Ashurst, a prominent UK-based law firm, has revealed that their lawyers using generative AI managed to cut the time needed to draft their initial briefs by approximately half. This discovery came from a detailed study conducted by the Silver Circle firm, employing various artificial intelligence tools over several months. The goal was to establish a reliable framework for evaluating legal technology, a task they undertook due to a noticeable gap in existing standards.
The detailed experiment, which ran from November to March, assembled input from over 400 staff members spanning multiple levels and practice areas within the firm. The firm primarily analyzed factors such as time saved, accuracy, and the quality of the AI-assisted output. In a controlled portion of the study, human and AI-generated briefs were evaluated blindly by a panel of four lawyers, further ensuring unbiased results.
The findings were compelling:
- Using generative AI saved lawyers around 2.5 hours per first draft, amounting to 45% time savings for legal briefs.
- For UK corporate filings, which needed significant review and data extraction, AI tools saved 80% of the drafting time.
- AI-generated industry and sector reports based on company filings saw 59% time savings.
Remarkably, in 67% of cases, AI output was as legally accurate as a human’s first draft, though human-created content generally had higher average accuracy scores. Additionally, the panel was unable to distinguish half of the AI-produced content from human-created content, indicating a considerable proficiency level in AI-generated legal writing.
Tara Waters, Ashurst’s Chief Digital Officer, highlighted the nascency of generative AI in the legal field, noting the potential improvements in quality as newer generations of AI tools enter the market. Waters also indicated that Ashurst is currently evaluating whether to continue using third-party tools or to develop proprietary technology, aiming to set themselves apart from competitors who utilize similar tools.
While Ashurst’s innovative use of AI is poised to change the landscape of legal practice, the firm noted that any direct impacts on legal fees may not materialize for another two to five years, as the industry will need substantial data to adjust billing rates fairly. Additionally, questions about how AI might influence hiring practices and career progression within firms remain speculative at this stage.
These advancements underscore a critical moment for legal professionals. As generative AI continues to develop, its role in legal drafting and overall lawyer productivity will undoubtedly be a focal point for firms aiming to maintain a competitive edge and improve efficiency.
For more details, you can read the full study findings here.