Could artificial intelligence replace the legal profession

Technology including artificial intelligence (AI) is already bringing efficiencies to the legal profession that were unthinkable a few years ago, but there is a long way to go, according to Paul Rawlinson, global chair of Baker McKenzie. He said innovations such as drones and self-driving cars were driving the legal profession to break new ground, while machine learning enabled vast amounts of data to be at lawyers' fingertips, but AI was still being used to augment the work of, rather than replace humans.

Photo: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

“The robots are coming.” It’s fast becoming the mantra of our age. And it comes with more than a hint of threat. I’ve noticed, especially in the last year or so, the phrase has become the go-to headline in the legal news pages when they report on technology in our industry.

For our profession—where for thousands of years, trust, diligence, and good judgement have been watchwords—the idea of artificial intelligence replacing lawyers continues to be controversial. From law school and all through our careers, we are taught that the trusted adviser is what all good lawyers aspire to become.

The most enduring relationships in the legal profession are the ones where the client feels and believes the lawyer has their back. And often, the most valued advice we give clients isn’t just based on how we respond when they ask, “Should I do this?” but on how we respond when they ask, “Would you do this?”

Trust is hard won over time, across relationships and often, for our firm, across borders. But the world is speeding up. Globalization, technological advances, and the Internet of Things all mean there is huge pressure to be quicker, smarter, and more productive. So if machines can do the learning, will lawyers become extinct?

Change Is Happening

The AI that we are seeing on the market now and for the foreseeable future—which I am not naïve enough to put as any longer than three to five years—will enable us to deliver better legal services quicker, more efficiently and sometimes cheaper. But it does not fundamentally change the game—yet.

But change is happening, and being simply a good lawyer is no longer enough. Let’s be clear, this is not new. The financial services industry is going through similar challenges, but there will need to be an evolution in law and regulation to allow the true potential of technology in the legal sector.

If you look at document review, 30 years ago a client would pay millions to have thousands of documents manually reviewed. Thanks to technology, much of that work is now done by machines. Many other legal processes can be automated. AI and the tools that “bring it to life” are more of an opportunity than a threat: a chance to focus on the valuable work for clients; a chance to have more information to empower lawyers to make better decisions more quickly; a chance to offer young lawyers more than spending their first two years in a data room.

This revolution impacts not only how we practice law, but also how the law applies to whole new sectors. Our global aviation group’s first-of-its-kind specialist drone team is a good example of how we are adapting as the world changes. Drones are revolutionizing industries, while simultaneously pushing aviation law’s boundaries because they don’t fit the standard aviation framework, and many companies entering this space for the first time need industry-specific advice to navigate this rapidly evolving legal landscape and use drones to their fullest capabilities.

Driverless cars are another example. When they knock someone over, who’s to blame? Who’s going to pay? Where are the liabilities? That’s a fascinating area for a lawyer.

The Future Is Bright

The fundamental issue is trust. Our human instinct is to want to speak to a human. I don’t think that will change. Trust is what we crave. Empathy, human instinct, an ability to read nuances, shake hands, and build collaborative relationships are what separate us from machines.

As we see, through our long-standing involvement at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting every year, the world has changed more—and faster—in the last five years than in the last 50.

Businesses (our clients) demand that we not only understand the pace at which their sector is moving, but that we as lawyers harness AI to make sure we can do more with less. We don’t just talk the talk—we’ve seconded our lawyers to the WEF’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to make sure we are right in the midst of the changes that are coming and that we are learning by doing.

Put simply, innovation isn’t about the business of law, it’s about the business of business. So how do we keep up? By having better conversations and by having a richer understanding of the world. To listen and learn so we are better equipped.

Investment in tech must be in tandem with investment in talent. Because, let’s be frank, the market will kill those who don’t adapt. They are the ones who should be scared of the machines. For them, the robots are coming. The really wise lawyers, they know it’s not one versus the other.

For those who can find ways to use AI to augment, not replace, judgement and empathy, I believe the future is very bright indeed.

This piece first appeared in World Economic Forum.