Legal Research Guide
Will AI Take Over Lawyers + How to Use AI in Legal Practice
Will AI take over lawyers? Discover what AI means for legal jobs and how firms can use it to work smarter, not harder.
May 18, 2025
Consider you're deep in a legal research project, racing against a tight deadline, when you think, "Wouldn't it be great if AI could just take over?" Lawyers often face this kind of pressure. The problem is only growing as technology advances. Many are left wondering if AI will eventually replace their role entirely. In this guide how to do legal research, we'll explore the potential for AI to take over lawyering and focus on how it can help you research and write faster.
Otio's new AI research and writing partner is designed to help you do that. You can speed up your research and writing process by providing access to various legal resources.
Table Of Contents
Use Cases of AI in Legal Practice
1. Lightning-Fast Document Review
Imagine sifting through mountains of data in seconds. That's what AI does for document review. It’s not just about speed, though. The AI tools designed for legal use are precise. They ensure the data you’re working with is spot-on, so you can trust what you see. This isn't some shoddy first draft. It's reliable information.
2. Summaries You Can Trust
Legal documents are long. Often, you just need the gist. AI can read through pages and spit out a quick and useful summary. It can even tell you if the document is relevant to your case. This saves you time while making sure you don’t miss anything important.
3. Smarter Legal Research
Research can be a slog. AI tools can make it faster and more efficient. They can sift through vast amounts of data and give you what you need, complete with citations. It’s like having a research assistant that never sleeps.
4. Draft Efficiently: Briefs and Memos
Drafting a legal brief or memo can be a time-consuming task. AI can do it faster and better. It pulls in the relevant information and suggests language, ensuring you’re not starting from scratch. It’s like having a toolbox complete with everything you need.
5. Contract Drafting Made Easy
Contracts are complex. They need to be precise. AI can help by automating the tedious parts. It cuts, pastes, and edits, making the process faster and less painful. This way, you can focus on crafting effective, airtight agreements.
6. Smoothing Out Correspondence
Writing legal correspondence is different from other types of legal writing. It’s usually less formal, but getting the tone right is crucial. AI can help with this, too. It knows the precedents and can help you draft language that’s been tested in court. Plus, it ensures everything is formatted correctly.
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Will AI Take Over Lawyers
AI's Role in Legal Practice
AI is becoming crucial in legal workflows, handling repetitive and labor-intensive tasks. According to Thomson Reuters, AI tools are used for document review, legal research, and contract analysis. This can save lawyers hours each week, leading to more billable time. The University of Law highlights that AI supports legal research and streamlines processes like contract generation and financial management for firms.
Limitations Holding AI Back
AI has its strengths, but it can't replace lawyers completely. Legal work demands human traits like intelligence, emotion, critical thinking, and the ability to advocate and connect with clients, areas where AI still struggles. Plus, AI can make factual errors, known as "hallucinations," which can lead to significant legal mistakes. Human oversight is crucial for checking AI outputs and ensuring they're correct.
Impact on the Legal Profession
While AI isn't set to replace lawyers, it is changing the legal field. Junior lawyers might see AI taking over some of their tasks, like reviewing large amounts of content. Still, they are key in generating billable hours and could become future firm leaders. Additionally, AI's rise calls for new legal frameworks related to ethics, privacy, and intellectual property, which need human legal expertise to develop and manage.
For those navigating the complexities of legal research and writing, let Otio be your AI research and writing partner—try Otio for free today!
8 Tips for Lawyers to Use AI
1. Streamline Research with Otio
Otio is an advanced tool for handling content overload in legal practice. It consolidates your research tools into one AI-native workspace. Otio allows you to collect data from diverse sources, like bookmarks, tweets, books, and YouTube videos. It then helps extract important insights through AI-generated notes and source-grounded Q&A chats.
