AI is slowly making inroads into legal firms — large, medium and small — and is also being adopted by independent practitioners.
Automation of workflow is growing, and it makes a perceptible difference. AI takes over tasks traditionally handled by lawyers. This reduces billable hours and fees for the clients. Some boutique law firms, where AI is used to automate workflow, the delivery is faster and there is more contextual work. These expert-driven firms become more competitive. New age firms can also effectively compete with legacy firms. Smaller firms find technology and AI as enablers. It is almost like having an associate attached to an associate who can handle checklists, data tracking, drafting etc. It frees lawyers for exercising their core competence more effectively — high value advisory work, complex litigation and transactional services. In bigger firms, multiple associates are involved in basic tasks, leading at times to disprortionately higher fees.
India’s legal firms both big and small have shed their tech-averse image and adopted AI with a bang. Shardul Mangaldas (SAM) has tied up with Harvey, a generative AI platform and has adopted its full AI suite across its seven offices. It strengthens legal innovation, contract drafting, due diligence, legal research and predictive analysis. Khaitan and Co. has designed their in-house AI platform — KAI (Khaitan AI). AI is being used for information retrieval.
Adoption rate varies. Metro and top-tier firms are early adaptors. Smaller and regional firms still hesitate due to lack of awareness, costs involved, and level of tech expertise required.
AI should enhance efficiency without compromising quality and client confidentiality. We should harness the benefits of AI judiciously.
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