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12 September 2025 / James Grice
Issue: 8130 / Categories: Features , Profession , Artificial intelligence
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Friend, not foe?

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How can law firms embed artificial intelligence & other new technologies? By adopting a ‘digital associate’ framework, argues James Grice
  • This article explains how law firms must adapt to the changing AI and tech landscape if they want to stay competitive.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to the legal sector. Indeed, it has already arrived. The recent ‘Vals Legal AI report’ found that it could already perform a number of tasks with the same or greater accuracy and efficiency when compared with lawyers. Nor is AI the only innovative new technology playing an increasingly important role in the day-to-day operations of a law firm. In short, the legal sector is in the midst of a technological transformation, and adapting to this reality is a non-negotiable.

It is also easier said than done. Firms that are under the illusion that they can simply ‘plug in’ an AI tool and reap immediate productivity gains are likely to be in for a rude awakening. That is why the concept of a ‘digital associate’ framework

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
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