By Kenny Eliason and Dean Tingey, Esq.
Could ignoring artificial intelligence (AI) soon be considered legal malpractice?
Nevada leads in legal innovation, making use of AI tools not just an option but a necessity. AI is revolutionizing tasks like legal research and client management, becoming indispensable to delivering the best client outcomes.
In this article, we explore how AI is shaping the future of law practice in Nevada, offering attorneys unprecedented tools to enhance their practice.
Revolutionizing legal research
AI has revolutionized legal research, dramatically reducing the time and effort required by attorneys. By leveraging AI-powered platforms like Casetext’s CARA AI [https://casetext.com/], lawyers can now analyze vast amounts of case law and legislation with unparalleled speed and accuracy. These platforms use NLP and machine learning to identify relevant precedents, streamlining research and decision-making.
Enhancing legal analysis
Legal analysis has also been enriched by AI. By synthesizing information from multiple sources, AI-powered software provides a comprehensive view of pertinent legal issues. Like Bloomberg Law’s Brief Analyzer [https://pro.bloomberglaw.com/brief-analyzer/], this technology analyzes patterns and draws connections between seemingly unrelated cases, enabling attorneys to uncover novel arguments and perspectives. As a result, legal strategies become more robust and effective.
Transforming document drafting
AI has similarly transformed the drafting of legal documents. Platforms like LawGeex [https://www.lawgeex.com/] and LegalSifter [https://www.legalsifter.com/] use AI to review and analyze contracts, identify potential issues, and suggest revisions. This saves time and minimizes the likelihood of errors and omissions, resulting in higher-quality legal documents that better protect clients’ interests.
Streamlining case management
AI-driven tools have also improved client communication and case management. Platforms like Filevine [https://www.filevine.com/] that leverage AI offer a seamless way for attorneys to manage cases. Such tools automate routine tasks, allowing attorneys to focus on the more nuanced aspects of their cases and provide a higher level of personalized service.
Predicting legal outcomes
AI also has begun to play a role in predicting legal outcomes, helping attorneys and clients make more informed decisions about their cases. By analyzing historical data and identifying trends, AI can provide valuable insights into the likelihood of success for a particular legal strategy or the potential settlement value of a case.
Expanding access to justice
While there is no substitute for the personal attorney-client relationship, AI also promises to expand access to legal services by making legal knowledge and expertise more available and less expensive.
Ethical considerations
However, integrating AI into the practice of law also raises ongoing ethical and regulatory concerns. Legal professionals must confront questions related to the unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyers and ensure the confidentiality of client information in an era of data breaches and cyber threats. There’s also a growing concern about the verifiability of AI-generated results, underscoring the need for AI systems to disclose their data sources for enhanced transparency and validation.
As the legal community grapples with these concerns, scholarly research, such as the UNLV paper titled “Digging into Algorithms: Legal Ethics and Legal Access” [https://bit.ly/digging-into-algos], explores the implications of AI and algorithms on legal ethics and access to justice. Although no specific guidelines have been issued by the Supreme Court of Nevada and the State Bar of Nevada, attorneys can turn to such research to better understand the ethical considerations surrounding AI in legal practice.
As AI continues to reshape the legal landscape, it is crucial for attorneys to approach these technological advancements with a proactive mindset. Lawyers should not shy away from experimenting with AI-driven tools and incorporating them into their practices, as these tools can greatly enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
However, it is equally important for attorneys to ensure the confidentiality and security of client information when using AI. By striking a balance between embracing AI technology and maintaining the highest standards of client confidentiality and ethical practice, attorneys can unlock the full potential of AI to revolutionize their work and better serve their clients in the evolving legal landscape.
The future is AI-driven
As we look to the future, AI’s impact on law practice in Nevada promises to be both significant and long-lasting. By understanding and embracing the power of AI, legal professionals can better serve their clients and ensure that the legal system continues to adapt and evolve in response to the challenges of the gig economy and beyond. As AI technology progresses, its influence on the legal profession will only increase, making it increasingly vital for attorneys to stay informed and adapt to the ever-changing landscape.
About the authors
Kenny Eliason is a startup founder who runs RECORD (https://www.getrecord.com), a personal injury client management tool that leverages AI to improve case outcomes and streamline client communication.
Dean Tingey, Esq., is a practicing personal injury attorney at Tingey Injury Law Firm (https://www.tingeylawfirm.com) with over 30 years of experience. Dean has always sought to harness technology to enhance his practice and achieve better results for his clients. They combine their expertise to offer valuable insights into the intersection of law and technology.
About the article
This article was originally published in the Communiqué (Oct. 2023), the official publication of the Clark County Bar Association. See https://clarkcountybar.org/about/member-benefits/communique-2023/communique-october-2023/.
© 2023 Clark County Bar Association (CCBA). All rights reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without written permission from the publisher. Editorial policy available upon request.
