A few years ago, artificial intelligence (AI) was not particularly impressive. Mistakes in data processing made it somewhat unreliable.
Fast forward to today, and AI's accuracy has become shockingly high, with user interfaces that are remarkably simple. Lawyers are now leveraging AI for legal research, document preparation, discovery, and it generates an unlimited array of deposition and trial questions for witnesses. AI provides lawyers with courtroom arguments, arguably making them smarter than even Clarence Darrow. The legal community is on the brink of a massive AI overhaul.
For medical professionals, AI evaluates medication dosages and diagnostic tests, reducing errors. In radiology, AI has shown to interpret x-ray images more accurately than the best practitioners alone.
There's no doubt that many professions are about to undergo dramatic changes. Law school, for instance, might be condensed into a few months focusing on the Bill of Rights, court procedures, and crucially, how to maximize AI's capabilities. Gone are the days of commuting to law libraries, as documents that once took hours to produce now take mere minutes. Currently, lawyers might still charge hourly rates as if they were working the old-fashioned way, but those days are numbered. When hiring a lawyer, expect them to spend far fewer hours preparing and litigating your case, since the most valuable aspects of legal work involve negotiation and adversarial skills, not document preparation.
A serious issue arises for sheriffs and prison wardens. Many prisoners, unable to afford bail or serving time, are constantly engaged in legal proceedings, filing motions or navigating appeals. Traditionally, they've been limited to pencils, paper, and a meager supply of legal materials. Given the vast resources available to prosecutors, this leaves the accused at a significant technological disadvantage.
The courts will need to address providing prisoners with a form of legal parity when they choose to represent themselves. This means jailers might have to supply computers, internet access, printers, and ensure privacy for inmates. The resistance to these changes will be substantial, but in the long run, they could streamline court processes, saving both time and money.
Currently, the high cost of legal services often prices litigants out of seeking justice, but this new era might usher in a different form of self-representation, making justice more accessible.
If you're contemplating law school, one thing is clear: the legal profession is changing at warp speed.
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