From Theory to Practice: Implementing AI Quality in Legal

This is the final part of our 3-part series on takeaways from the AI Quality Conference (AIQCON), which took place in San Francisco on June 25, 2024.

In our previous posts, we explored the 12 pillars of AI quality and how to reframe AI quality for the legal mind . Now, let's dive into practical steps that law firms, legal departments, and legal tech companies can take to embrace AI quality and gain a competitive edge.

For Law Firms: Seize the AI Opportunity

1. Get off the starting line: The future is here, and hesitation due to quality concerns is no longer an option. AI has never been more powerful or useful, and while it will continue to improve, waiting for perfection means falling behind. For example, start by implementing AI-powered legal research tools to augment your team's capabilities.

2. Skill up: Develop your team's ability to extract quality from AI. Refine prompting skills, enhance issue spotting in the AI context, and build an intuition for AI's capabilities. Consider creating an internal "AI Lab" where lawyers can experiment with different AI tools and share best practices.

3. Prioritize data readiness: Information Architecture (IA) before AI. Understand that AI thrives on data. Organize your internal documents and knowledge bases to maximize AI's potential. For instance, implement a standardized tagging system leveraging SALI's Legal Matters Specification Standards to improve AI-powered search and analysis.

4. Address security proactively: Move to the cloud to gain access to the broadest spectrum of AI solutions, but do so thoughtfully. Explore secure options, including local models for sensitive data. Work with your IT department to develop a robust AI security protocol that aligns with client confidentiality requirements.

5. Rethink your business model: AI efficiency should increase your worth. Consider moving beyond the billable hour model. Conduct a comprehensive review of your practice to identify areas where AI can enhance value delivery to clients, such as offering fixed-fee arrangements for AI-assisted contract review services.

Note to smaller firms and solos: AI levels the playing field. Your ability to compete with larger firms has never been greater. Embrace this technology to punch above your weight class. For example, leverage AI-powered drafting tools to produce high-quality documents quickly and efficiently.

For Legal Departments: Lead the Charge

1. Be part of the corporate AI adoption: To effectively guide your company, you need firsthand experience with AI tools. Advocate for legal's inclusion in company-wide AI initiatives. Propose a pilot project that demonstrates how AI can improve legal operations and risk management.

2. Encourage outside counsel AI adoption: When your external partners leverage AI effectively, you benefit from increased efficiency and potentially reduced costs. Set expectations for AI use in your outside counsel guidelines. Consider offering incentives for firms that demonstrate innovative AI use in their services.

3. Embrace the Swiss Army knife role: AI empowers in-house counsel to handle a broader range of tasks. Use this expanded capability to provide more comprehensive legal support across your organization. For instance, use AI to assist with initial contract drafting, freeing up time for strategic advisory work.

4. Focus on foresight and prevention: Use the time and analytical power AI provides to shift from reactive to proactive legal strategies. Develop predictive models for legal risks and opportunities. For example, implement an AI-powered early warning system for potential regulatory issues based on internal and external data analysis.

For Legal Tech Companies: Bridge the Trust Gap

1. Prioritize transparency: Be open about your AI models' capabilities, limitations, and quality metrics. Consider publishing benchmarks and evaluation results, following the lead of companies like Paxton AI and Screens. Develop a public-facing AI ethics statement that outlines your commitment to transparency and quality.

2. Lead on quality standards: Take the initiative in defining and promoting industry-wide AI quality standards. Participate in initiatives like the Legal IT Innovators Group (LITIG) AI benchmarking project. Consider establishing an industry consortium focused on legal AI quality standards.

3. Invest in robust evaluation frameworks: Develop comprehensive testing methodologies that go beyond traditional accuracy metrics. Consider human-in-the-loop evaluation for complex legal tasks. Create a diverse panel of legal experts to regularly assess and provide feedback on your AI outputs.

4. Focus on explainability: Ensure your AI tools can "show their work," providing clear reasoning and citations for their outputs. This is crucial for building trust with legal professionals. Implement features that allow users to easily trace AI-generated content back to original sources.

5. Collaborate with the legal community: Work closely with law firms and legal departments to understand their specific quality needs and concerns. Use this input to guide your product development and quality assurance processes. Establish a customer advisory board to provide ongoing feedback on AI quality issues.

The AI revolution in legal is not on the horizon - it's here. By embracing AI quality principles and practices, you position your organization at the forefront of this transformation. Remember, the goal isn't perfection, but rather continuous improvement and responsible innovation.

Part 1 - 12-Point Framework for Legal AI

Part 2 - Reframing AI Quality for the Legal Mind

As you embark on this journey, consider partnering with AI implementation experts who understand the unique challenges and opportunities in the legal domain. Their guidance can be invaluable in navigating the complex landscape of AI quality and ensuring your AI initiatives deliver maximum value.

The future of law is AI-augmented. By prioritizing AI quality, you're not just adopting new technology - you're reshaping the practice of law for the better. Are you ready to lead the charge?

#AIinLegal #AIQuality #LegalTech #FutureOfLaw #LegalInnovation