AI is beginning to change the business of law

2026-03-23 · Source: AI - Ars Technica · Field: Legal & Regulatory — Legal Technology (LegalTech), Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations · Depth: Intermediate, medium

Summary

AI is increasingly being adopted in the legal sector, particularly within England's underfunded justice system, to address issues like court backlogs and resource scarcity. Barrister Anthony Searle, an early adopter, utilized AI to formulate focused questions for surgeons in a clinical negligence case after an independent expert report was declined. He also developed a custom app for calculating damages in clinical negligence claims, analyzing actuarial data to provide precise estimates. While large law firms are exploring AI, actual disruption remains limited, though firms like Shoosmiths and Ropes & Gray are incentivizing AI use. Government reforms propose rolling out AI for case listing, translation, and transcripts in courts. Despite its potential for enhanced research and efficiency, concerns persist regarding client confidentiality, data protection, and the risk of generating false information, as highlighted by a High Court judgment citing fake case citations.

Key takeaway

For legal professionals and firms evaluating AI integration, prioritize solutions that enhance research and operational efficiency while strictly adhering to data privacy and accuracy protocols. Your strategy should focus on augmenting human judgment and expertise, rather than replacing it, to mitigate risks like false information and maintain client trust. Consider piloting AI for specific tasks like complex medical research or damages calculation to demonstrate tangible value.

Key insights

AI offers significant potential for legal research and operational efficiency, particularly in under-resourced justice systems.

Principles

• AI augments human expertise, it does not replace it.
• Data privacy and accuracy are paramount in legal AI applications.

Method

Barristers can use AI, like ChatGPT or specialized medical programs, to conduct rapid research, formulate technical questions, and develop custom tools for tasks such as damages calculation, enhancing efficiency and understanding complex medical facts.

In practice

• Use AI for focused technical questioning in complex cases.
• Develop custom AI apps for specific legal calculations.
• Incentivize staff to explore AI tools for research and drafting.

Topics

• Legal AI Applications
• Clinical Negligence Law
• Large Language Models
• AI Governance Strategies
• Justice System AI Integration

Best for: CTO, VP of Engineering/Data, Executive, Legal Professional, Director of AI/ML, Policy Maker

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by AI - Ars Technica.