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and implications. We're trying to flip those timeframes"
(https://clp.law.harvard.edu/knowledge-hub/insights/
the-impact-of-artificial-intelligence-on-law-law-firms-
business-models/).
Couture writes that 90% of the firms interviewed
expressed the opinion that the additional time freed up
by the use of GenAI will likely improve outside counsel's
"quality of service," not just yield a less expensive result.
Not only that, Couture said that clients agreed with this
expectation and were comfortable with the current fees.
HOW AI KNOWLEDGE CAN OPEN UP JOB
OPPORTUNITIES
AI is already changing how legal professionals
approach their work, but it is also driving broader
changes in the legal job market. Rather than
eliminating staff, AI is transforming existing roles and
creating new opportunities for them.
The 2024 Future of Professionals Report by Thomson
Reuters showed that 85% of respondents believe the
incorporation of AI into their practices will require them
to take on new roles and learn new skills (https://legal.
thomsonreuters.com/blog/how-ai-is-transforming-
the-legal-profession). The report surveyed 2,275
professionals, primarily from the legal sector, who
predicted that AI adoption would create or expand
several new roles. The top four roles respondents
believe have a strong potential for growth include:
• AI-specialist professionals — 39%
• IT and cybersecurity specialists — 37% and 35%
• AI implementation managers — 33%
• AI-specialist trainers — 32%
A recent study from the Center on the Legal Profession
at Harvard Law School echoes this research (https://clp.
law.harvard.edu/knowledge-hub/insights/the-impact-
of-artificial-intelligence-on-law-law-firms-business-
models/). Interviews with COOs and partners at Am
Law 100 firms revealed that law firms do not anticipate
a reduction in headcount. Instead, they intend to
nurture their team's AI skills and leverage them to
improve client collaboration, enhance the quality of
their legal work, and expand their service capacity.
PRACTICAL NEXT STEPS FOR LEGAL
PROFESSIONALS
To get practical, legal professionals can begin by
seeking out educational resources specifically tailored
for the legal field and their own role. These might
include specialized online courses on AI ethics in
law, webinars from legal technology providers, or
workshops from legal associations such as the ILTA.
When evaluating AI tools, it is crucial to approach them
through a critical legal lens. Consider asking vendors
questions such as: How is the AI trained, and on what
data sets? What measures are in place to ensure data
privacy and security? Can you provide case studies
demonstrating successful and ethical implementation
within legal contexts? What are your adoption rates
among existing clients? Similarly, engage your IT team
to understand the technical limitations and integration
requirements of any prospective AI solution.
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, AI is not a threat to be feared, but a tool to
master—and that mastery begins with education. For
legal professionals, the ethical and professional case
is clear: investing in AI literacy is no longer optional; it
is essential.
CHRIS FINLEY is a Senior Solutions
Consultant at Opus 2, a leading legal
software and services provider for Opus
2. Before joining Opus 2, Chris was a
Litigation Case Manager at Cravath,
Swaine & Moore LLP.
