The Legal Field and AI: A Wild Ride
So, as a fresh-out-of-law-school grad, I’ve had a front-row seat to the crazy world of artificial intelligence in the legal field. It’s been a trip, let me tell you. This whole experience has really helped me get on board with AI in my research, writing, and studying.
The Rise of AI in Legal Education
Let me take you back to when OpenAI dropped ChatGPT on us in November 2022. Fast forward to January, and I was already asking law firms about their AI plans in my interviews. Surprisingly, one associate straight-up told me they were lying if they said they were going to use AI. Meanwhile, I was already using AI to study for my finals a month before. Talk about being ahead of the curve.
AI’s Role in Legal Research and Writing
AI has been making waves in the legal world, like when a New York lawyer got in trouble in 2023 for not fact-checking ChatGPT’s citations. Then LexisNexis came out swinging with Lexis+ AI in October 2023. Before that, I was all about Paxton AI.
One of the coolest things about AI is how it can supercharge legal research. These tools can crunch through tons of data in no time and even give you citations to back up your research. This has totally changed the way I approach my research, letting me focus more on the analysis and less on hunting down the right case law. When I was working with the Tennessee attorney general’s Criminal Appeals Division, I’d fire up Lexis+ AI to find all the juicy caselaw I needed for my briefs. Talk about a game-changer.
Ethical and Practical Challenges of AI in Law
As AI keeps evolving, I’m keeping a close eye on how it’s shaping legal writing. Some tools now let firms upload old briefs so AI can mimic their writing style. This has been a huge help for me, letting me learn from the pros and level up my own writing game.
Looking ahead, I’m exploring how AI can help determine the “plain meaning” of statutes. With tools like Alphabet’s NotebookLM, we can base our interpretations on sources from the time the law was written. It’s like time-traveling through legal history, and it’s pretty darn cool.
Balancing AI and Traditional Legal Skills
So, while AI can give us quick answers, it’s crucial not to rely on it too much. We’ve got to dig into the material ourselves and not just take AI’s word for it. Finding that balance between AI and good ol’ traditional studying is key to becoming a kick-butt lawyer.
In the end, AI is a powerful tool that can supercharge our legal education. But we’ve got to use it wisely, with a solid understanding of how it works and good judgment to keep it in check. By finding that sweet spot, we can make the most of AI while steering clear of its pitfalls. It’s all about leveraging technology to become the best lawyers we can be.
