Digital White Papers

I L T A W H I T E P A P E R | K N O W L E D G E M A N A G E M E N T & M A R K E T I N G T E C H N O L O G I E S 16 H U M A N I Z I N G S E A R C H : H O W N L S M O B I L I Z E S K N O W L E D G E I N S I G H T S & D R I V E S T O O L A D O P T I O N Regardless of the search system, the adage "Garbage-in, garbage- out" rings true. Like any search function, the data set relevant to an NLS must be appropriately structured, labeled, and present to produce relevant, reliable results. With properly structured data, any search system's efficacy is contingent upon the alignment with user experience. A purpose- built search system must create a throughline from the data structure to search experience to results. The secret sauce of NLS is search relevance. Neither NLS nor semantic search inherently dictate a ranking algorithm. Instead, result ranking occurs by the logic of the algorithm builder. Creating a successful search relevance algorithm distinguishes a frustrating NLS experience from a seamless one, and entire companies thrive because they have a better algorithm, such as Google. An NLS-enabled future An NLS-enabled future promises a fundamental shift in how lawyers engage with firm knowledge, reducing friction and mobilizing the total value of the knowledge set. NLS allows lawyers to investigate their data better, extracting value from knowledge systems quickly and efficiently and increasing work quality. By reducing the time and friction associated with traditional search methodologies, NLS shifts the focus from tedious information retrieval to higher-value, strategic tasks. NLS helps junior lawyers, who have less exposure to navigating firm knowledge systems over time. Boolean and lexical search methods require understanding the firm's historical institutional knowledge to navigate best. However, with an NLS system, junior lawyers can search with a general understanding of the context and find relevant results. This democratization of information empowers lawyers at all levels to autonomize their learning and find gold standard example language from colleagues. A successful NLS system does not just reduce time spent on searches. It democratizes insights, empowers informed decision- making, and ensures that lawyers can focus on their core expertise, applying strategic legal analysis to achieve the best outcomes for their clients. Conclusion Technology must prioritize an alignment with how lawyers think and work to bridge the gap between available legal technology and the industry's resistance to adoption. As legal professionals continue to adopt new technologies, NLS is an important step toward making legal technology both more accessible and more impactful. Firms that recognize this can equip their lawyers to work smarter, faster, and with greater confidence, ultimately leading to better outcomes for both firms and their clients. ILTA James Ding is the CEO and co-founder of DraftWise, an AI contract drafting, review, and negotiation platform grounded in legal precedent. Prior to founding DraftWise, he led teams at Palantir developing big data AI solutions and has invented multiple patents in data security, machine learning, and cloud computing. For fun, he loves to bake bread and play tennis.

• Cover