I had the opportunity to participate in a Lexis Nexis webinar titled “Efficiency Vs Output: What’s the Point of Legal AI?” The panel, moderated by Matthew Leopold, Head of Brand, PR, and Content Marketing at LexisNexis, featured Laura Hodgeson, Generative AI Lead at Linklaters, and Tom Whittaker, Director at Burgess Salmon. Together, we examined how generative AI is reshaping the legal profession, highlighting its potential to enhance efficiency while posing significant challenges for lawyers, firms, and clients alike.
Our discussion focused on the critical balance between improving efficiency and maintaining output quality in legal practice. AI’s ability to automate tasks such as contract drafting, legal research, and document review is undeniably transforming how firms operate. However, this raises important questions about ensuring that the legal expertise clients expect is not compromised in the pursuit of efficiency.
Laura Hodgeson shared insights into how her firm is integrating AI into its practice, addressing both the benefits and ethical considerations that accompany this technology. She emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability, ensuring that AI tools support—not undermine—legal integrity.
Tom Whittaker provided a client-focused perspective, discussing the growing expectations for faster, more cost-effective legal services. We explored the challenge of balancing these demands with the responsibility to deliver accurate, high-quality legal counsel. Clients are increasingly aware of the potential risks associated with AI, particularly concerning data privacy and security, and they expect law firms to adeptly navigate these complexities on their behalf.
We also considered the broader implications of AI for the legal industry and debated how firms can remain competitive by adapting their practices and embracing new AI-driven tools, all while ensuring they don’t compromise on legal judgment or ethical standards. As we concluded, it’s clear that AI’s role in the legal profession will continue to grow in importance, but the human element—legal expertise, judgment, and client relationships—will remain irreplaceable.
As this technology advances, it is crucial for legal professionals, firms, and clients to proactively adapt to its changes. While the future of AI in law offers significant opportunities, it also requires careful consideration to ensure that its adoption enhances rather than diminishes the profession’s core values.