Contract Lifecycle Management Software Blog | Bigle Legal

Transforming Legal Practice: The Use of Generative AI for Lawyers

Written by Bigle | Jun 13, 2023 11:04:01 AM

In today's post, don't panic (there's no reason to), we talk about how to apply Generative AI in the performance of the lawyer's work. Technology drives professionals to evolve. In today's context, lawyers are continuously seeking innovative solutions to enhance their practice and deliver exceptional services to clients. And that leads them to look at Artificial Intelligence (AI). Yes, we know Artificial Intelligence (AI) is controversial. The use of generative AI by lawyers has already led to serious cases in US courts, and there are even people who are worried that this technology will put them out of work.

As the wise Uncle Ben said, "with great power comes great responsibility", and the use of AI must be proportionate and intelligent. That is what we want to show you today. Join us in this article to learn about some of the great benefits of using generative AI. Discover with us how to get into a Ferrari in every work process.

But, First of All, ¿What is Generative AI?

Generative AI generates new and original content, such as text, images, or even music, using advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques to analyze patterns, learn from existing data, and generate new outputs that mimic human-like creativity. This technology is making inroads in a number of sectors, including the legal industry, where it can significantly enhance the capabilities of lawyers.

The Benefits of Generative AI for Lawyers

Generative AI offers a wide some useful benefits for lawyers. This technology helps them to work more efficiently, effectively, and accurately. 

Sounds interesting, right? 

Let's explore some of the key advantages:

Enhanced Document Automation:

  • It helps automate the creation of legal documents, contracts, and agreements, saving time and reducing errors.
  • AI allows the generation of standardized templates that can be customized based on specific client needs, ensuring consistency and accuracy.

Streamlined Legal Research:

  • Leverage generative AI to analyze vast amounts of legal information, providing lawyers with comprehensive and up-to-date data and key insights.
  • Quickly identify relevant cases, arguments, and case law, allowing lawyers to build stronger arguments and make better strategies.

Improved Contract Analysis:

  • Use generative AI to review and analyze contracts. Identify potential risks, inconsistencies, and contingencies.
  • Automate the extraction of key terms, clauses, and obligations, facilitating contract management and due diligence processes.

Enhanced Client Services:

  • Provide clients with faster response times and improved accuracy by leveraging generative AI for legal tasks.
  • Allocate more time to high-value advisory services and strategic thinking, enhancing overall client satisfaction.

FAQs about Generative AI for Lawyers

What do you think? Given its advantages, generative AI seems an attractive and very useful tool, but its power raises doubts and uncertainties, so let's look at some of the most common questions raised by the use of this technology.

Does generative AI replace the need for human lawyers?

No, generative AI is designed to assist lawyers, not replace them. It can automate specific tasks and improve efficiency, allowing lawyers to focus on complex legal analysis, critical thinking, and providing strategic advice.

How secure is generative AI for handling confidential legal information?

Generative AI systems can be designed with robust security measures to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive legal data. Encryption, access controls, and compliance with data protection regulations are essential considerations when implementing generative AI solutions. Review the privacy policies of a Generative AI tool before using it, to ensure that it meets the highest standards of compliance.

Are there any ethical considerations when using generative AI in the legal field?

Unfortunately yes, we live in a world with many biases based on gender, race, religion and other conditions. AI is trained with data from the world we live in, and therefore, at times, some Generative AI can lead to incorrect situations.

Ethical considerations surrounding generative AI usage in law include data privacy, bias mitigation, and ensuring transparency in automated decision-making processes. Legal professionals must be mindful of these concerns and implement appropriate safeguards.

5 Key Guidelines for Lawyers Using Generative AI in Legal Practice

You need to be aware that this technology is still taking off and it is good to be clear about a few things before you use it. Here are five recommendations that you should follow to the letter because relying on tools such as Chat GPT without checking what they tell you is not a good idea.

  1. Understand the limits of AI: you must know when to rely on human expertise and have it solely assisted by generative AI tools.
  2. High-quality prompts matters: if you use precise instructions and provide as many angles as possible, you will get more accurate results in AI systems with more reliable information. Vague instructions tend to give vague results.
  3. Consider ethics and legality: Address concerns such as liability, privacy, and data protection in generative AI usage.
  4. Validate generated content: human review is essential to ensure that the content created is accurate and complies with all legal requirements. AI is a tool, not a substitute for a human. AI is still a software system programmed to do something faster than a human. It gets it right at full speed, but it also gets it wrong at the speed of light. It is up to you to discern whether what it says is true or not, don't forget that AI does not think and cannot distinguish between right and wrong.
  5. Continuous learning: Stay updated on generative AI advancements and develop the necessary skills for effective and ethical utilization.

AI will always require human judgement to ensure that the final result is truthful, fit-for-purpose and ethically sound

To drive a Ferrari you have to know how to drive it

What do you think about this revolution? If you have read this far, you can see that AI has its pros and cons.

Like all technology, it will improve and it is true that it has the potential to transform the legal profession. Generative AI allows lawyers to focus on high-value activities and deliver exceptional client services, but it will always require human judgement to ensure that the final result is optimal, fit-for-purpose and ethically sound. If you liked the post and want to keep up to date with the latest trends for lawyers, follow us on our LinkedIn and discover with us!