AI and the Future of Law
Practising Law Institute
AI and the Future of Law is your essential podcast for understanding how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the legal industry. Hosted by Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard, each episode delves into cutting-edge technologies, trends, and strategies, providing invaluable insights for legal professionals, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of law. Join us as we navigate the evolving landscape of AI, empowering the legal community to thrive in an era of unprecedented innovation.This podcast is presented by the American Arbitration Association with Creative Lawyers, and distributed by PLI - bridging world-class legal education with the global leader in dispute resolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 12, 2026 • 33min
Can AI Make Lawyers Better? Daniel Schwarcz on AI and Human Legal Reasoning
Daniel Schwarcz, Fredrikson & Byron Professor of Law and empirical AI researcher, discusses a randomized trial on how law students use AI to synthesize, apply, and revise legal analysis. He explores why legal training may suit AI collaboration. He highlights surprising long‑term benefits, risks of AI-assisted revision under time pressure, and practical takeaways for law schools and firms.
Apr 28, 2026 • 53min
The Am Law 100 Power Rankings: What’s Changing in Big Law with Jae Um
Jae Um, legal industry analyst and founder of Lumio, breaks down the new Am Law 100 power rankings. She spotlights rising “apex predator” firms and growing market concentration. She outlines different AI investment approaches across firms. She flags shifting client demand, talent mobility, and the quiet risks of client-side disruption.
Apr 21, 2026 • 36min
Jason Barnwell on AI Agents, Contract Lifecycle Management, and the Future of Legal Work
Jason Barnwell, Chief Legal Officer at Agiloft and MIT-educated engineer turned legal tech leader, discusses AI agents evolving from tools into systems. He explores agent-driven contract lifecycle management, using contract data as infrastructure, structuring legal knowledge into reusable protocols, and how legal roles and training must adapt to architect and oversee parallel agentic workflows.
Apr 7, 2026 • 34min
Did AI Just Practice Law? The OpenAI Lawsuit + Legalweek 2026
They unpack a lawsuit claiming a chatbot gave legal advice and even drafted filings. They debate framing AI harms as unauthorized practice versus product liability. They walk through practical AI workflows like using Claude Co-Work for finance and governance. They report Legalweek 2026 trends: ROI pressure, rapid enterprise adoption, and a shift toward agentic systems.
9 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 45min
How AI Is Changing Contract Law with Dave Hoffman
Dave Hoffman, a University of Pennsylvania law professor focused on contracts and AI, joins to discuss how large language models are reshaping contract interpretation and legal training. He recounts using Claude for large-scale analysis, experiments comparing model and human gap-filling, and how automation could change transactional lawyering. They also cover shifts in legal education and the idea of crafting widely usable legal tools.
Mar 10, 2026 • 33min
AI Recording Tools and Attorney-Client Privilege in the Age of AI
AI recording tools and cloud storage risks for lawyer-client confidentiality are explored. State consent and criminal recording rules are discussed. New York guidance on deceptive secret recordings is examined. How recordings may change client candor and the duty of loyalty is considered. A risk-based approach for when to record is proposed.
6 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 34min
AI Agents and the Widening Divide in Legal with Zach Abramowitz
Zach Abramowitz, founder of Killer Whale Strategies and legal tech investor, explains how AI is reshaping law practice. He discusses the move from assistants to autonomous agents. He highlights 2026’s focus on measurable ROI and the rise of AI-first firms. He explores the widening mindset gap between superusers and skeptics and pressure from investors and external ownership.
Feb 10, 2026 • 34min
Claude Code, Vibe Coding, and Creative Lawyers at Work
They unpack Claude Code and agentic AI that changes how coding and knowledge work get done. They highlight junior lawyers building practical tools like automated client updates and time‑narrative fixers. They explore vibe coding as a way to lower technical barriers and how firm culture and structure must adapt to support bottom-up innovation.
16 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 45min
Should Lawyers Trust AI? Inside Harvey and the Future of Legal Work
Gabe Pereyra, President and co-founder of Harvey and AI researcher building generative tools for law, explains how AI is shifting from productivity tool to core firm infrastructure. He discusses governance and human-in-the-loop oversight, auditability and regulating AI workflows. The conversation covers impacts on the billable hour, training associates faster, and why AI augments rather than replaces senior lawyers.
12 snips
Jan 13, 2026 • 31min
Private Equity and the Future of Law Firms: Investing in AI
Private equity is rapidly investing in U.S. law firms, driven by the potential of AI. The hosts unpack the implications of Rule 5.4 and the MSO model as a solution for outside investment. They discuss a North Carolina judge's proactive approach to AI disclosure in legal evidence. The conversation also touches on risks of an AI bubble, the ongoing consolidation in legal AI, and the challenges of maintaining lawyer independence amidst capital needs. Finally, they contemplate how these changes could enhance access to justice and reshape the future of legal practice.
