AI Attorneys – Why Bother Going to Law School?
By: L. Michelle Ugalde
With the rapid advancement and integration of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) across all career fields, the fear of virtual replacement is becoming all the more omnipresent. But is this fear justified? For attorneys, the consensus is split. While all recognize that AI is undoubtedly entering the legal field, the divide is between those who are embracing this new incorporation, and those who reject it. It seems that as time progresses, the feelings of the latter are becoming stronger.
The fear of AI replacement has begun by rooting itself in specific corners of the legal field, such as in the Corporate and Business areas of law.[1] Admittedly, these attorneys have been observing their clients’ increased reliance on AI, through a variety of mechanisms.[2] For example, one Washington Post article discloses how many investment firms have been “relying on similar AI models to make, buy, and sell decisions.”[3] Additionally, the article discloses how AI is a central theme in global business conferences, including the exclusive World Economic Forum Annual Conference.[4] Those discussions include debate over the “AI-fueled misinformation” over all sorts of business-related news, and consequently, the fear of harm that will have on the global economy.[5]
Furthermore, Government and International Law attorneys have also been exposed to the cruxes of AI integration. Similarly, these issues also take form in the fact that AI chatbots are both creating and promoting false propaganda.[6] This propaganda specifically revolves around election-related news, knowing of the fact that elections are taking place in a wide range of countries in 2024.[7] Those involved fear the repercussions of disharmony between foreign nations.[8] With the current international tensions, these fears only grow stronger.[9]
AI-generated work products have also been invading the Estate Planning field of law.[10] Generally, Estate Planning attorneys are best known for their ability to create and execute wills.[11] Yet, it is no secret that any individual with internet access can request a ChatGPT bot to prepare a fill-in-the-blank will for them, in mere seconds.[12] With this knowledge becoming more apparent, there emerges a fear that many individuals will believe this AI-generated will is more than enough to complete their estate planning goals.[13] Little do these individuals know that ChatGPT is not informing them of the legal will formalities that are required to execute their wills.[14] Regardless, this lack of knowledge will push individuals to feel less of a desire to pay for the necessary legal guidance of these Estate Planning attorneys.[15]
Consequently, this fear is becoming a much more generalized one, shared between all the legal branches, and recognized by those even outside the legal field.[16] One recent Forbes article discussed how between entrepreneurs, AI experts, and attorneys, the fear was widely spread.[17] Various entrepreneurs and AI experts claimed that this would affect “lower-level clerks” such as paralegals and junior associates.[18] Simultaneously, while the attorneys included in the article were reluctant to admit their fears, they professed that it is almost certain that AI would still “transform the nature of what lawyers do”. [19]
While many will argue about the detriments of AI, the benefits that come with the use of AI are undeniable, and thus, AI is a feature that will eventually be universally incorporated.[20] Nonetheless, the toll this could take on the job market, especially the legal job market, is alarming.[21] Essentially, as time progresses, so could the detriment of the legal field.[22]
Image Source: https://www.discovery.org/podcast/can-lawyer-robots-solve-complex-legal-cases/
[1] Geritt De Vynck & David J. Lynch, AI fears creep into finance, business and law, Wash. Post (Jan. 13, 2024, 10:44AM), https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/01/13/davos-ai-risk-finra/.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] Id
[9] See id.
[10] See ChatGPT, https://chat.openai.com/ (last visited Mar. 28, 2024).
[11] Jesse H. Choper et al., Experiencing Trusts and Estates 69 (W. Acad. Publishing’s L. Sch. Advisory Bd., 2nd ed. 2021).
[12] ChatGPT, https://chat.openai.com/ (last visited Mar. 28, 2024).
[13] Id.
[14] See id.
[15] See id.
[16] Jodie Cook, Will AI Replace Lawyers? Entrepreneurs Share Their Predictions, Forbes (Feb. 15, 2024, 8:00AM), https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/2024/02/15/will-ai-replace-lawyers-entrepreneurs-share-their-predictions/?sh=7f8148ee1978.
[17] Id.
[18] Id.
[19] Id.
[20] See id.
[21] See id.
[22] See id; Geritt De Vynck & David J. Lynch, AI fears creep into finance, business and law, Wash. Post (Jan. 13, 2024, 10:44AM), https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/01/13/davos-ai-risk-finra/; See ChatGPT, https://chat.openai.com/ (last visited Mar. 28, 2024).