Ryan Walker, former Chief Technology Officer of Casetext, has embarked on a new venture with the founding of General Legal, an AI-native law firm. As Walker assisted in the development of CoCounsel, a pivotal generative AI legal assistant that contributed to Casetext’s $650 million acquisition by Thomson Reuters, he envisioned a more transformative application of AI within the legal sector. Despite advances in legal technology, Walker observed that clients continued to face escalating billing rates without benefiting from the enhanced efficiencies. This realization prompted his shift from product creation to establishing an AI-focused practice.
General Legal sets itself apart by integrating AI into its core operations from inception, rather than retrofitting existing practices. Having secured around 400 clients within just six months of graduating from Y Combinator, the firm has already launched a venture financing practice. A notable innovation is its MCP server, enabling clients’ AI agents to directly engage the firm, which is a novel approach for a law practice.
During a conversation on LawNext, hosted by Bob Ambrogi, Walker, who holds a PhD in mathematics rather than a law degree, expressed his belief that AI can now automate 95% of routine legal tasks. He elaborated on how General Legal’s structure allows it to operate as an investable technology entity alongside a traditional law firm. The firm employs a “second brain” approach, ensuring that their service reflects the strategic interests of each client.
The leadership team at General Legal includes Javed Qadrud-Din, former head of AI at Casetext, and J.P. Mohler, former LLM engineer at Casetext, who have taken on roles as chief technology officer and chief product officer, respectively. Their collective ambition is not just to become the largest provider of legal services globally, but also to dismantle the scarcity model that limits access to legal services for many who need them.