Artificial Intelligence And The Legal Profession

According to Britannica, AI refers to the abilities of a digital computer to perform tasks associated with human beings. According to John McCarthy, the computer scientist who coined the term artificial intelligence in 1956 defined it as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs” Also, NASA defined Artificial Intelligence as “computer systems that can perform complex tasks usually done by human-reasoning, decision making, creating etc. From the given definition, one can infer that AI can be used in diverse ways. According to Google Cloud, AI systems are not just pre-programmed; they can learn from data to identify patterns, make predictions, and adapt over time. The University of Cincinnati also opined that AI has a perception which enables it to interpret sensory input, such as documents, images, audio, or video. AI also has the ability to analyse and generate human language; it is what powers conversational agents and translation tools.

Given the recent revolution of artificial intelligence, can we truly say AI has made an impact? From its functionality in several job sectors, one can say AI has had a profound and undeniable impact on a wide range of professional careers and industries. Its influence is not limited to a single sector; it is a transformative force that is changing job descriptions, creating new roles, and altering the skills required to succeed. Following the latest trends, the impact of AI on professional careers is dual: it automates tasks, which can lead to job displacement, while simultaneously creating new, high-demand roles. AI does not just replace jobs; it often transforms them, shifting the focus from repetitive work to more strategic, creative, and human-centric tasks. AI has had an impact in several fields like the health sector, finance, creative industries, legal profession, etc. The rise of AI is fundamentally changing the skills needed to thrive professionally. As AI takes over routine tasks, the demand for soft skills and higher-level cognitive abilities is increasing.

Delving deep into the topic, one must know that the legal profession is in the midst of a profound transformation, driven not by gradual technological improvements but by the rapid integration of artificial intelligence. A significant majority of legal professionals, with 80% believing AI will have a transformational impact on their roles or jobs in the legal sector within the next five years, are increasingly embracing this shift.

Analysis reveals that AI’s contribution has been an enhancement of legal workflows, particularly in high-volume, repetitive tasks. In all, one can easily infer that AI and machine learning are revolutionising legal research, leading to significant time and cost efficiencies. However, the most considerable impact extends beyond mere productivity gains. By automating tasks, AI is enabling a fundamental realignment of professional roles, elevating lawyers to more strategic, client-focused functions and empowering paralegals to become indispensable data interpreters and technology consultants.

There are notable impacts of AI in the legal profession. One of the transformative role of AI in legal eDiscovery, a very important phase of litigation and investigations that has become increasingly cumbersome and expensive due to the volume of digital information. Contrastingly, traditional discovery methods often require individuals to sit for long hours through a large volume of emails, contracts, and other digital documents, a process that can take days or even weeks and is prone to human error.

Beyond discovery, AI is having an impact on legal research, the cornerstone of legal practice. Traditional research is a time-intensive process that requires meticulously sifting through case law and court filings.

Artificial Intelligence also assists in documentation and contract intelligence can assist in drafting, reading, simplifying, scrutinising and analysing clauses in contracts. AI tools can accelerate the drafting of standard agreements and other legal documents. This process traditionally involves tedious cutting, pasting, and editing, by automating and pre-filling portions of the text from existing data.

AI can improve client response times and engagement by generating customised reports and updates. The ability to offer real-time language translation also facilitates communication with global clients, further enhancing transparency and service quality.

The value proposition of AI in law is shifting from simple efficiency to a strategic and qualitative advantage. The automation of routine tasks, which can save a lawyer up to 240 hours per year, is not an end in itself but a means to a greater purpose.

A Strategic Outlook: The Future of the Legal Profession

The Legal profession’s response to AI is a pivotal moment that will determine its future trajectory. To understand this future, it is essential to place the legal industry’s evolution in a broader context, examining how it compares to other professional services and how legal education is preparing for the next generation of practitioners.

The Legal profession stands at an inflection point. The evidence is clear that AI offers immense benefits in efficiency, accuracy, and strategic insight, with the potential to free legal professionals from the burden of high-volume, repetitive tasks. However, this transformation is not without its risks, particularly concerning ethical pitfalls and regulatory uncertainty that challenge the very principles upon which the profession is built.

The future of legal practice will be defined by a symbiotic relationship between human and artificial intelligence. AI is not designed to replace lawyers, but to elevate them. The most successful firms and professionals will be those who accommodate the partnership, leveraging technology for what it does best – analyzing data, automating routine and providing predictive insights. These also will be doubled down with what humans do best: exercising professional judgment, fostering empathetic client relationships, and providing creative, nuanced counsel.

By proactively addressing the challenges and strategically seizing the opportunities, the legal profession can secure its relevance, enhance its value, and create a more accessible and efficient system of justice for all.

REFERENCES

1.  Bloomberg Law. (n.d.). AI in legal practice explained. Accessed September 5, 2025 from https://pro.bloomberglaw.com/insights/technology/ai-in-legal-practice-explained/

2.  Richter, M. (2025, August 18). How AI is Transforming the Legal Profession. Thomson Reuters. Accessed September 5, 2025 from https://legal.thomsonreuters.com/blog/how-ai-is-transforming-the-legal-profession/

3.  Clio: AI and Law: What Are the Ethical Considerations? Accessed September 5, 2025, from https://www.clio.com/resources/ai-for-lawyers/ethics-ai-law

4.  Firmwise. (n.d). AI in Professional Services: 2025 state of the industry report. Accessed September 5, 2025, from https://www.firmwise.io/post/ai-professional-services-2025

5.  American Bar Association. (n.d.). AI in Legal Education. Accessed September 5, 2025, from https://www.americanbar.org/groups/centers_commissions/center-for-innovation/artificial -intelligence/ai-in-legal-education

This article is authored by Olayinka Daniel, Law Student from Nigeria and Trainee of Lets Learn Law Legal Research Training Programme. The views and opinions expressed in this piece are solely those of the author.