³ÉÈËÓ°Òô

Law firms of all shapes and sizes are eager to harness the power of generative AI (Gen AI). By integrating AI into their processes, firms can transform their entire operations and streamline their client services.

Despite still being in its infancy, many are already starting to notice the clear divide between those who have taken a proactive approach to Gen AI, and those who have failed to keep pace.

At Mezzle, we pride ourselves on being early adopters of new technology and fall firmly into the first camp. We believe that AI technology holds immense potential to revolutionise the legal sector. Incorporating it into our operations allows us not only to stay ahead of industry changes, but drive them forward.  

Goodbye to mundane tasks

Generative AI has significantly enhanced our operational efficiency. By automating our routine tasks and providing advanced analytical capabilities, we have streamlined our workflows, and reduced the time spent on mundane activities, freeing up time to focus on the more strategic and complex aspects of our work. And we aren’t alone in believing in the potential for AI to handle routine, time-consuming tasks with speed: according to a recent ³ÉÈËÓ°Òô survey, the biggest AI priorities for UK lawyers are drafting legal documents (91%) and researching legal mattes (90%).  

Using Gen AI tools to support communications-based tasks is also a key priority for 73% of UK lawyers. Our clients have benefited from a faster and more reliable service too, as the technology enables us to process vast amounts of information quickly and accurately.  I’d go as far as saying that delivering an efficient and responsive service is crucial for law firms to meet rising client expectations. A lack of AI integration could result in inefficiencies, slower processes, and ultimately, a diminished ability to deliver quality and timely services to clients.

What’s putting many off, it seems, are the risks: content hallucinations, security concerns, and the technology not being trustworthy enough are the biggest barriers to adoption, according to research by ³ÉÈËÓ°Òô.

Yet two-thirds of lawyers (65%) said they would be somewhat or completely confident using a generative AI tool that was grounded on legal content sources with linked citations to the verifiable authority used to generate the response.

For us, the risks of using generative AI stem from the significant investment in time and effort required to learn and perfect its use. Initially, it took considerable time to train the AI to understand and adopt the appropriate style and operational nuances specific to our needs. As early adopters, we also face the challenge of ironing out various issues that inevitably arise, which can be resource-intensive. Additionally, the substantial investment in time and financial resources might seem daunting at first.

Navigating ethical considerations

While the potential of Gen AI is exciting, firms must also recognise the ethical considerations involved. Prioritising transparency and ensuring clients are aware when AI is being used in their cases is crucial. AI systems should be designed to comply with legal standards and ethical guidelines, and human oversight and decision-making must be maintained.

It's important to remember that AI is there to augment human judgment, not replace it. Legal professionals remain the experts, and the final decisions rest in their hands. Data security and compliance are also paramount. Gen AI systems should be built with robust security measures to protect-sensitive client information, ensuring the AI-generated content meets the same rigorous standards as human work.

Learn more about the latest AI innovations in the legal field - join the Lexis+ AI Insider Programme

The future is now: embracing Gen AI in the legal industry

The future of Gen AI in law is bright. As technology advances, firms will leverage even more sophisticated applications, such as advanced predictive analytics to foresee case outcomes, deeper integration with other AI systems for seamless workflows, and better natural language understanding for more accurate results.

The risk…of not adopting generative AI?  

On the other hand, the risks of not using AI are equally significant. Without embracing AI technology, there is a real threat of falling behind in the industry. As competitors adopt advanced technologies, those who do not keep up may struggle to maintain their competitive edge. The lack of AI integration could result in inefficiencies and slower processes, ultimately affecting the quality and speed of service delivery. While adopting new technologies comes with challenges, the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term pains. By embracing generative AI, firms can position themselves as industry leaders, streamline their operations, and deliver exceptional client experiences.

Learn more about Lexis+ AI.