Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the use of computer systems to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. In the practice of law, AI is being used to automate and streamline various legal processes, including legal research, document review, and prediction of case outcomes.

AI is being used in several legal tech solutions to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of legal services.

Some examples of how AI is being used in legal tech include:

• Legal research: AI can be used to search through large volumes of legal documents quickly and accurately, saving lawyers and paralegals time and effort.

• Document review: AI can be used to review and analyze large volumes of documents, such as contracts or discovery materials, to identify relevant information or patterns.

• Predictive analytics: AI can be used to analyze data and predict the outcomes of legal cases or disputes, helping lawyers and clients to make informed decisions.

• Legal writing: AI can be used to generate legal documents, such as contracts or pleadings, by combining standard language with specific input provided by the user. • Client intake and triage: AI can be used to process client intake forms and triage cases, routing them to the appropriate lawyer or team for further review.

Machine learning is a subfield of artificial intelligence focused on the development and use of algorithms and statistical models enabling computers to learn from data and improve their performance on a specific task.

In machine learning, a computer is fed a large dataset and uses that data to train a model to perform a specific task. The model is then tested on a separate dataset to evaluate its performance. If the model performs well, it can be deployed in a real-world application. If the model does not perform well, it can be adjusted and retrained using additional data or different algorithms until it performs satisfactorily.

There are several types of machine learning, including supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, and reinforcement learning.

• In supervised learning, the model is trained on a labeled dataset, meaning that the input data accompanies the correct output. The model makes predictions based on this labeled data and is then tested on a separate dataset to evaluate its accuracy.

• In unsupervised learning, the model is not provided with labeled data and must find patterns in the input data on its own.

• In semi-supervised learning, the model is provided with some labeled data and some unlabeled data and must use the labeled data to make predictions about the unlabeled data.

• In reinforcement learning, the model is trained to take actions in an environment to maximize a reward.

Clients are aware of technology’s role in today’s world.

To meet your clients where they are demands several things. It demands recognizing that you don’t know everything and be willing to seek out support. It demands using your existing technological tools more productively and learning more about their capabilities. It demands developing an awareness of other technologies that you could be using to benefit your clients.

It’s up to you to decide how you want to make your away in an ever-more connected and yet seemingly chaotic and dynamic world. My simple advice is this: Don’t live in an alternative reality. Accept the reality that exists and learn to succeed in it. Your clients expect you to.

The legal and tech worlds are nearing an inflection point. I call it the tech inflection. Lawyers have a bad habit of thinking that something is hard or complex because it needs to be that way. Lawyers often make things more complex than they need to be.

The tech inflection describes the moment when you acknowledge that something challenging need not be so challenging. For example, before services like Uber, people just accepted that getting from A to B was challenging. After Uber, people understood that getting from A to B could be and should be easier.

The tech The same concept applies to the legal industry and the delivery of legal services. Time consuming tasks traditionally done by humans can now be automated and as a result be done be performed more easily and more accurately such as creating a new client intake form and processing that form, creating a basic will or trust, creating a new contract, or automating the review of a contract.