The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our lives is more than ever. From our mobile screens to our market shopping and anyplace else, AI is leaving its footprint. As Alexa and Siri have assisted in fulfilling our mundane daily routine work, the emerging calls for AI’s fast and technologically sound approach are now stepping into the legal industry.
The legal industry is one of those working mechanisms where physical processes comprise most of its work. From hearing in the courtrooms to documentation, the physical approach has been the backbone of the judicial craft. Nonetheless, in the smart and evolving world of AI-generated machine learning practices, the legal industry now battles its cases with AI by its side, impacting some of the other decision processes.
Below are some of the ways in which AI has opened new avenues and welcomed a reformative era in the legal world.
Some of the most primal functions of the legal industry are based on documentation. Daily, tons of case documents are presented in front of the judges and other relevant officers. These papers are then reviewed by the competent authorities and later on passed to the next procedure of the legal work cycle.
With the introduction of AI’s quick resolving algorithm, these documents are reviewed with the assistance of the data and formula embedded in the machines. Other than automatic document checks, AI-generated machines also assist lawyers in classifying the document into its relevant clause-based criteria thus, retrenching their time and efforts.
A lawyer has to perform a set of roles that starts at counseling and ends at the billing process. An AI-powered device helps in disseminating unnecessary dealings in no time. Other than that, in the due process of managing and creating invoices for the various services, software which are fueled by the intelligence of AI algorithms pass out bills faster than ever.
One of the things that set AI apart from other automated functions is that it can follow up on late payments if they are processed with certain learning algorithms.
Lawyers often have a lot of work on their plate. From consulting new clients to presenting cases at hearings, things are difficult to manage. Owing to these reasons, they often have a legal assistant who assists them in the functioning. Since the assistant is a human, he cannot be at the service of his boss at any time.
This is where AI wins the game. An AI-generated software or machine, be it a phone or certain device is readily available 24×7. A lawyer can set up his meetings, fix his schedule for the day and do what not with this AI assistant.
With the internet boom around the world, law firms have their websites listing their services, etc. One feature that pops up when you visit the website is a chatbot. A chatbot is automatic AI-generated software that presents, greets, etc. whoever clicks on it.
Chatbots guide people, who could be prospective clients on the path they are settled to function. These AI machines can present law firms’ services, a list of lawyers, their expertise, etc. more attractively.
Also, chatbots are useful in generating leads that help in connecting with people who need legal assistance.
However beneficial AI is in the legal arena, it certainly attracts drawbacks that pull the credibility of its usage in one of the four pillars of democracy. Here are some advantages and limitations of AI in the legal industry.
Advantages
Law firms have to research new concepts, laws, etc. Machines that are run by AI codes are a big boost for law firms. Lawyers can easily disseminate useful information and create documents.
Humans make mistakes and that is what distinguishes us from machines. On the other side of the spectrum are machines that do not fall in the pot of faults. Due to this, AI-generated devices can create a huge impact in correcting or nullifying the percentage of human errors in the legal industry.
The legal system involves some of the most fragile pieces of documents. These papers are to be kept in the records of the system where they can be utilized after some days, months, or years.
In cases where AI is used for this purpose, there are chances of a possible leak. Hackers and notorious users of the internet can put in some damage through AI. Hence, confidential documents could be leaked out in no time.
If machines are hired to perform human tasks, professionals would be left with no job in their hands. In the legal system, menial tasks like typing, documenting, etc. are now in the captivity of AI, hence forcing such workers out of their jobs.