The AI Revolution in Law: From Science Fiction to Legal Reality
By: Michael H. Payne
On May 16, 2019, I authored an article that was published in The Legal Intelligencer titled “Tomorrow’s Artificially Intelligent Lawyer Getting Closer Each Day.” In the six years that have passed, the legal world has undergone a seismic shift fueled by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. Far from being a futuristic fantasy, AI is now a practical reality, offering tools that promise to reshape how legal professionals work, collaborate, and serve their clients. This article explores the key AI concepts and platforms transforming the legal landscape, drawing on recent insights gained from closely tracking these developments.
Augmenting, Not Replacing, Lawyers
One of the fundamental ideas is that AI is not intended to replace lawyers; instead, it is designed to augment their capabilities. AI can automate many time-consuming tasks that currently take up valuable hours, such as document review and summarization, freeing lawyers to focus on higher-level activities like strategic thinking and client counseling. This is not just about efficiency; it is also about enhancing accuracy and reducing errors, ultimately providing clients with even better service. AI can also streamline deposition and trial preparation by quickly organizing and summarizing information.
CoCounsel 2.0
Several AI platforms and tools are at the forefront of this revolution. CoCounsel, a Thomson Reuters platform, is an essential tool for legal research and case preparation that competes with LexisNexis. The updated CoCounsel 2.0 boasts significantly enhanced features, including faster processing, the ability to analyze thousands of pages of material at once, and improved document comparison and summary capabilities. It can also prepare case briefs, or synopses, much like those prepared by law students. CoCounsel 2.0 also introduces several new features. The new document comparison feature allows users to thoroughly compare multiple documents, delivering point-by-point results in an easy-to-navigate table with citations to sources. The platform also has seamless integration with Thomson Reuters products like Westlaw Precision and Practical Law, and Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Teams and Outlook. Critically, CoCounsel 2.0 can also directly access documents through server-to-server integrations with document management systems, including iManage. This will eliminate the need to manually upload and download documents.
Westlaw Precision
Westlaw Precision, also developed by Thomson Reuters, is a cutting-edge legal research platform that enhances efficiency and accuracy for legal professionals through advanced tools and generative AI capabilities. It differs from traditional Westlaw in that it goes beyond keyword searching and allows the user to enter narrative prompts that explain the issue to be researched. It enables users to conduct precise case law searches with filters for legal issues, fact patterns, motion types and outcomes, enabling faster identification of relevant cases—reportedly over twice as fast as traditional methods. Key features include Precision Research for targeted searches, KeyCite Cited With to uncover case connections, and Outline Builder for seamless research organization within the platform. The quick check feature stands out as an AI-powered document analysis tool, allowing users to upload briefs and receive detailed reports that verify citation accuracy, detect mischaracterizations or omissions, and recommend additional relevant authorities, making it invaluable for reviewing one’s own work or analyzing an opponent’s arguments. Backed by a vast database and editorial enhancements from over 650 attorney-editors, Westlaw Precision empowers users to streamline research, strengthen arguments, and confidently navigate complex legal questions.
NotebookLM
Another impressive tool is NotebookLM, a Google product that acts as a digital research assistant. It allows users to upload various source materials, including PDFs, website links, audio files, and even YouTube videos, to create a knowledge base. NotebookLM can then answer questions, summarize information, and generate AI discussions in the form of podcasts. The newly released “interactive mode beta” is a game-changer, allowing users to interrupt ongoing conversations to ask questions or clarify points without losing the context of the current discussion. It promises to make research and learning processes more natural and efficient. Unlike ChatGPT, which allows uploaded information to be used for training purposes and thereby become available on the Internet, NotebookLM does not use uploaded information for training purposes and only refers to the sources stored in a particular digital notebook. Its capabilities are truly remarkable, and it has become my go-to application for anything that does not involve legal research and writing. Any document or topic that is complicated can be simplified and explained by NotebookLM.
