JD Jnl
Corporate law departments and their outside law firms share a common belief: generative AI, along with public-facing platforms like ChatGPT, has the potential to revolutionize legal work. Both parties recognize the value and applicability of generative AI in the legal field. According to a recent survey conducted by the Thomson Reuters Institute, over 80% of corporate law departments and law firms agreed that generative AI could be effectively applied in legal work, with more than half of the respondents advocating for its use.
However, corporate legal departments hold mixed opinions when it comes to implementing generative AI by outside law firms. The survey revealed that 44% of law departments supported the utilization of generative AI by their external firms, while 23% were against it, and 33% remained undecided. Those opposed to law firms using generative AI expressed concerns over accuracy, privacy, and confidentiality. Nevertheless, the prevailing sentiment among corporate respondents who opposed the use of generative AI by law firms was centered on the concept of value. They questioned the need to pay external firms for a technology that in-house lawyers could easily employ.
A corporate legal respondent emphasized the importance of professional competence and responsibility, stating, “When instructing outside law firms, we have a reasonable expectation of the professional competence of the lawyers we have engaged. Both individual lawyers and firms must remain responsible for their work output and advice. Should AI be used for chargeable work, the cost to clients would need to be significantly reduced.”
Read More
Why Corporate Attorneys Are Opting to Use ChatGPT In-House Instead of Paying Law Firms
