How To Use AI As A Legal Consultant

How To Use AI As A Legal Consultant

There is no escaping it, AI is here, and it is here to stay. According to recent research by LexisNexis, despite the reputation for being reluctant to embrace innovative technology, 82% of Solicitors are either using or planning to use AI in their legal practice, up from 39% just 12 months previously. For legal consultants, who lack a junior to do a lot of the administrative tasks associated with legal work, for example, drafting, e-Disclosure identification and analysis, and research, AI can be a Godsend. However, it is important to remember Moravec’s paradox, namely, what’s easy for humans is hard for machines, and what humans find challenging is often easier for computers. AI can never replace your ability to look at a client’s situation and strategise solutions backed up by your experience and subconscious knowledge of human behaviour.

Below are a few ways legal consultants can use AI to enhance their practice. But first, let’s clarify exactly what AI is.

What is AI?

The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines AI as “the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.” Machine learning is a subset of AI and uses substantial amounts of existing data to make predictions and decisions. Natural language programming (NLP) is also a subset of AI, enabling machines to understand and respond to human language.

What are the best ways for Solicitors to use AI?

eDisclosure and eDiscovery
Solicitors have been using AI for identifying, analysing, and presenting Electronically Stored Information (ESI) data, usually for legal proceedings for years. Based on machine learning, eDiscovery software allows you to sift through, isolate, and analyse thousands (and in some cases millions) of ESI data. The amount of ESI that may be relevant to a particular legal matter can now be so vast that it would be impossible to undertake eDiscovery manually.

Due diligence
Similar to eDiscovery, due diligence requires legal professionals to review a large number of documents. And in many matters, especially relating to M&A’s, clients need the deal closed fast whilst ensuring all risks have been identified, analysed, and mitigated (if not eliminated). AI-based due diligence software can pull out crucial data contained in contracts, financial documents, and sales information and analyse it in seconds. It can also spot where documents have been altered.

Research and drafting
Both Thompson Reuters and LexisNexis have introduced AI technology to help Solicitors with research, drafting, and extracting insights.

Contract analysis
AI can swiftly identify key clauses, possible risks, and compare contract terms against existing standards and precedents.

What are the risks of using AI in my legal practice?

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has identified three main risks when using AI for legal work:

– Accuracy and bias – AI generated results can be flat-out wrong. This is known as AI providing ‘hallucinations’. The BBC has recently taken Apple to task regarding its inaccurate AI-generated news updates. And because they have been trained on human created content, some of which may be particularly dated, they can include human bias.

– Client confidentiality – this is a critical one for legal professionals. You need to make sure your clients’ data is not only protected from third parties, but that sensitive data is rigorously protected.

– Accountability – whether or not you use AI to undertake part of the work, you remain 100% responsible for the services you provide to your clients.

Paul Philip, the SRA Chief Executive, said in a press release:

“It is difficult to predict how quickly AI will change the legal sector, but increasingly we won’t be able to ignore its impacts.

‘So far it has mainly been larger firms using AI. However, with such technology becoming increasingly accessible, all firms can take advantage of its potential. There are opportunities to work more efficiently and effectively. This could ultimately help the public access legal services in different and more affordable ways.

‘Yet there are risks. Firms need to make sure they understand and mitigate against them – just as a solicitor should always appropriately supervise a more junior employee, they should be overseeing the use of AI. They must make sure AI is helping them deliver legal services to the high standards their clients expect.”

Wrapping up

The benefits of AI for legal consultants, and the industry as a whole are almost infinite. Carlos García-Egocheaga, CEO of Lexsoft Systems, recently told the Solicitors Law Journal

“2025 will see AI being embedded into legal tech to a whole other level. AI, including generative AI, will be rooted in software making it invisible to the user as a technology/tool, but noticeable in the substantial value it delivers.”

The recent Government announcement on “turbo charging” the AI industry in the UK, confirms that AI is the horse Labour plans to back to end low productivity and get growth going. For legal consultants, although risks must be managed, it is a tool that can provide you with the freedom to make your life and time your own.

If you’re thinking of launching your own legal practice in 2025, please give us a call. We would love to hear about your commercial ambitions and tell you how we can support them.

Schedule a call on +44 (0)3300 24 24 20 or fill in our contact form.

We look forward to celebrating your success.