October 2025, Part 1, Top 5 Takeaways:
AI as a Thought Partner, Not Just a Tool: The panelists emphasized using AI not just for research or drafting, but as a conversational partner—bouncing ideas off multiple AI tools, asking for pros/cons, and even role-playing as judges or adversaries to get more critical feedback.
Diversity and Redundancy in AI Tools: Relying on a single AI tool is risky, both for quality and vendor stability. The group recommends using a mix of paid and free tools, and being ready to switch if a vendor falters or a better tool emerges. Month-to-month subscriptions are preferred for flexibility.
Human-in-the-Loop Remains Essential: Even as AI capabilities improve, human oversight is crucial—especially for legal work. The panelists shared stories of AI-generated hallucinations and stressed the importance of verifying results, documenting successes and failures, and maintaining office policies for AI use.
AI’s Role in Improving Access to Justice: There’s significant potential for AI to help self-represented litigants and improve the customer experience in courts. Rather than replacing judges, AI can help organize, summarize, and clarify information, making the process less intimidating and more efficient for all parties.
Vendor Stability and Contingency Planning: With the rapid proliferation of legal AI startups, vendor shakeouts are inevitable. Lawyers should assess vendor stability, avoid long-term lock-ins, and always have a “Plan B” for critical workflows in case a tool disappears or changes unexpectedly.
