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Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere at the moment. Whether it is making headlines, appearing in social media feeds, or being discussed at industry events, AI is rapidly becoming part of everyday life. The legal profession is no exception.
As a trainee solicitor, I have seen first-hand how AI is beginning to influence the way solicitors work. It has created opportunities to work more efficiently, but it has also reinforced the importance of critical thinking, attention to detail and professional judgment.
AI as a productivity tool
One of the biggest benefits of AI is its ability to help with routine administrative tasks.
As a trainee, a significant part of the role involves processing large volumes of information, whether that is reviewing documents, preparing first drafts, summarising lengthy materials or organising information in a way that is useful for colleagues and clients. AI can often assist with these tasks, helping solicitors find information more quickly and spend more time focusing on the issues that require legal analysis and commercial judgment.
This can be particularly valuable when deadlines are tight or when working on matters involving large quantities of documentation. Rather than replacing legal expertise, AI can help utilise time more effectively.
Ultimately, the greatest benefit of AI may not be the time it saves solicitors, but how that time can be reinvested in clients. If routine administrative tasks can be completed more efficiently, solicitors have more opportunity to focus on understanding clients’ objectives, providing strategic advice and building trusted relationships. This is particularly important because clients often need more than a purely technical legal answer. They are looking for support in understanding risk, weighing commercial considerations and making informed decisions in the context of their specific circumstances. By reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks, AI has the potential to give solicitors greater capacity to provide the tailored, relationship-driven advice that clients value most.
Learning to use AI responsibly
Whilst AI can be a very useful tool, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that it is only as useful as the person using it.
The outputs generated by AI should never be accepted without review. Information can be incomplete, inaccurate or lacking important context. We have professional obligations to ensure that the advice and documents we produce are accurate and reliable. AI does not remove that responsibility.
It is also important to understand where the information provided by AI comes from. Like any research tool, the quality of the output is only as good as the data and sources on which it is based. Understanding the source of information, and recognising when further verification is required, remains a fundamental part of legal practice.
The adoption of AI also requires careful consideration of issues such as confidentiality, data protection and information security. As legal professionals, we have a responsibility to ensure that any use of AI aligns with our ethical and professional obligations.
In practice, this means approaching AI in the same way as any other research or drafting aid: it can provide a helpful starting point, but the final product always requires careful consideration, verification and professional judgment.
For trainees in particular, this is an important distinction. The process of learning often comes from carrying out tasks yourself and developing an understanding of the underlying legal principles. AI can support that process, but it cannot replace the experience gained through analysing issues independently and understanding why a particular answer is correct.
Opportunities for trainees
One of the most exciting aspects of AI is that trainees are often in a unique position to engage with new technology.
Many trainees have grown up using rapidly evolving technology and may feel comfortable experimenting with new tools and ways of working. As a result, trainees can often contribute to wider discussions within firms about how technology can be used effectively and responsibly.
Exposure to AI also provides an opportunity to develop commercial awareness. The legal profession has traditionally been built around the billable hour model, while technological advances are often focused on increasing efficiency. Understanding how firms can balance these competing considerations, whilst continuing to deliver value for clients, will become an increasingly important part of legal practice.
At the same time, exposure to AI provides an opportunity to develop a broader understanding of how the legal profession is evolving. The way legal services are delivered today is unlikely to be identical to the way they are delivered in ten years’ time, and it is fascinating to be part of that journey.
For trainees, this presents a unique opportunity to contribute to the purposeful adoption of AI and help shape how these tools are integrated into legal practice.
Looking ahead
Despite the significant attention AI receives, I do not believe it will replace solicitors. Instead, I think it will continue to change how solicitors work.
The core elements of legal practice remain the same: understanding clients’ objectives, exercising sound judgment, solving complex problems and building trusted relationships. AI can support those activities, but it cannot replicate them.
For trainees, the emergence of AI presents an exciting opportunity. It encourages us to think differently about how we work, embrace new technologies and develop skills that will be increasingly valuable throughout our careers. The challenge is not simply learning how to use AI, but learning how to use it well.