Putting AI into practice

As industries worldwide incorporate artificial intelligence into their work, the need for legal professionals to understand these tools has become crucial for staying competitive and efficient.

But how can legal professionals integrate and use AI in their firms?

The CBA’s AI Technologies in Practice webinar series was developed to answer that question.

“Our goal is to provide accurate and up-to-date information about the legal profession, and of course, we can’t bypass any conversation about AI,” says Christiane Saad, director of the French law practice program at the University of Ottawa and chair of the CBA’s Legal Futures Subcommittee, which launched the webinars in June.

The three-session series was designed to move beyond basic conversations about AI being “magic” and get into the practical aspects of the technology, Saad says, specifically around how AI can be used in legal research, writing and analysis.

Discussions around using AI in law often focus on the ethical and IP issues the technology raises, but Saad says the subcommittee wanted to explore how it can be used to improve access to justice.

“We wanted it to be as close as possible to workshops, providing some practical demos and really practical tips and tools that lawyers can use in their practice.”

Through discussions led by legal experts and people from outside the profession, the webinars took a deep dive into how firms are using AI and how it can develop in the future. Examples include using the technology to analyze large amounts of legal data, identify patterns and detect inconsistencies in legal documents. Other discussions focused effectively using AI for legal writing while navigating intellectual property, bias propagation, and privacy risks.

Speakers shared how to choose AI tools for firms and maximize their use to streamline internal processes for better productivity.

The webinars also looked into the current shortcomings of AI and concerns about equitable access to the technology.

“While we have a clearer idea of where the profession is going and how all these tools will become integrated, what's the core role of the lawyer and their added value? I see some concerns there,” Saad says.

“There is a risk of isolation when we are maybe more collaborating with machines rather than humans.”

She says another challenge is treading the fine line between providing tips without jumping into the marketing of one tool.

With thousands of AI tools available, it’s important to find and apply the ones that are better adapted to the kind of work legal professionals do, while also remaining compliant with the regulatory side of the legal profession.

“As lawyers, we need to be mindful of confidentiality with everything related to our clients.”

Saad says AI tools must be made more readily available to sole practitioners and small firms with fewer resources.

“When we are looking at the future of the profession, some people risk being left behind if they don't adapt rapidly,” she says, noting that smaller firms could become less competitive when big firms can develop or purchase their own AI tools.  

However, Saad says she sees a lot of potential for AI to improve efficiency, communication, and access to justice.

“At the end of the day, this is our goal.”

The AI Technologies in Practice webinar series can now be purchased as a recorded series.