Many of us in the United States are hitting the road/airport this weekend to get in the last bit of Summer. For Texans like me, we’ll still have some hot weather for the next few weeks, but eventually it will cool down and remind us that Mid-September through Mid-May is really why we put up with the summer heat.
I am going to see my mother, so that means a quick 12-hour drive out and a 12-hour drive back, over a three-day weekend. But it will be worth it to see family. At least, that is what I’ve been saying to psych myself up for this road trip!! Wish me luck.
One of the articles that piqued my interest this week was about LawLLM, and the ability to focus Large Language Models on legal topics. While I think the article and the paper behind it lack from the benefit of having people in the legal industry guide the group of engineers and computer programmers behind the paper, there’s something there in the idea of the potential behind smaller, more focused LLMs. I still have in the back of my mind that Thomson Reuters’ acquisition of Safe Sign Technologies may show TR tipping its hand that it can’t place all its AI Eggs into an OpenAI basket. Maybe I’m reading too much into this acquisition, but it would seem like a smart play in the long run for a company like TR not to get locked into a Duopoly of GenAI information providers. Kind of like most of us are with the duopoly of Legal Information providers (h/t to my co-host for saying this at lunch yesterday.)
Here’s this week’s edition of What. Just. Happened? Remember, you can track these stories with the AI Lawyer Talking Tech podcast (Spotify or Apple) which covers legal tech news and summarizes stories on a daily basis.
LawLLM Revolutionizes Legal Research with AI
LawLLM, an open-source large language model, is transforming legal research by improving the accuracy and efficiency of tasks such as case retrieval, precedent recommendations, and legal judgment predictions. This AI tool underscores the growing role of advanced technologies in enhancing legal analytics.
Icertis Partners with Harvey and Evisort for Enhanced AI-Powered Contract Management
Icertis, a leader in contract lifecycle management, has formed strategic partnerships with legal AI companies Harvey and Evisort. These partnerships are set to enhance Icertis’ contract analytics capabilities by integrating AI-driven tools that offer increased speed, accuracy, and customization in contract management, providing clients with more flexibility and choice.
Spellbook Releases ‘Spellbook Associate’ AI for Complex Legal Tasks
Spellbook, a legal technology company, has launched ‘Spellbook Associate,’ an AI application that mimics the role of an associate attorney by handling complex transactional workflows. This marks a significant advancement in legal AI, as it allows lawyers to automate routine tasks, freeing up time for more strategic activities.
Office & Dragons Enhances Document Automation with GenAI
Office & Dragons, a legal tech startup, has incorporated generative AI into its document automation platform. This innovation enables lawyers to automate a variety of document-related tasks, such as generation, editing, and redlining, without needing to code, thereby democratizing the automation process and improving efficiency across legal practices.
Generative AI Transforms Legal Drafting with CoCounsel Drafting
Generative AI is making significant inroads in legal drafting, as demonstrated by CoCounsel Drafting. This AI-powered tool streamlines the drafting process by automating tasks like template selection and clause finding, allowing lawyers to focus on higher-value client services. The adoption of such tools is expected to become widespread by 2029.
AI: Law Firms Stuck Between “FUD and FOMO”
Law firms are navigating the challenges of integrating generative AI (Gen AI) technology. While some firms are optimistic about its potential, others are cautious due to concerns about accuracy and its current limitations in client work. The debate between fear and uncertainty (FUD) and fear of missing out (FOMO) continues as firms explore AI’s capabilities.
Leading In The Age Of Gen AI: Systematic Integrity For In-House Corporate Lawyers
In-house corporate lawyers are increasingly adopting Generative AI (Gen AI) for creating original content. Olga V. Mack, a Fellow at CodeX, Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, emphasizes the importance of developing comprehensive manuals and checklists to ensure the ethical use of Gen AI, promoting trust and accountability in legal department.
Morae Partners with ContractPodAi for Gen AI Contract Drafting
Morae Global Corporation has announced a partnership with ContractPodAi to bring Generative AI-driven contract drafting to their clients. This collaboration integrates ContractPodAi’s “Leah,” a Gen AI legal assistant, with Morae’s “MorAI” suite of solutions, aiming to enhance efficiency and accuracy in corporate legal departments, compliance functions, and law firms globally.
Enhancing Legal Practice with AI and Machine Learning: Applications and Benefits
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming legal practices, from AI-powered legal research to predictive analytics and automated document review. These technologies are improving accuracy, reducing costs, and optimizing legal workflows, making them indispensable tools for modern legal professionals.