![\"Robot](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.attorneyatwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/What-are-lawyers-still-good-for.jpg?resize=770%2C495&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
Table of contents<\/h2>\n\n- Most Lawyers Are Good for Something<\/a><\/li>\n
- Being a Good Lawyer in an AI Age<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shrinkage: Treacherous Times for the Legal Profession<\/a><\/li>\n
- Frenemies in the Technosphere<\/a><\/li>\n
- You Good?<\/a><\/li>\n
- So What Are Lawyers Still Good For? Bottom Line<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Most Lawyers Are Good for Something<\/h2>\n
In popular imagination, attorneys have often been regarded as good-for-nothings. A bunch of parasites and ne\u2019er-do-wells.<\/p>\n
We lawyers, of course, know better. Some of us are actually good! Good for clients, good for society. But how much longer will we remain good for anything?<\/p>\n
Artificial intelligence now unmistakably shows itself capable of doing lawyerly things. Won\u2019t clients just turn to inexpensive machine substitutes? What are lawyers still good for?<\/p>\n
Being a Good Lawyer in an AI Age<\/h2>\n
There seems to be no limit to the efficacy of artificial intelligence<\/a>. (Unlike that of natural stupidity.)<\/p>\nHomo sapiens<\/em> is experiencing a twilight of human exceptionalism. Our creations are out-creating us. Lawyers, among others, may need new vocations.<\/p>\nOne thing we can be sure of is that there is little we can be sure of.<\/p>\n
Shrinkage: Treacherous Times for the Legal Profession<\/h2>\n
The prospect of excellent legal assistance becoming \u201ctoo cheap to meter\u201d may delight some and horrify others. (I explored this in The End of a Legal Ice Age<\/a>.)<\/p>\nThese times are more treacherous for law firms than many of their leaders seem to recognize. Dark clouds line the horizon. That extends to the challenge of developing new professionals, both at firms and in law schools. Our machinery of lawyer formation is sputtering.<\/p>\n
There are, of course, distinctive contributions human lawyers still claim. Responsibility, perspective, accountability, wisdom, vision, trust. We bring connections and inside knowledge. Soft skills for interacting human-to-human are newly championed. We can also climb up the ladder to architect knowledge systems and orchestrate our new workers. But the list is getting shorter, fast.<\/p>\n
At least for now we may have the edge in terms of experiences and emotions. (See Feeling Left Out<\/a>.) While I\u2019ve been inclined to believe that true \u201cjudgment\u201d still mostly remains the province of the carbon-based, now I\u2019m not so sure.<\/p>\nFrenemies in the Technosphere<\/h2>\n
AI can surely help guide us through this troublesome period, right?<\/p>\n
Will machines decide, Marie Kondo-like, that the planet is overstaffed with humans and eliminate those of us who don\u2019t spark joy? Undeterred by pesky human rules and regulations, they may choose to survive without us.<\/p>\n
Perhaps lawyers will be on the front lines of a Butlerian jihad (look it up; I had to) or negotiate an arms treaty based on mutually assured destruction. But any kill switch will likely be made inaccessible long before the Day of Judgment.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, what if machines started acting philanthropically? They might show us how to curb our billionaire overlords and distribute abundance more fairly. Maybe they will realize how corrosive, cruel and counterproductive extreme disparities in wealth are and start doing something about them. Will we see a new anti-oligarchical Rule of Law, announced and enforced by benevolent, law-abiding superintelligence? Plutocrats may want to reconsider being accelerationists.<\/p>\n
AI as a new branch of government will need checks and balances. Lawyers could help design those.<\/p>\n
You Good?<\/h2>\n
All of us are good for something. One ongoing job is to figure out what that is. We need to get beyond nostalgia and reassuring stories.<\/p>\n
Some humans are good at doing good and expecting little in return. Maybe that\u2019s a good part of what we\u2019re still good for. Helping each other lead meaningful and healthy lives, spreading legal wellness. Both secular humanists and those who believe they are graced with immortal souls can embrace that agenda. As the famed physicist\u00a0Richard Feynman reminded us (speaking about nanotechnology), \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of room at the bottom.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u2019s your own value-add? <\/p>\n
So What Are Lawyers Still Good For? Bottom Line<\/h2>\n
Not long ago, lawyers practiced with little more tech than books, telephones and typewriters. Now we all possess extraordinary new powers to do good work.<\/p>\n
Non sub homine sed sub Deo et lege<\/em><\/p>\n\u201cNot under man, but under God and the law\u201d<\/p>\n
is inscribed on Langdell Hall at Harvard Law School. The relentless onslaught of mechanical intelligence could either obliterate or deepen that sentiment.<\/p>\n
If we teach our mind-children well, machine brilliance may shine enough light to usher in unprecedented levels of prosperity and justice. Wouldn\u2019t that be something?<\/p>\n
Image \u00a9 iStockPhoto.com. <\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.attorneyatwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/AttorneyatWork-Logo-%C2%AE-2021-1.jpg?resize=372%2C106&ssl=1\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\nSign up for Attorney at Work\u2019s daily practice tips newsletter here<\/a> and subscribe to our podcast<\/a>, Attorney at Work Today.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Marc Lauritsen | Intelligent machines will be increasingly competitive substitutes for human lawyers. But they can also help us do our best work \u2014 if we focus on augmentation rather than competition. The post Hey AI, What Are Lawyers Still Good For? appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms and Lawyers. Machines […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-145419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-legal_matters"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145419\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Most Lawyers Are Good for Something<\/h2>\n
