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Choosing Your First Generative AI Use Cases
To get started with generative AI, first focus on areas that can improve human experiences with information.
AI will not replace lawyers - it will empower them to focus on strategy, advocacy, and negotiation by handling the routine and repetitive.
Will lawyers become obsolete by 2030? Not likely—but their roles will look radically different by 2025, thanks to AI. According to research from LexisNexis, 82% of UK lawyers are either already leveraging generative AI or actively planning to leverage it. And this figure is only set to increase in 2025. However, this is not just about adopting new tools - it is about rethinking workflows and leveraging AI to deliver precision and productivity.
In 2025, there will be a fundamental shift away from the traditional SaaS model, as legal businesses' expectations of what new technologies should do evolve.
People now expect to be able to ask technology a question and get a response pulled from various sources. This is not new; we have been doing it with voice assistants for years – AI has just made it much smarter. With the rise of generative AI, chat interfaces have become increasingly popular versus traditional web applications. You can now use the technology to address specific elements of a workflow – from reviewing NDAs to conducting compliance checks – and even ask straightforward questions like “show my October profit and loss.” This expectation means SaaS providers need to rapidly evolve or get left behind.
Traditional SaaS has succeeded in standardizing solutions but failed to adapt to the highly specialized demands of legal professionals. By 2025, firms will no longer settle for tools that only solve 10% of their workflow problems and need to be heavily instructed. Instead, they will turn to a combination of proprietary, open-source, and bought-in models – all feeding a generative AI-powered interface that empowers their lawyers, reducing time spent on administrative tasks and allowing them to deliver faster, more efficient outcomes for their clients.
When it comes to the specific type of model we will see transforming the legal sector, the answer is not as clear-cut. Large language models (LLMs), such as OpenAI’s GPT, are highly effective for text generation, however, their general nature often leads to outputs that lack the specificity required in the legal industry. For instance, a general-purpose LLM might draft an email with accurate grammar and structure but fail to include case-specific details critical for legal communication. We have also seen instances where they generate inaccurate or fabricated information, known as hallucinations.
This is where small language models (SLMs) come into play. While LLMs act like versatile legal interns with broad knowledge, SLMs function as expert paralegals, delivering the precision required in high-stakes legal scenarios. Trained on specific datasets tailored to particular tasks, SLMs can deliver more accurate outputs and meet the nuanced requirements of the legal sector. This distinction means that LLMs and SLMs can work effectively together. An LLM might summarise case law across jurisdictions, while an SLM trained on regional compliance ensures that documents adhere to local standards. This dual-model approach ensures not only efficiency but also accuracy.
In 2025, proprietary AI will provide a distinct advantage by enabling legal firms to create models tailored to their unique needs. An LLM might draft a first-pass email, achieving 80% accuracy, but a bespoke SLM refines it further, ensuring compliance with legal nuances and client objectives. Proprietary AI solutions are also more cost-effective in the long term. LLMs, while powerful, are resource intensive, but by strategically combining LLMs with smaller, task-specific models, legal firms can optimize costs without compromising quality. This tailored approach reduces unnecessary computational overhead, making it a practical choice for firms of all sizes.
In 2025, AI will not replace lawyers - it will empower them to focus on strategy, advocacy, and negotiation by handling the routine and repetitive. By using a mix of advanced AI models, it will redefine how we think about efficiency and access to legal services, empowering legal professionals by reducing repetitive tasks, enhancing precision, and improving client satisfaction. Looking ahead, the firms that thrive will be those that adapt, innovate, and see AI as a partner in delivering better outcomes for clients.
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