancements have not only improved efficiency but have also made legal services more accessible to a broader audience.
The Challenges of AI
While there are many benefits to integrating AI into the legal field, there are also some challenges.
AI can handle repetitive tasks and analyse data with precision, but it does not possess the nuanced understanding and ethical judgment that humans do which is so critical in the legal practice. For instance, AI can assist in drafting contracts, but the final review and interpretation require a lawyer’s expertise to ensure that the document accurately reflects the client’s intentions and complies with legal standards.
Ethical Concerns
Not only are there technical questions that surround AI integration, there’s also ethical ones. There are two main ethical concerns when it comes to AI: bias and accountability. Since AI systems learn from existing data, they can inadvertently perpetuate existing biases, leading to unfair outcomes. In legal contexts where impartiality is of great importance, this is particularly concerning.
The second concern is around the issue of accountability. Who is responsible for the decisions made by an AI system? Who do you look to when there is an error or injustice? It is not an easy task to determine, so legal professionals must play an active role in overseeing the use of AI, ensuring that these systems are used responsibly and do not undermine the principles of justice.
The Future of Legal Services
Just as in almost every other industry, technology will continue to evolve with the law field. New technologies will likely become even more integrated into daily practice, allowing for professionals to work faster and with greater accuracy. However, the human element will remain essential. Legal professionals bring empathy, ethical judgment, and a deep understanding of the law—qualities that technology cannot replicate.
To thrive in this changing landscape, legal professionals must embrace innovation while staying true to the core values of their profession. Continuous learning and adaptation will be key.
It’s hard not to be excited when hearing about all the new opportunities and capabilities that technology can offer within the legal field. However, as Stephanie Boyce reminds us, there is a critical balance to be struck. Ethical judgement, empathy, and experience cannot be replaced by technology, they are uniquely human.
As we move forward, the challenge for the legal profession will be to harness the power of AI and technology while preserving the values that define the practice of law. By doing so, we can ensure that the future of legal services is both innovative and just.
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It was a privilege to have Stephanie on the latest episode of Greatest Minds. To listen to the full episode, see here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1T2he9ZXhMjVhQw58MNd8h?si=0shnWfycSl6Xfn5l96xpQg
To listen to other Greatest Minds episode, see here: https://thepodcastguys.co.uk/greatest-minds/
For more information on Stephanie, you can find her here at: https://www.istephanieboyce.com/ or get in contact with her on her various social media channels!