AI Won't Replace Lawyers Anytime Soon: Analyst

Can AI replace lawyers? An AI platform known as Harvey can help lawyers perform legal tasks in areas such as due diligence, litigation, and compliance, David Meyer wrote for Data Sheet, a Fortune publication.

Photo Insert: An AI platform known as Harvey can help lawyers perform legal tasks in areas such as due diligence, litigation, and compliance.

The platform is being rolled out for use by 3,500 lawyers in 43 offices of Allen & Overy, the seventh-largest law firm in the world. But it’s unlikely to be a substitute for lawyers, writes Aron Solomon, the chief legal analyst for Esquire Digital, in a Fortune commentary.

“The idea that AI is going to take over the bulk of substantive work that lawyers do isn’t at all realistic. What’s going to happen is that Harvey is going to be used by massive, wealthy law firms to generate more profit,” Solomon argued.

“Harvey and whatever follows might be able to replace some of the work some entry-level lawyers do, but what corporate clients pay for is the experience, guidance, and judgment of the best lawyers. Big clients will still pay astronomical sums to have what they see as the best lawyers be responsible for the final work product,” he concluded.

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