Artificial intelligence tools are helping LPHS perform tasks more efficiently and allowing for more time devoted to mentoring younger attorneys said firm managing partner Chris Schwegmann in an interview with CNBC on AI use. We still have the need for the independent legal judgment of our associate lawyers and our partners — it hasn’t replaced them, it just augments their thinking,” said Schwegmann. “It makes them more creative and frees their time to do what lawyers do best, which is strategic thought and creative problem solving.” 

Chris notes that he sometimes asks AI to channel Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts or Sherlock Holmes to see how they would view a particular problem.

“Once we as lawyers get outside those lanes, when we are thinking more creatively involving other branches of science, literature, history, mythology, that sometimes generates some of the most interesting ideas that can then be put, using proper legal judgement, in a framework that works to solve a legal problem,” he said.

The CNBC report cites a National Federation of Independent Business survey finding that only 24% of small business owners are using AI in some capacity, but 75% of those surveyed said the use of the technology in their industry in the next five years will be important or extremely important.