The Future of Law is Now
Where I share some thoughts from my recent conversation with Rob Hanna
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After eight years of building AI solutions for lawyers, and as we stand on the threshold of 2025, I've reached an unexpected conclusion: we're past the tipping point.
In my recent conversation with Robert Hanna on his Legally Speaking Podcast, I found myself articulating something that's been nagging at me for months – all our talk about "the future of law" needs to stop, because that future is already here. The evidence? AI adoption in law firms has exploded from 19% to 79% in just one year. As founder of LawDroid and someone who's been deeply embedded in legal technology for over a decade, I've seen many waves of innovation come and go.
But this is different. This isn't just another technology cycle – it's a fundamental transformation of how legal work gets done. When I tell lawyers we don't have the luxury of skepticism anymore, I'm not being hyperbolic. I'm watching firms of all sizes either embrace AI as a collaborator or risk being left behind. The questions keeping me up at night aren't about whether AI will change legal practice, but how deeply it will shake our profession's foundations. What happens when we move beyond using AI to build "faster horses" and start reimagining legal services from first principles? These aren't abstract concerns – they're urgent considerations for every legal professional.
If you're curious about what this transformation means for your practice and our profession, read on...
The Future of Law is Now
The legal profession stands at a crossroads. While our industry has historically been cautious about adopting new technologies, the emergence of artificial intelligence has triggered what I call a "sea change" in legal practice. As CEO and Founder of Lawdroid, I've had a front-row seat to this transformation, and I want to share what I've learned about how AI is reshaping our landscape—and why lawyers can't afford to sit on the sidelines.
The AI Adoption Wave: No Time for Skepticism
Perhaps the most striking development I've witnessed is the unprecedented rate of AI adoption among legal professionals. According to the latest Clio Legal Trends Report, AI usage among legal professionals has skyrocketed from 19% to 79% in just one year. This isn't following the typical technology adoption curve with early adopters and skeptics—it's more like a tsunami.
I tell my colleagues plainly: "We don't have the luxury right now of skepticism." Unlike the adoption of cloud computing, which took nearly 15 years to convince lawyers to embrace, AI's integration into legal practice has been swift and decisive. The message is clear: adapt or risk being left behind.
Beyond the "Faster Horse" Mindset
One of my key observations about current AI applications in law is that we're essentially "building a faster horse." Many current AI solutions focus on accelerating existing processes rather than fundamentally reimagining how legal services could be delivered. Looking ahead 1-5 years, I predict a more transformative phase where AI will prompt us to "reduce things back to first principles" and potentially revolutionize how we interact with the legal system entirely.
The Copilot Paradigm: Shifting from Oracle to Collaborator
A crucial misconception I frequently address is the tendency to view AI as an oracle—an all-knowing entity that should produce perfect results. This mindset, I argue, is dangerous and counterproductive. Instead, I advocate for viewing AI as a collaborator or copilot.
As I often explain: "The correct mindset is to view AI as a collaborator... It's a copilot that is there to help you succeed." This shift in perspective is crucial for avoiding the pitfalls that have already emerged, such as the notorious Schwartz case where lawyers filed AI-generated citations without verification.
Democratizing Legal Technology
Through my work at LawDroid, I've seen firsthand how AI can level the playing field between large and small firms. We've developed tools that make sophisticated AI capabilities accessible to firms of all sizes. From AI receptionists that can be deployed in minutes to lead capture systems that help small firms compete more effectively, we're making client-centered innovation possible regardless of budget.
The Hybrid Approach: Combining Rule-Based and Generative AI
At LawDroid, we've taken what I believe is a crucial technical approach, combining traditional rule-based automation with generative AI. This hybrid approach allows firms to leverage the reliability of structured workflows while taking advantage of AI's more advanced capabilities. We've made our platform model-agnostic—supporting multiple AI providers including Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, Cohere, and others—to offer flexibility and redundancy.
Building Community and Knowledge Sharing
Community building has been central to my journey in legal tech. Through founding the American Legal Technology Awards, running the LawDroid AI conference (which attracted thousands of registrants from every continent except Antarctica), and publishing the LawDroid Manifesto newsletter, I've worked to foster knowledge sharing and community building in legal tech.
Looking Ahead: The Continuous Evolution
The rapid pace of AI advancement makes long-term predictions challenging. I've seen how quickly things are changing, with developments like Anthropic's recent computer control capabilities emerging constantly. However, I emphasize that the key to staying relevant is maintaining an experimental mindset and remaining adaptable to new developments.
Practical Implications for Legal Professionals
Based on my experience, I offer several key pieces of advice to lawyers approaching AI:
Start with basic applications that provide immediate value, such as lead capture or client intake
Maintain an experimental mindset and stay curious about new developments
Focus on automation that frees up time for higher-value work
Don't feel pressured to become a prompt engineer—look for tools that make AI accessible
Remember that AI is a collaborator, not a replacement
Education and the Next Generation
My upcoming role as an adjunct professor at Suffolk University Law School teaching generative AI reflects another crucial aspect of this transformation: the need to prepare the next generation of lawyers for an AI-enhanced legal practice. I'm excited about learning from students' perspectives, as I believe the evolution of legal AI will be a two-way conversation between experienced practitioners and new entrants to the field.
The Bottom Line
My message is clear: AI in law is no longer about the future—it's about now. As I often say, "all these references to the future of law that I see out there should be taken down." The transformation is happening at an unprecedented pace, and the key to success lies not in resistance but in thoughtful adaptation and collaboration.
For my fellow legal professionals watching these developments, I believe the path forward requires balancing healthy skepticism with open-minded exploration. It's about finding ways to leverage AI as a partner in delivering better legal services, while maintaining the essential human elements of legal practice. Through my work, I've seen that the goal isn't to replace lawyers but to empower them to work smarter, deliver better client service, and potentially transform the very nature of legal practice itself.
Bring it on 2025! The future of law is now.
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