“The market is changing from a dormant, low-tech, individualistic system to a dynamic, high-tech, collaborative one.” [1] The question is how these dynamics will affect law firms. Are technological advances in the legal sphere to be viewed as negative or positive? This essay will argue the potential benefits technological advances hold for law firms.
As a result of technological developments, legal practice faces a turning point in which new opportunities, platforms, and careers for lawyers are emerging. New participants in the legal field are entering and reshaping the market.[2] Examples include contract generating software, e-discovery software and legal data analytics. [3] Considering that these advances could end the current lawyer dominance over legal services, lawyers may view these new role players as competitors.[4] However, when considering technological advances from a client’s perspective, one realises that technology provides the client with more options.[5] Innovate lawyers need to familiarise themselves with technological advances and integrate it into their practice to provide a more flexible service to their clients.[6]
Research has indicated that in some cases lawyers cannot compete with technology which renders higher accuracy rates. In a recent study, an artificial intelligence programme, was tested against commercial lawyers in predicting whether or not the Ombudsmen would allow claims in insurance mis-selling cases. The artificial intelligence programme achieved an accuracy rate of 86.6% compared with the lawyers’ 66.3%. [7] This indicates how artificial intelligence can be used in law firms to provide a client with more accurate legal advice.
Another potential benefit of technology for a legal practice, is that repetitive tasks such as the discovery of documents, can be streamlined. For example, e-discovery software can support lawyers during discovery proceedings, by identifying and reviewing the documents that must be discovered for trial. [8] The use of technology can simplify this time-consuming exercise, which will ensure more effective use of manpower in law firms.
The threat exists that technology will replace certain services that lawyers renders and can therefore be viewed as a competitor. It is suggested that in order for law firms to be successful in the future technological environment, they must be able to identify the areas in which they can be replaced and those in which they cannot be replaced. [9]
The above-mentioned discussion highlights the way in which technology can be embraced and used to the advantage of the client and the law firm. Clients can benefit from more accurate and cost effective legal advice, while law firms can operate more efficiently. It can be argued that the most successful law firms in future, will be those that are able to integrate technological advances, while at the same time delivering the legal service that technology is not able to provide.[10]
[1] Jordan Furlong, The Pivot Generation: How Tomorrow’s Lawyers Will Help Build a New and Better Legal Market, 50 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 415 (2017) at page 5.
[2] Jordan Furlong, The Pivot Generation: How Tomorrow’s Lawyers Will Help Build a New and Better Legal Market, 50 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 415 (2017).
[3] Caroline Calomme, Technology and its Impact on Legal Practice, (2017), http://www.lawsocieties.eu/in-focus/technology-and-law/technology-and-its-impact-on-legal-practice/5062190.fullarticle.
[4] Jordan Furlong, The Pivot Generation: How Tomorrow’s Lawyers Will Help Build a New and Better Legal Market, 50 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 415 (2017).
[5] Jordan Furlong, The Pivot Generation: How Tomorrow’s Lawyers Will Help Build a New and Better Legal Market, 50 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 415 (2017).
[6] Caroline Calomme, Technology and its Impact on Legal Practice, (2017), http://www.lawsocieties.eu/in-focus/technology-and-law/technology-and-its-impact-on-legal-practice/5062190.fullarticle.
[7] Polly Botsford, Future of the Legal Profession: AI and Blockchain Prompts Call to Protect Rule of Law and Civil Society, (2017), https://www.ibanet.org/Article/NewDetail.aspx?ArticleUid=d687f278-0edc-494d-89f2-fbf7458ec022.
[8] Caroline Calomme, Technology and its Impact on Legal Practice, (2017), http://www.lawsocieties.eu/in-focus/technology-and-law/technology-and-its-impact-on-legal-practice/5062190.fullarticle.
[9] Blair Janis, How Technology Is Changing the Practice of Law, (2014), https://www.americanbar.org/publications/gp_solo/2014/may_june/how_technology_changing_practice_law.html.
[10] Blair Janis, How Technology Is Changing the Practice of Law, (2014), https://www.americanbar.org/publications/gp_solo/2014/may_june/how_technology_changing_practice_law.html.
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