How are law firms benefiting from generative AI research tools?

Law firms have embraced AI-powered research tools. We take a look at how that’s going.

In this episode, we look inside a firm that has adopted generative AI in its legal practice. We examine the benefits the firm is getting from AI research tools, what is working well, how the firm has adapted its operations, and how new strategies are emerging through this legal technology.

Guests:

Daniel Knight - partner and member of the AI Solutions Group at global law firm, K&L Gates.

James Jarvis - vice-president of global legal solutions, Thomson Reuters.

In the past year the industry’s use of AI for research has moved from promise to practice. This episode digs into the reality of working with the assistance of generative AI research tools in daily legal workflows.

Daniel Knight brings us his perspective from K&L Gates, where he sits on the firm’s global AI solutions group, looking at how to unlock the potential of AI-powered tools.

“We see the possibility to do what we are already doing but to do it more efficiently,” he says. “Generative AI tools give us the opportunity to look at new services for our clients. It’s not just about saving time but unlocking new service offerings.”

Reflecting on his experiences working with generative AI research tools, Knight says they can help to round out a picture, adding additional context and colour that might not have been uncovered through traditional research methods. The “back and forth” of engaging with these tools also creates a more natural process for refining results, Knight says.

James Jarvis leads the development of Westlaw Precision Australia, an AI-powered legal research platform, at Thomson Reuters. He shares what he hears from the wider industry on conducting research using AI tools. He sees efficiency, accuracy and comprehensiveness as some of the key values on offer.

Jarvis says tools that allow lawyers to ask questions in a natural, straightforward way work best, “as long as the system can respond based on authoritative, accurate and relevant Australian legal information”.

He adds: “It’s the combination of rapidly advancing generative AI with Thomson Reuters’ authoritative Australia primary law collection, developed in responsible ways by our local subject matter experts, which makes our legal AI skills different and better from others which are hitting the market.”

Knight says: “We’ve always used tools to do our work and there have been advancements in the way we do that. Google was not an approach anyone used 20 years ago. Then it became a compulsory part of the toolkit. I think that’s where we’re heading with generative AI. What it looks like in six to 12 months is not yet known, but it’s an exciting space to watch.”

Credits:

The AI and the Law podcast is produced by Guardian Labs Australia.

Host: Seamus Byrne.

Guardian Labs producer: Minsoo Park.

Executive producer and Guardian Labs head of content: Nicola Harvey.

Sound editor: Seamus Byrne.