ABA Journal: Legal Rebels

If you look at this year’s ABA Techshow advertising material, you could be forgiven for thinking that you were reading a comic book. Between the cartoon-style illustrations and the comic book-style captions and headings on the brochure and website, it’s clear what motif that the Techshow planners were going for was. Perhaps that’s appropriate, given how quickly generative artificial intelligence tools have established a foothold in the legal industry. Like a superhero—or perhaps more accurately, a superhero’s sidekick—AI has helped save the day for a lot of lawyers.

Let’s talk about every lawyer’s favorite subject: exams. It seems like every day, there’s another threshold that generative artificial intelligence crosses. First, it was able to take a bar exam and do reasonably well. Then it was able to ace it. Same with law school exams. Right now, AI would probably graduate at the top of its class, edit law review and land a six-figure associate’s job with an Am Law 50 firm. Now comes another milestone.

Oliver Roberts, a legal tech entrepreneur and AI expert, dives into the future of generative AI in the legal field. He discusses the increasing adoption of AI tools, predicting a shift from hype to more practical applications in 2026. Oliver highlights the importance of AI in accelerating young lawyers' careers and the need for federal guidelines to prevent a patchwork of state regulations. He also emphasizes the implications of California's rules on national policy and the necessity for ethical practices in law schools' AI education.

All in all, it’s shown that the legal industry, traditionally known as a staid, conservative and risk-averse profession, is undergoing a period of rapid change and transformation.

Jason Brown, CEO of the Association of Corporate Counsel and veteran in-house lawyer, dives into the rapid adoption of generative AI among in-house counsel. He reveals that over half of in-house lawyers are now utilizing AI, enhancing efficiency and reducing reliance on outside counsel. Jason discusses the shifting landscape of legal fees and how AI can redefine value in legal services. He emphasizes the importance of responsible AI use and shares insights on the future impact of AI in legal operations, comparing it to the internet revolution.

When Clio announced that it had acquired global legal research platform vLex for $1 billion in June, it was the latest in a series of big moves from the cloud-based practice management software company.

In this engaging discussion, Hilary Bowman, a former health-law practitioner and founder of Quirius, reveals how her innovative generative AI tool enhances attorney-client communication. She shares its capabilities, including real-time insights during meetings, ethical considerations, and privacy measures like zero audio retention. Bowman highlights how Quirius balances efficiency with ethical obligations, improves transcription accuracy, and even assists in legal aid applications. It's a fascinating dive into the future of legal tech and client interactions!

For decades, the Uniform Bar Examination has been old school, with bar candidates using paper-and-pencil exam books. But starting with the first administration of the NextGen UBE next year, the test will be entirely conducted on the examinees’ personal computers. The ABA Journal’s Julianne Hill talks with Kara Smith, the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ chief product officer.

Tom Martin, Founder and CEO of LawDroid, dives into the transformative power of agentic artificial intelligence in the legal field. He discusses how AI can handle tasks like legal research and document creation, but warns of risks needing human oversight. The conversation touches on the evolution of chatbots and the pressing need for thoughtful integration of AI in law practices. Martin envisions a future where collaboration with AI enhances access to legal services while addressing fears of job displacement in an evolving industry.

When Arizona changed its ethics rules in 2020 opening the door for alternative business structures and nonlawyer ownership for law firms, it sent shock waves throughout the legal industry. Nicole Miller, the chief legal officer of LegalZoom, speaks to the ABA Journal's Victor Li about LegalZoom’s experience in Arizona thus far, as well as general issues relating to regulatory reform and alternative business structures.