In popular imagination, attorneys have often been regarded as good-for-nothings. A bunch of parasites and ne\u2019er-do-wells.<\/p>\n
We lawyers, of course, know better. Some of us are actually good! Good for clients, good for society. But how much longer will we remain good for anything?<\/p>\n
Artificial intelligence now unmistakably shows itself capable of doing lawyerly things. Won\u2019t clients just turn to inexpensive machine substitutes? What are lawyers still good for?<\/p>\n
Being a Good Lawyer in an AI Age<\/h2>\n
There seems to be no limit to the efficacy of artificial intelligence<\/a>. (Unlike that of natural stupidity.)<\/p>\n Homo sapiens<\/em> is experiencing a twilight of human exceptionalism. Our creations are out-creating us. Lawyers, among others, may need new vocations.<\/p>\n One thing we can be sure of is that there is little we can be sure of.<\/p>\n The prospect of excellent legal assistance becoming \u201ctoo cheap to meter\u201d may delight some and horrify others. (I explored this in The End of a Legal Ice Age<\/a>.)<\/p>\n These times are more treacherous for law firms than many of their leaders seem to recognize. Dark clouds line the horizon. That extends to the challenge of developing new professionals, both at firms and in law schools. Our machinery of lawyer formation is sputtering.<\/p>\n There are, of course, distinctive contributions human lawyers still claim. Responsibility, perspective, accountability, wisdom, vision, trust. We bring connections and inside knowledge. Soft skills for interacting human-to-human are newly championed. We can also climb up the ladder to architect knowledge systems and orchestrate our new workers. But the list is getting shorter, fast.<\/p>\n At least for now we may have the edge in terms of experiences and emotions. (See Feeling Left Out<\/a>.) While I\u2019ve been inclined to believe that true \u201cjudgment\u201d still mostly remains the province of the carbon-based, now I\u2019m not so sure.<\/p>\n AI can surely help guide us through this troublesome period, right?<\/p>\n Will machines decide, Marie Kondo-like, that the planet is overstaffed with humans and eliminate those of us who don\u2019t spark joy? Undeterred by pesky human rules and regulations, they may choose to survive without us.<\/p>\n Perhaps lawyers will be on the front lines of a Butlerian jihad (look it up; I had to) or negotiate an arms treaty based on mutually assured destruction. But any kill switch will likely be made inaccessible long before the Day of Judgment.<\/p>\n On the other hand, what if machines started acting philanthropically? They might show us how to curb our billionaire overlords and distribute abundance more fairly. Maybe they will realize how corrosive, cruel and counterproductive extreme disparities in wealth are and start doing something about them. Will we see a new anti-oligarchical Rule of Law, announced and enforced by benevolent, law-abiding superintelligence? Plutocrats may want to reconsider being accelerationists.<\/p>\n AI as a new branch of government will need checks and balances. Lawyers could help design those.<\/p>\n All of us are good for something. One ongoing job is to figure out what that is. We need to get beyond nostalgia and reassuring stories.<\/p>\n Some humans are good at doing good and expecting little in return. Maybe that\u2019s a good part of what we\u2019re still good for. Helping each other lead meaningful and healthy lives, spreading legal wellness. Both secular humanists and those who believe they are graced with immortal souls can embrace that agenda. As the famed physicist\u00a0Richard Feynman reminded us (speaking about nanotechnology), \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of room at the bottom.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s your own value-add? <\/p>\n Not long ago, lawyers practiced with little more tech than books, telephones and typewriters. Now we all possess extraordinary new powers to do good work.<\/p>\n Non sub homine sed sub Deo et lege<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot under man, but under God and the law\u201d<\/p>\n is inscribed on Langdell Hall at Harvard Law School. The relentless onslaught of mechanical intelligence could either obliterate or deepen that sentiment.<\/p>\n If we teach our mind-children well, machine brilliance may shine enough light to usher in unprecedented levels of prosperity and justice. Wouldn\u2019t that be something?<\/p>\n Image \u00a9 iStockPhoto.com. <\/p>\n Sign up for Attorney at Work\u2019s daily practice tips newsletter here<\/a> and subscribe to our podcast<\/a>, Attorney at Work Today.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Marc Lauritsen | Intelligent machines will be increasingly competitive substitutes for human lawyers. But they can also help us do our best work \u2014 if we focus on augmentation rather than competition. The post Hey AI, What Are Lawyers Still Good For? appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms and Lawyers. Machines […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-145419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-legal_matters"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145419\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Shrinkage: Treacherous Times for the Legal Profession<\/h2>\n
Frenemies in the Technosphere<\/h2>\n
You Good?<\/h2>\n
So What Are Lawyers Still Good For? Bottom Line<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n