How AI Is Changing the Legal Industry

Can artificial intelligence truly transform the legal profession, or will it simply make lawyers more efficient? This question guided my interview with Deborah Koplovitz, a legal operations executive at a Fortune 70 company who specializes in integrating technology into legal workflows. Through her experience transitioning from a law firm partner to leading legal strategy and innovation, Deborah explained how AI is reshaping the legal field.

One of the most immediate ways AI is affecting the legal industry is by improving efficiency in routine tasks. Lawyers can now use AI tools to summarize documents, draft initial versions of legal writing, and organize large amounts of information much faster than before. Deborah explained that AI is especially useful for creating “the first draft of things,” allowing lawyers to save significant time on basic work. For example, instead of spending hours reviewing lengthy case files or discovery documents, lawyers can rely on AI-powered tools to summarize and quickly extract key points. Deborah even helped develop a system that summarizes legal discovery documents with about 98% accuracy. This allows lawyers to focus more on analysis and strategy rather than time-consuming review. However, this increased efficiency may reduce the need for some entry level roles, such as junior associates or paralegals, who traditionally handled these tasks.

Despite these advancements, AI is unlikely to replace a traditional lawyer. Legal work requires judgment, critical thinking, and the ability to understand complex human situations. Deborah emphasized that lawyers must still rely on “soft skills” to make nuanced decisions and effectively represent clients. This is especially important in areas like litigation, where lawyers must persuade judges and juries, adapt arguments in real time, and read emotional and social cues in the courtroom. These human-centered abilities are extremely difficult for AI to replicate. Even when AI produces useful outputs, lawyers are still ethically required to review and verify all information. Mistakes made by AI could have serious legal consequences, reinforcing the need for human oversight.

AI is also changing which types of legal jobs are most valuable.More simple and repetitive tasks, such as drafting standard contracts or non-disclosure agreements, are becoming increasingly automated. Deborah pointed out that in some cases, “you don’t need a lawyer for an NDA anymore,” highlighting how technology is already replacing certain routine services. However, more complex areas of law, such as litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance, are expected to change more slowly. These fields require strategic thinking and deep expertise, making them less vulnerable to automation. Additionally, clients often prefer to work with real lawyers when making high-stakes decisions, reinforcing the continued importance of human professionals.

Another major impact of AI is how it is transforming the business model of law firms. Traditionally, law firms made money by billing clients hourly, often relying on large teams of junior lawyers to generate billable hours. However, as AI reduces the time needed to complete basic tasks, clients are becoming less willing to pay high hourly rates for work that can be done more efficiently. Deborah explained that companies are already pushing back against paying for routine legal work and are demanding more value-driven pricing models, such as monthly retainers. Some newer law firms are even restructuring entirely, using AI to handle lower-level tasks while employing only experienced partners. These changes suggest that AI is not only affecting how legal work is done, but also how lawyers are compensated.

Taken together, Deborah’s insights suggest that AI will gradually transform the legal industry rather than disrupt it overnight. The most significant impact will likely be increased efficiency and shifts in job responsibilities, rather than widespread job loss. While some entry-level roles may shrink, new opportunities in legal technology, data analysis, and AI oversight are emerging. The legal profession will continue to rely on human judgment, but lawyers who can effectively use technology will have a significant advantage.

From the perspective of a high school student considering future careers, I would rate a career in law a 7.3/10. While AI will automate many routine tasks and make entry-level positions more competitive, it does not appear to threaten the core role of lawyers. Instead, it enhances their capabilities and allows them to focus on more meaningful work. The profession remains stable and important, but future lawyers will need to adapt by developing both technological skills and strong critical thinking abilities.