There is no doubt about it, the legal sector has been revolutionized by the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and there is no looking back. This article looks to discuss the impact of AI on the legal profession and carefully highlights the importance of establishing regulations to ensure its ethical and responsible usage.
But what exactly is AI? AI is a form of technology that uses algorithms and a range of data to simulate human intelligence, enabling computers and machines to learn, reason, and make decisions. We now know that AI has the potential to drastically improve the efficiency and accuracy if applied reasonably to the legal sector, while also reducing costs. However, there are also potential risks associated with the use of AI, such as the loss of jobs, increased risk of to err, and certainly the potential for abuse.
AI advantages in the legal sector
One of the major advantages of AI in the legal sector is its increased efficiency. It is known that AI can automate mundane tasks such as document review, freeing up lawyers to focus on more complex tasks. Moreover, AI can also be used to quickly analyse large amounts of data, allowing lawyers to swiftly identify relevant information. This increased efficiency can lead to improved outcomes for clients and reduced costs within legal services.
An example of this was when Joshua Browder created a virtual legal assistant and chatbot service called DoNotPay that provides free legal advice and automated assistance in contesting parking tickets and suing companies. This service has been expanded to include other services as such “robot lawyer” which was set to be the first of its kind in helping a defendant fight a traffic ticket in court.
Another obvious advantage of AI in the legal sector is improved accuracy when it comes to huge amounts of information. AI can be used to identify patterns in data that may be difficult for humans to detect. This can help lawyers to make more informed decisions and reduce the risk of error. AI can also be used to detect potential conflicts of interest, ensuring that lawyers are acting in their clients’ best interests.
Finally, AI can help to reduce costs in the legal sector. AI can automate many of the mundane tasks associated with legal work, reducing the need for human labour. This can lead to lower costs for legal services, making them more accessible to the general public.
Disadvantages of AI in legal
However, there are of course potential risks associated with the use of AI in the legal sector. One of the most significant risks is the one of job losses. AI can automate many of the tasks that are currently performed by lawyers, leading to a decrease in the demand for human labour. This could lead to a decrease in wages and job security for lawyers, but more importantly a decrease in the overall quality of legal services. It is impossible for AI to read small human nuances and understanding feelings involved in networking and relationship building.
Another risk associated with AI is the potential for increased error. AI algorithms are only as accurate as the data they are trained on, and they may not be able to detect subtle nuances in legal cases. This could lead to incorrect decisions being made, which could have serious consequences for clients and the law.
Recently, the launch of ChatGPT, another large language model developed by OpenAI has brought more unrest to the legal profession. This uses machine learning algorithms to generate human-like texts based on input from users. ChatGPT is able to provide information and general knowledge on various legal topics.
Finally, there is the potential for AI to be abused. Imagine AI algorithms that can be designed to favour certain outcomes that lead to biased decisions; a scary thought. Not only could this lead to unfair treatment of certain groups of people, it could also have a devastating impact on the entire justice system.
Many have expressed concerns on the impact of AI on confidentiality and privacy of client information. Our view is that laws should be made and implemented to regulate the operation of AI. This will ensure that AI is used in a responsible and ethical manner that benefits society as a whole and aids legal practitioners and the judiciary in the effective dispensation of justice.
In conclusion, AI has the potential to revolutionize the legal sector further in years and decades to come, but it also carries with it potential risks. On the one hand, AI can increase efficiency, accuracy, and reduce costs. On the other hand, it can lead to job loss, increased risk of error, and potential for abuse. It our view that it is important that the legal sector considers these risks carefully when implementing AI, and takes steps to ensure that AI is used responsibly and ethically every step of the way.
