
Even the most skeptical among us can benefit from AI
I must admit, it took several continuing legal education courses on artificial intelligence (AI) before I truly began to embrace its potential in my practice. The turning point came when a presenter asked us to pull out our computers and experiment with various AI platforms. I was immediately intrigued. After the course, I began exploring AI in different aspects of my life - whether brainstorming interview questions for a sensitive employee during an investigation, generating ideas for blog posts, or crafting a polite email when I was feeling anything but polite. I discovered that refining my requests led to better results from AI. Over time, my AI-generated outcomes improved significantly.
Recently, I faced a challenging mediation and decided to conduct a pre-mediation simulation using one of the AI platforms. I asked AI to act as the mediator while I presented arguments from both parties. This simulation helped me develop a strategy and plan for the upcoming mediation. I also used AI to edit this blog entry, and liked AI's revisions more then the ones my husband suggested (don't tell him!).
Confidentiality is crucial, so I always avoid including client names or specific facts that could reveal confidential information. I've found that AI performs well even with generalized information. While AI is excellent for generating ideas and brainstorming, it is not always reliable as a source of factual information.
Consider trying AI for your next deposition (e.g., asking how to approach a particular personality type in a case) or asking AI to draft a tricky clause for an agreement on a transaction. Even if you don't use the exact language suggested, the proposed phrasing can be invaluable when you're stuck on how to best frame a question or draft a term.
Lawyers can be resistant to change, but AI is here to stay. Start by incorporating AI into your personal life, let it demonstrate its value, and then experiment with its applications in your professional work. I'm confident you'll find it a valuable addition to your legal toolkit!
How are you using AI in your practice?