How Technology Is (or Is Not) Transforming Law Firms

Abstract

In this review, we explore the impact of technology on US and UK law firms, focusing in particular on the recent machine learning wave of artificial intelligence. Technology has not so far ushered the end of law firms as we know them. Adoption of artificial intelligence/machine learning is in its early stages in the sector, and its impact has been constrained by the scope of use cases for which it is so far well-suited. Technology is nevertheless transforming law firms, in the sense of leading to material changes to their current forms, in the following novel ways: ( a) deployment not only in the back office but in the front office, affecting lawyers’ core tasks of advising clients; ( b) opportunities for lawyers to pursue alternative career paths with different skill sets across the profession; and ( c) emerging options for law firms to adopt business models creating value from nonhuman capital and nonlegal human capital.