Finally, Otio assists in drafting outputs using your gathered data, speeding up your journey from reading list to first draft. It’s ideal for creating research papers and essays faster, while its web scraping feature offers access to a broad range of data beyond traditional legal sources. Researchers love its ability to chat with individual links or entire knowledge bases, mimicking ChatGPT interactions. Make Otio your AI research assistant—try it for free today!
2. Ask Clear and Specific Questions
When using AI in legal practice, clarity is key. Detailed and specific prompts yield more relevant responses. Instead of vague questions like "What's important in a contract?" specify the type and context, such as "What are critical clauses in a software development contract to protect intellectual property?" This works like asking for a specific tool at a hardware store instead of a general one; you're more likely to get the precise help you need.
3. Add Context for Precision
Providing context helps AI understand your question’s framework. If you’re inquiring about legal standards, include jurisdiction details or case particulars. For instance, "In New York real estate law, what are a landlord’s obligations regarding security deposits?" This is like seeking workout advice without context; without context, you might end up with a generic plan. Adding details ensures tailored, accurate guidance.
4. Break Down Complex Queries
Complex questions can overwhelm AI, so break them down for better results. Instead of asking for a complete 40-page motion draft, request separate sections like an introduction, analysis, or summary. Think of it like cooking a meal: following step-by-step instructions is more effective than tackling everything at once. This approach ensures thorough and coherent responses.
5. Follow Up for Clarity
If an answer isn’t clear, ask follow-up questions. This iterative process refines the information you receive. For example, "Can you clarify how the ruling in Case X applies to contributory negligence?" It’s like getting vague dietary advice from a doctor; you’d want to ask for specifics to make informed changes.
6. Verify for Accuracy
Always cross-check AI-generated information with trusted sources. Although AI is improving, it can still make errors, like inventing cases or misapplying laws. Treat AI output like getting a recipe from a friend and verify the steps before cooking to ensure accuracy. Legal work has high stakes, so double-checking is crucial to avoid mistakes.
7. Use Specialized Tools
Ensure you’re using the right AI tools for specific tasks. Use functions designed to search legal databases rather than general search engines for legal research. It’s like choosing a professional camera for nighttime photography instead of a smartphone; specialized tools deliver better results.
8. Know the Limitations
Be aware of AI’s limitations, like its inability to access real-time internet data or perform complex calculations. Adjust your expectations and supplement work with other technologies or your searches. Consider it like using an outdated GPS supplement with live traffic updates for a smoother journey. LLMs excel with familiar topics but falter with the unknown.
10 Best AI Tools for Lawyers
1. Otio: Transforming Research Workflows
Otio is your ultimate research assistant, especially in a content-rich world. It consolidates scattered tasks into one seamless AI-native workspace. Otio allows you to gather diverse data sources, from bookmarks and tweets to YouTube videos. It helps extract vital insights with AI-generated notes and source-based Q&A, then assists in drafting your outputs.
This tool speeds up the journey from reading list to first draft, making it invaluable for researchers. Standout features include AI-generated notes on all bookmarks, interactive chats with individual links or entire knowledge bases, and AI-assisted writing. Plus, Otio’s web scraping capabilities broaden your research horizons.
2. ROSS Intelligence: Revolutionizing Legal Research
ROSS Intelligence leverages Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning to transform legal research. This AI tool swiftly scans legal databases, case law records, and statutory laws to deliver precise, relevant precedents and insights. An example of its impact: ROSS Intelligence helped BakerHostetler, a global law firm, cut legal research time by 60%, allowing attorneys to focus more on client representation and litigation strategies.
3. Casetext (CARA AI): Enhancing Legal Brief Analysis
Casetext’s CARA AI is a game-changer for analyzing legal briefs. Using NLP and Legal AI Algorithms, it compares legal briefs, judicial opinions, and case citations, suggesting stronger arguments and precedents. For instance, WilmerHale, a top litigation firm, reported a 40% reduction in the time spent preparing legal briefs with CARA AI, enhancing case preparation accuracy.
