Not too long ago, legal tech became one of the biggest changes and concerns for lawyers and other legal professionals. Now, with AI for lawyers, one of the most common fears is replacement. How will AI for lawyers affect you? Will you become obsolete? How much will your role and responsibilities change? Do you have to use legal AI?

Read more: AI for Lawyers: Will Your Role Change? 

Can Gen AI Replace Lawyers?

The short answer is no. Gen AI will not replace lawyers. One reason why gen AI will not replace lawyers is…drum roll, please…the human touch and interaction that a layperson needs when their life experience makes hiring an attorney necessary or when hiring an attorney removes at least some of the stress they’re experiencing. 

Sure, gen AI can answer questions; maybe it can (at least occasionally) accurately answer a question of law. If you’ve used the generative AI feature that is now part of Google’s search functionality to do any amount of research recently, then you know they include a disclaimer explaining that the provided results do not constitute legal advice. It also suggests contacting an attorney.

Here is a search I performed specifically for this piece:

Generative AI Is a Tool, Not an Attempt to Replace You

Yes, generative AI “passed” the bar exam and other professional-level licensing exams. However, we also know that generative AI that is not specifically designed for the legal industry can also provide a user with imaginary supporting case law. Providing non-existent case law doesn’t make chatgpt bad any more than automation or actual legal AI will replace lawyers. How can that be? It boils down to one concept: lawyers have an ethical duty to supervise. And all AI, from chatgpt to Google’s gen AI to legal AI, requires supervision. Human supervision helps you weed out serious issues (such as non-existent supporting cases). Supervision isn’t just sitting at your laptop or desktop while it does all the work. Supervision is an active process. You wouldn’t submit a brief or other legal document to the court that was solely written by your paralegal, legal assistant, or even a newly licensed lawyer. You would take the time to actively read and review it for any necessary changes before it is filed. 

You are a necessary component to the successful use of legal AI. Your job as a lawyer isn’t going anywhere. Legal AI is one more tool in your arsenal that is available to help you.   

Will Paralegals Be Replaced by AI? 

So, what about paralegals? Will paralegals be replaced by AI? The short answer, again, is no. Paralegals play an important role in the law office. Consider your own experiences when interacting with automated phone systems, poorly designed and executed chatbots, and even self-checkout. Poorly designed automated phone systems are frustrating. How many times in the last year did you work harder than you should have to get to a representative? How many times have you tried a chatbot on a website to get some information and you didn’t find what you needed? How many times in the last year did you use self-checkout and end up requiring the help of the person overseeing it? 

The point is that any time you need help with those particular things, you can contact a human to get help. Not all clients and prospective clients will be tech-savvy. Also, not all attorneys, regardless of their age or tech experience, will understand how to use any type of legal tech, let alone AI for lawyers. It could very well be that a paralegal’s ability to learn how to use various AI tools may be more sought after and have an advantage in the job market…especially since both LexisNexis and Westlaw now include gen AI components. 

Is It Really Necessary to Utilize AI for Lawyers?

It isn’t necessary to use AI for lawyers. You have the option to continue to engage in legal research and writing, client engagement, document assembly, and all of the other manual processes you already do. 

Consider, though, that AI for lawyers is a tool designed to make your work easier. 

Helpful Tips for Embracing Legal AI 

If you’re ready to begin using legal AI, there are some simple things you can do to minimize your overwhelm. 

1. Start small. You don’t need to intertwine every law office activity with legal AI. It’s perfectly acceptable to start with one task.  
2. Choose the legal AI tool that best meets your actual needs. It can be prudent to choose a legal AI tool with lots of bells and whistles in the future. However, it’s just fine to choose a legal AI tool that only does one or two things that you want it to do.  
3. Remember that AI for lawyers isn’t meant to replace you. It is a tool to help you. Over time, you may find that using it provides you with more time to put your focus on tasks that require your full attention as an attorney. Those tasks are things that only you can do as a member of the bar in your jurisdiction. 

Get Legal AI You Can Trust

While generative AI is a great tool, it’s certainly not perfect. Remember that even Google’s generative AI embedded in its search will tell users that what it provides isn’t legal advice and that they should consider speaking with an attorney in their location. Only a licensed attorney may provide legal advice. 

Improve your use of AI by choosing a legal AI tool you can trust. Legal AI tools are built for the legal industry. Remember, though, that your oversight is still required. Learn how you can access LawDroid Copilot, our game-changing AI for lawyers now!