A&O Shearman, a large international law firm, plans a $1.1 billion AI push, and clients may soon see changes in how routine legal work is done and billed.
A&O Shearman, a big international law firm, plans to put $1.1 billion into artificial intelligence, according to Reuters. If you hire lawyers, that is worth knowing. A spending plan this size suggests AI is becoming part of everyday legal work, not just a side experiment.
The plan is valued at $1.1 billion, per the Reuters headline. A&O Shearman was formed by the merger of two firms. Reuters says the plan builds on technology spending that law firms have already made. In other words, this is not the first time big firms have put money into legal technology.
Anyone who pays a law firm could be touched by this, from large companies to small business owners. If lawyers use AI tools, some routine legal work may get faster. Whether that saves clients money is a separate question, and the material does not answer it.
The full article was not available, so key details are missing. It is not clear what the money will be spent on, over how long, or which AI tools will be used. It is also unclear how the plan will change fees or how client information will be protected.
If your lawyers use AI, ask them how it changes your bill and how it keeps your data safe.
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