How many hours last week did you spend on repetitive tasks that an assistant could have handled? Reviewing hundreds of pages of documents, writing standard emails, summarizing long opinions... This is the daily reality for many lawyers. What if I told you there's a conversational partner that can automate it all? Today, when we talk about artificial intelligence, the eyes of many legal professionals show a mix of skepticism, apprehension, and curiosity. As a technology enthusiast, I've watched for years as innovations enter various industries. I've noticed that AI is not just another complicated program, but a partner in conversation that can fundamentally change the way we work. And that changes everything.
Why Does AI Stir So Much Emotion Among Lawyers?
Lawyers, by the nature of their profession, are skeptical. Their work is based on precision, verification, and risk minimization. Therefore, when a technology they don't fully understand appears on the horizon, the first reaction is distance. Numerous analyses and conversations with industry representatives show that they are most often blocked by three barriers:
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Lack of fundamentals: Where to get knowledge when it's so scattered and full of technical jargon?
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Security concerns: How can one entrust client data to AI without being 100% sure it will remain confidential?
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Fear of losing control: How do you know if an AI's response isn't an error, a so-called "hallucination"? How do you maintain professional responsibility?
These questions are absolutely valid and form the starting point for any conscious AI implementation strategy in an organization.
A Shift in Perspective: AI is Not a Judge, but a Specialized Assistant
The key to understanding AI's potential lies in changing one's perspective. One should not think of AI as an omniscient oracle, but rather treat it as an extremely capable, but very literal, junior associate.
Imagine an assistant who has read the entire law library, knows thousands of rulings and contracts, but has no life experience, intuition, or ability for independent, critical thought. This is exactly what a Large Language Model (LLM) is—the technology behind tools like Gemini or ChatGPT. Its job is to statistically predict the next words, not to understand them in a human way.
This approach makes us realize that the biggest risk, the aforementioned "hallucinations", is also the area where a lawyer's diligence becomes a protective shield. The case where two New York lawyers, Steven Schwartz and Peter LoDuca, used ChatGPT and included arguments in a legal brief based on six fictitious court cases entirely generated by AI was widely publicized. This shows that our professional need to verify every source is a key competence in the age of AI. AI can prepare a comparison of three different contract clauses in a table format in 15 seconds—a task that would manually take an hour. This shows that it's not about replacing the lawyer, but about freeing up their time for tasks where human judgment, strategy, and negotiation are truly essential.
How to Start Smart and Safe? 3 Fundamental Rules
An analysis of available technologies and market best practices leads to three simple but fundamental rules that lawyers should follow when working with AI.
Rule #1: Understand Your Tools
Not every AI platform is the same. The market offers a whole spectrum: from generally available tools like Google Gemini, through specialized "powerhouses" for the largest law firms like CoCounsel or Harvey AI, to Polish, precise solutions like Bielik AI, which is trained on Polish law. It is crucial to understand the fundamental difference between free, public versions and paid business solutions. The latter guarantee that your data and queries remain confidential and are not used for further model training. This is the absolute foundation of safe work.
Rule #2: Master the Art of Conversing with AI (Prompting)
Lawyers already have a certain superpower that makes them naturally good at prompting—the precision of language. The ability to define terms, specify scope, anticipate consequences, and formulate precise commands in contracts or legal briefs are the exact same skills that make for an effective prompt. It is the key to effective communication with AI. Instead of throwing out a general phrase like "analyze the contract," you need to learn to formulate precise commands (prompts) that include:
- Role: "Act as a legal counsel specializing in IT contracts."
- Task: "Identify the 3 biggest risks for the client in this contract."
- Context: "The client is a small software house, and the other party is a large corporation."
- Format: "Present the result in a table with the columns: Risk, Quote, Recommendation."
- Constraints: "Focus exclusively on contractual penalties and copyrights. Do not analyze financial provisions."
This structure turns AI into a precision tool in the hands of a professional.
Rule #3: Remember That a Human is in Final Control
The most important lesson is this: AI is an assistant, not a substitute. The ultimate responsibility for the content, its compliance with the law, and the client's interest always rests with the lawyer. The role of the lawyer is evolving. From a performer of repetitive tasks, they become a curator and verifier of work supported by technology. It is the human who sets the direction, evaluates the result, and makes the final decisions.
From Knowledge to Practice: How to Structure This Journey?
Understanding these principles is the first step. The real challenge, however, is to organize this knowledge and translate the language of technology into the realities of daily legal work. That's why, to save others time on experiments, together with Renatą W. Lewicka from Codelaw.pl we have gathered our experiences and created the AI for Lawyers course.
Please note that for the time being, the course will be conducted exclusively in Polish.
We created it as a practical guide that leads step-by-step from the absolute basics, through the safe use of tools, to advanced prompting techniques. This is not another theoretical lecture, but a workshop created by practitioners for practitioners. We want to give you the structured knowledge and confidence you need to consciously step into the new era of technology.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will AI Actually Replace Lawyers?
Absolutely not. AI will not replace human judgment, empathy, negotiation skills, or strategic thinking. It will, however, replace repetitive, time-consuming tasks, freeing up the lawyer's time for higher-value work. The role of the lawyer is evolving—they are becoming a strategist and verifier, with AI as their specialized assistant.
Is Using AI Safe for My Clients' Data?
Yes, provided you choose your tools consciously. The key is to distinguish between free, public models (which may use your data for training) and business versions (like Google Workspace or specialized platforms) that guarantee data confidentiality and security. Rule #1—understand your tools—is absolutely fundamental here. You should never input confidential data into untrusted, free systems.
How Can I Start Without Immediately Investing in Expensive Software?
The best first step is to experiment in a safe environment. Start with tools you may already have access to, such as Gemini within a paid Google account, and test simple tasks: summarizing publicly available articles, drafting emails, or creating outlines. Focus on mastering the art of prompting (Rule #2). Building a solid foundation will allow you to consciously evaluate in the future which paid, specialized tools will be most beneficial for you.
In Conclusion
Artificial intelligence is not just another tool in a lawyer's briefcase. It's the beginning of a new chapter in the code of legal practice itself. The revolution has already begun, and the question is not if, but how we will take part in it. The future is a synergy in which the lawyer becomes even more strategic and human, supported by technology. That's why I'm curious: what are your first experiences or biggest concerns related to AI? Share them in the comments—I'd be happy to discuss them.
This article was created in creative collaboration with Google Gemini 2.5 Pro to show what the synergy between human and AI can look like in practice.
