The emergence of artificial intelligence as a viable tool in the practice of law promises both efficiency and elevated enterprise risk. Integrating AI tools into legal practice without compromising the security of sensitive client information is a paramount concern. In this article, we’ll examine how AI is revolutionizing certain aspects of legal work, while offering best practices for employing these technologies and providing guidance for legal professionals in selecting the right AI products and service providers.

The Intersection of AI and Legal Practice

The integration of AI in the legal sector is transforming the landscape of legal practice, introducing unprecedented efficiencies in case management, document review and legal research. Zach Warren, manager of technology and innovation at the Thomson Reuters Institute, encapsulates this transformation succinctly: “Legal generative AI is supposed to augment what a lawyer does. It is not going to do legal reasoning, not going to do case strategy. What it’s supposed to do is do repeatable rote tasks much more quickly and efficiently.” This shift allows legal professionals to focus on the substantive aspects of their work, ensuring higher-quality outcomes and more effective client service. However, to effectively unlock this potential without introducing material liability and reputational risk, stringent data protection and governance measures are required. Following is a brief rundown of processes where AI will be of value, along with information privacy and risk management considerations for each use case.