As artificial intelligence continues to transform the legal landscape, a major British law firm has embarked on an experiment to harness its potential. Linklaters’ innovative approach aims to bridge the gap between technology and human expertise in delivering efficient and effective legal services.
The Evolution of AI in Law: A Step Towards Efficiency or a Threat to Competence?
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools have made significant strides in answering legal questions, but they still fall short of replicating the competence of even a junior lawyer, according to new research. The major British law firm, Linklaters, conducted an experiment to test the capabilities of these AI tools.
Linklaters is a multinational law firm with offices in major cities worldwide.
Founded in 2003, the firm provides legal services to clients across various industries, including finance, energy, and technology.
With over 2,000 lawyers globally, Linklaters offers expertise in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and dispute resolution.
The firm is known for its international reach and has advised on numerous high-profile deals.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has undergone significant development since its inception in the mid-20th century.
The term was first coined by John McCarthy at a 1956 conference, marking the beginning of AI research.
Since then, advancements have been made in machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision.
Today, AI is integrated into various industries, including healthcare, finance, and transportation.
According to a report, the global AI market size is projected to reach $190 billion by 2025, with applications expanding into smart homes and cities.
The LinksAI Benchmark Tests
Linklaters put chatbots to the test by setting them 50 ‘relatively hard’ questions about English law. The results showed that OpenAI‘s GPT 2, released in 2019, was deemed ‘hopeless.’ However, its o1 model, which came out in December 2024, performed significantly better.
The Role of Expert Human Supervision
Linklaters concluded that the AI tools are ‘getting to the stage where they could be useful’ for real-world legal work. Nevertheless, it emphasized the importance of expert human supervision when using these tools. The firm’s research suggests that while AI can assist in legal research by providing first drafts or checking answers, there are dangers in relying on them if lawyers don’t already have a good idea of the answer.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being applied in the legal sector, transforming the way lawyers work and improving the efficiency of the justice system.
AI-powered tools are used for tasks such as document review, contract analysis, and predictive modeling.
According to a report by Thomson Reuters, 70% of lawyers expect AI to have a significant impact on their profession within the next five years.
As AI continues to advance, its applications in law will only continue to grow.
The Debate Surrounding AI Regulation
The rapid advances in AI have sparked a fierce international debate about its impact and whether it should be regarded as a threat or an opportunity. The US and UK recently refused to sign an international agreement on AI, with US Vice President JD Vance criticizing European countries for prioritizing safety over innovation.
A Future for ‘Fleshy Bits’
Linklaters’ research highlights the importance of human relationships in the delivery of legal services. Even as AI tools continue to improve, client relations will remain a key part of what lawyers do. The firm’s findings suggest that while AI can be useful, it is unlikely to replace the ‘fleshy bits’ in the delivery of legal services.
