The legal profession has been abuzz with discussions around generative artificial intelligence, and Thomson Reuters has been at the forefront of these conversations. Their strategy was made clear when the company acquired the legal research and AI company Casetext, including the CoCounsel generative AI tool, in June. In November, the company introduced generative AI to…
Clifford Chance, a prominent multinational law firm, is set to expand the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies throughout its worldwide workforce. Making use of Copilot for Microsoft 365 and Viva Suite, the move follows the increasing trend of technology adoption within the legal industry. As reported by Bloomberg Law, this initiative makes Clifford Chance…
Artificial intelligence (AI) has increasingly become a frontier for discussion and development in the world of law. Indeed, this technology is showing potential in democratizing access to legal resources and improving efficiencies within law firms. However, its adoption and regulatory oversight continue to spawn controversy within the legal fraternity. A point of contention lies in…
As corporations increasingly employ artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools to automate labor-intensive tasks such as screening CVs and interviews, they face a compelling need to ensure that these technologies do not engage in what has been termed as “algorithm drift”, leading to improper bias. Legal liabilities or even a tarnished brand reputation could…
Uncertainty hovers around JD-Next, the promising alternative law school admissions program that facilitated bypassing the LSAT and the GRE, following recent moves by the American Bar Association (ABA). As reported by Reuters, the ABA has concluded that JD-Next fails to measure up to the current standardized admission tests used for law school admissions. The ABA’s…
In little over a year since the uptick in discussions around the application of artificial intelligence (AI), law professionals are now witnessing a fast-paced advancement in this technology, according to a recent update on Law.com. This exponential development is reshaping the way law business is conducted as law firms globally start to grasp and adopt…
While a law firm’s primary goal may not necessarily be profit-maximization, the value of considering law practices within the ambit of business models cannot be downplayed. Aging law firms, like one wise and successful painter starting late in her years, could benefit by reassessing their firm’s technology at any stage in the life of the…
In a recent development, the Utah Supreme Court reversed a lower district court’s decision, siding with a woman who petitioned for the unsealing of her adoption records. The case pointedly addresses the delicate balancing act between adopted individuals seeking more information about their biological backgrounds, and the confidential nature of such records. Justice John A….
The Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation (Hague CAA) have recently entered into a significant partnership. Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding that seeks to promote the facilitation and adoption of mediation in aviation-related disputes throughout Asia. The agreement, which was signed at the Singapore Airshow, denotes…
In the evolving landscape of legal services, European businesses and law firms are grappling with strict regulatory constraints on technological developments. Yet, taking one giant leap in this direction, Pérez-Llorca, a Spanish law firm, has emerged as one of the nation’s pioneers in integrating a generative artificial intelligence assistant into their practice. The ground-breaking tool,…
Last week, the legal sphere was abuzz with Latham & Watkins’ decision to modify the data management process for its Hong Kong staff. This globally reputed law firm has now restricted automatic access to files and documents outside of Greater China for its Hong Kong workforce. Rather than having free access, the employees need to…
The importance of in-house lawyers guiding AI governance and risk management has been magnified due to the escalating pace of AI development. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI Risk Management Framework (NIST AI RMF), introduced in January 2023, serves as a significant resource for this purpose. Unlike the legally binding EU AI Act,…
CoCounsel, the AI legal assistant developed by Casetext, has had a dynamic first year since its launch on March 1, 2023. In the wake of impressive growth and exciting new market expansions, Thomson Reuters (TR) reveals details on the product’s U.S. adoption to date. Casetext first introduced CoCounsel, a tool empowered with OpenAI’s GPT-4 large…
As the digital economy becomes increasingly integrated into mainstream transactions, the inclination towards accepting cryptocurrency as a valid form of payment is rising. Greater adoption has been observed primarily due to the conveniences offered by consumer digital wallets. BakerHostetler LLP offers priceless guidance outlining the key steps and critical considerations for merchants who are looking…
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the legal industry is under scrutiny once again, following a recent case in which a law firm looked to ChatGPT to help estimate its fees in a New York lawsuit. The federal judge in the case, US District Judge Paul Engelmayer, delivered a severe appraisal of the firm’s…
The healthcare industry continues to struggle with issues concerning disconnected data systems and interoperability inefficiencies. A fragmented healthcare data ecosystem involves poor exchange of health information, leading to medical errors, delays in treatment, and an overall detriment to both patients’ and providers’ experiences. All this despite the industry being equipped with new tools and data…
The intricate connection between free speech, harassment, and discrimination in educational institutions, especially universities, is increasingly requiring nuanced, fact-dependent assessments. This comes in the wake of backlash following the congressional hearings on antisemitism last December, when presidents of institutions including Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Pennsylvania faced calls for…
Africa is positioned to skip traditional phases of technological progression in the legal world in the same way it has leveraged mobile technology, thus leapfrogging more developed regions. Hopes are high for a continent that has previously missed out on older generations of technology. The mobile technology boom, in particular, has displayed that Africa’s path…
The practice of property confiscation has heightened in Belarus, being used as a tool of political repression under the disputed presidency of Alexander Lukashenka, according to reports filed by Belarusian law students at the European Humanities University. In particular, the case of Veranika Tsepkala, who revealed on Facebook that her flat is being auctioned, following…
In an era where technological advancement is taking the lead, it’s not just about what technology is available, but how and what we are actually using it for. Legal operations professionals and in-house lawyers are the main focus of a recent survey that attempts to unveil the genuine use and advantages of technology in the…
On Tuesday, the US Supreme Court upheld an admissions policy at an elite Virginia public high school, after the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled in favor of the practice. Plaintiffs in the case argued the school’s policy discriminated against Asian Americans, but the justices mostly disagreed. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence…
In a world dominated by technology, there’s intriguing speculation around whether Africa could leapfrog other regions in terms of legal technology, similar to its quick and widespread adoption of mobile phones. Some experts believe Africa could take advantage of the opportunities in the legal tech sphere and develop at an accelerated pace. However, challenges could…
The affordability of legal representation has long been a critical issue in the United States. For many individuals within the middle- and low-income brackets, the cost of hiring a lawyer often falls out of reach. According to Ray Brescia, a professor at Albany Law School, this situation reciprocates negative consequences on both society and the…
The US Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) recent guidance on patents for artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted inventions has clarified that these are not automatically dismissed, under one significant condition: the necessity of human engagement. This guidance strengthens the premise that the contribution of a human inventor is indispensable to qualify a patent application for approval. Link,…
The successful procurement and implementation of legal technology is predicated on prioritizing the needs and processes of the individuals who will interact with it, an approach known as ‘humanizing technology’. In this context, ‘humanizing’ focuses on both the user experience and the necessity of making legal tools, processes, and their output accessible. Above the Law…