The growth of AI is exponential, and new platforms and capabilities are being introduced weekly and even daily. Recently, Google added a Mind Map feature that visually organizes key concepts, relationships, and insights from uploaded documents into an interactive, customizable diagram, helping users quickly grasp and explore complex information. The real game changer, just added in the last week, is NotebookLM’s discover feature, which allows users to automatically retrieve a curated list of up to ten relevant web sources, complete with annotated summaries, to add to their uploaded sources.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT, a generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) developed by OpenAI, stands out as a versatile tool capable of understanding both verbal and written input and responding with generally accurate information. Users interact with it by providing detailed “prompts” that guide its responses. It uses advanced natural language processing techniques to understand the context and intent behind the words. ChatGPT draws on its vast training data that is constantly being expanded. The platform maintains context within a conversation, allowing for follow-up questions. Although the free version is a useful place to begin exploring AI, it lacks a number of useful premium features. The paid version, ChatGPT Plus ($20/month), offers advanced models, faster responses, voice interaction, and access to real-time information from the Web using ChatGPT search and deep research capabilities. However, it is critical to note that ChatGPT should never be used to process or store confidential client information because of privacy and ethical concerns, nor should it be used for legal research and writing for the purpose of drafting a final product to be filed in court.
Other Emerging AI Tools
Beyond these specific platforms, several other AI tools are making waves. Learn About, a Google Labs application, is designed to provide information on any topic by offering articles, videos, and suggested questions, though it does not store any information or search results. Other important applications to consider include the use of AI-powered transcription tools, such as Otter.ai and Descript, which can transcribe meetings and interviews in real-time or from audio recordings, saving time in case preparation.
Another area of development involves the development of AI Agents. These are not just chatbots; they are dynamic, autonomous entities capable of understanding, thinking, and taking action to achieve complex goals with minimal human intervention. They can be used for tasks such as legal research, contract analysis, due diligence, and document drafting. The legal field is seeing a shift from AI simply being a tool to an active partner in legal workflows. It is anticipated that 2025 will be the year of “agentics” where many autonomous agents will become available to perform specific tasks.
Mastering Prompt Engineering
To maximize the potential of AI, lawyers must master the art of prompt engineering. A prompt is the initial input provided to an AI system to guide its response. Precise and carefully constructed prompts are crucial for obtaining meaningful results. The clearer and more structured the prompt, the better the AI can understand the user’s needs and deliver accurate, relevant, and insightful results. Best practices include using clear language, providing context, specifying the desired output format, and providing examples. Iterative refinement is also essential, where prompts are adjusted based on initial responses.
Navigating AI Hallucinations
Awareness of AI hallucinations is crucial, which can occur when an AI system generates incorrect or fabricated information. These can stem from the fabrication of facts, logical inconsistencies, or misinterpretations of context. However, thoughtfully crafted prompts can greatly reduce the risk of such errors. Best practices include verifying the factual accuracy of prompts, avoiding contradictions, using clear language, and labeling any speculations or assumptions, including a “heads-up” prompt to have the AI scrutinize its own response before generating an answer can further minimize errors. Human oversight is critical when using an AI application, and results must always be verified.
An Exciting Future for AI in Law
In summary, we have come a long way since 2019. AI is expanding exponentially and is fundamentally changing the legal profession. By understanding these new tools and following best practices, legal professionals can take advantage of the power of AI to enhance their practices. However, it is critical to approach AI adoption with caution, always prioritizing ethical obligations and client confidentiality. As AI continues to evolve, staying informed will be essential for lawyers wishing to remain competitive and provide the best possible service to their clients. As has been stated many times, “AI will not replace lawyers anytime soon, but lawyers who embrace AI will replace those who don’t.” In fact, according to the principle known as the “Jevons Paradox,” it is likely that increased efficiency from AI may lead to an increase in the consumption of legal services rather than a decrease, as some fear. This may result in lawyers doing more thorough work and serving more clients. The technology is constantly evolving, and it is a truly exciting time.
Reprinted with permission from the April 17, 2025 edition of “The Legal Intelligencer” © 2025 ALM Media Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited. For information, contact 877-257-3382, reprints@alm.com or visit www.almreprints.com.