4. Kira Systems: Streamlining Contract Analysis
Kira Systems utilizes NLP and Contract Automation to enhance contract analysis. It extracts key contract clauses and terms, reducing legal review time while improving risk assessment and compliance. Deloitte’s implementation of Kira Systems reduced contract review time by 80%, significantly saving legal expenses and minimizing human errors.
5. DoNotPay: Empowering Consumers with Legal Assistance
DoNotPay uses AI-powered chatbots and NLP to automate legal tasks like disputing parking tickets, filing small claims, and generating legal documents. This tool has helped consumers successfully appeal over $4 million in fines, making legal services more affordable and accessible.
6. RAVN (iManage RAVN): Simplifying Document Automation
iManage RAVN employs Machine Learning and NLP to automate document classification, retrieval, and summarization, simplifying legal workflows. Clifford Chance, a global law firm, implemented iManage RAVN to reduce document search time by 65%, boosting efficiency in case preparation.
7. Bloomberg Law: Navigating Regulatory Compliance
Bloomberg Law uses NLP and Predictive Analytics to provide real-time updates on legislation changes, industry regulations, and compliance risks. This AI tool has helped multinational corporations comply with evolving data privacy laws, reducing risk exposure.
8. Eigen Technologies: Elevating Risk Assessment
Eigen Technologies harnesses Deep Learning and Pattern Recognition to scan legal documents, regulatory filings, and compliance reports. It flags risks and unusual contract terms, improving risk assessment efficiency. Financial institutions using Eigen Technologies improved risk assessment efficiency by 45%, reducing regulatory penalties.
9. JPMorgan Chase (COIN AI): Improving Compliance and Risk Management
JPMorgan Chase’s COIN AI employs NLP and Automated Risk Analysis to review complex legal contracts. It identifies real-time risks, errors, and compliance gaps, saving time and resources. COIN AI analyzed 12,000 contracts in seconds, reducing legal work that took 360,000 hours annually.
10. Luminance: Perfecting Due Diligence
Luminance leverages Deep Learning and Data Clustering to analyze thousands of legal documents, detecting anomalies, risks, and compliance issues. This AI tool has helped Slaughter and May, a multinational law firm, save 75% of due diligence time, accelerating M&A transactions.
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Supercharge Your Researching Ability With Otio — Try Otio for Free Today
Are you buried under a mountain of links, papers, and notes? That's the reality for many researchers today. With the surge in user-generated content, managing information has become a nightmare. Enter Otio. This AI-native workspace simplifies the process by providing a one-stop solution for collecting, extracting, and creating. Imagine grabbing data from tweets, videos, and books, then letting AI summarize and chat about it with you. Finally, use those insights to draft your work. Otio is built to handle the chaotic nature of modern research, pulling from diverse sources with ease. It's not just about finding information, it's about using it effectively.
Transforming How We Consume Information
The world is drowning in content, and researchers are trying to stay afloat. Otio is like a lifeline, helping you collect diverse information with ease. This tool streamlines the process, whether you’re pulling from social media, books, or videos. It’s not just about gathering data; it’s about making sense of it quickly. Think of Otio as your assistant, ready to fetch and organize whatever you need. It’s an intuitive way to manage the deluge of information we all face.
AI-Powered Notes and Conversations
Who has time to watch an entire YouTube video or read a lengthy article? Otio’s AI-generated notes are like cheat sheets for busy people. Quickly understand the key points without getting bogged down in details. If you want more info, just chat using the link. It’s like having a conversation with your research. This feature is a game-changer for anyone who wants to make the most of their time. It’s all about efficiency, helping you get the most critical insights.
Drafting Made Effortless
Writing is hard, but Otio makes it easier. Once you’ve collected and analyzed your sources, use AI to help draft your work. It’s like having a co-writer who never gets tired. This tool takes the stress out of starting from scratch, helping you turn ideas into paragraphs. It’s about working smarter, not harder. With Otio, you can focus on what you do best: crafting a compelling argument or story. The AI handles the heavy lifting, letting you shine.
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