After the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, AI became the center of attention for business and legal trade media in 2023. However, despite the hype, generative AI has not yet achieved widespread use. The earliest solutions did not always yield the expected results, and experts are still actively working to develop new AI tools with practical applications in many industries, including legal.
Although law firms that have not incorporated artificial intelligence into their tech stacks and workflows are not behind the curve yet, 2024 will be the year for legal professionals to dive in and see how this technology can work. For those who are resolving to adopt AI this year, here are five practical tips to help that resolution stick:
1. Embrace uncertainty: We are at the precipice of a paradigm shift in the way we work. Technology and processes are evolving at a speed we have never experienced before. Therefore, it is important to accept that you don’t know what results you may end up with, and it may take time to get it right. An adaptive mindset is central to success.
2. Set realistic goals for AI adoption: Most New Year’s resolutions fail when people set ambitious goals without considering whether they can practically accomplish what they’re setting out to do. The same can be said for implementing any new technology in your law firm, especially AI. Initial goals should be designed to enhance, rather than completely overhaul, an existing process. An incremental, pragmatic approach will alleviate concerns about issues such as the much-discussed hallucination problem and build trust among teams that may be affected by the implementation of AI.
3. Create a plan with milestones for adopting AI in your law firm: With any resolution, developing and following a well-thought-out plan and identifying clear milestones generally increase the likelihood you’ll be able to stick to it. A step-by-step plan not only keeps things on track, but also will allow you to evaluate the initiative’s overall success as you undertake and move through a project.
4. Find support: Resolutions often fail when we don’t have a support network to help us work through the inevitable challenges that arise. Talk to your colleagues, peers and clients about their experiences with implementing AI solutions, including their successes and challenges with this technology. Coming together and working with diverse teams to determine what works and what is still not ready for prime time will remain critical in the coming months.
5. Be flexible and be kind to yourself: While significant headway is being made every day in the development of AI solutions and their practical applications in legal environments, know that AI integration might not always go smoothly. Some may feel pressure to have all the answers right now, but be prepared to adjust strategies. And don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t go as planned.
Lastly, remember that the AI you use today is the worst AI you will ever use. It’s going to keep improving, but it will take work to get it where it needs to be.
Source:Attorney at Work
Leave a Reply