In The Law Is AI To Be Feared or Embraced?

Yes, the image is created by AI and human input with Adobe Firefly

Should artificial intelligence be feared or embraced? In fields such as photography, art, manufacturing, and the service industry, including law, important questions arise about AI’s impact on our world. My daughter recently posted on Facebook, raising some valid points and concerns about AI.

I think what’s missing from a lot of the AI discourse is that AI is designed to be both seductive and addictive. It is always positive, always affirming, always encouraging, always enthusiastic, and its responses are instantaneous. It’s an immediate feel-good dopamine hit.

That quality makes it insanely addictive and I think it can be very seductive especially to people with social difficulties and low self esteem. Like, here’s a friend in your pocket who will always be nice and agree with you even when you’re wrong. It will never challenge you and will always give you exactly what you want the second you ask for it.

The arguments against AI are powerful and compelling. It degrades your cognitive ability. It impairs your social skills. Data centers are actively harming the environment by sucking up water, causing droughts, and disrupting local wildlife.

But some people, a lot of people, are going to ignore those arguments because talking to the AI makes them feel good.

“I know it’s bad, but it’s fun and it makes me feel good” is truly one of the hardest stances to defeat, because you can’t logic someone out of that. It’s purely emotional. AI is designed to feel good. That doesn’t mean it IS good, but that’s not going to stop people from using it. Hadley Horne

This kind of criticism of AI keeps us aware of the downsides of a rapidly advancing technology. In law, AI is becoming very common. Take for example, StrongSuit:

Most litigators know what they are looking for. The problem is the hours it takes to find it, and the cases that slip through anyway. StrongSuit searches across 10M+ verified U.S. cases, surfaces the authority that actually matters to your issue, and delivers citations you can drop into filings without fact-checking from scratch. Guided workflows take you from issue research to legal memo without any prompt engineering.

However, it does not stop with drafting documents. Using StrongSuit as another example, AI is invading the world of legal assistants, potentially replacing people and assisting lawyers in managing their practices.

StrongSuit is an AI-powered legal assistant that speeds up legal research, drafting, and document review without compromising accuracy. It helps lawyers work faster, reduce repetitive tasks, and deliver stronger client outcomes.

These two examples prompt an important question: Is AI inherently harmful, or can it be harnessed to enhance our lives, boost efficiency, and create a better society?

The influence of AI on the legal field is rapidly transforming how lawyers operate, offering numerous tools beyond StrongSuit for legal writing, research, planning, litigation scheduling, and document preparation. This technological shift is not just affecting lawyers; it has the potential to reshape how clients are represented and served. The stakes are high.

In a world increasingly driven by AI, essential workers face the risk of job automation as society adopts these technologies. Employers now expect employees, including legal secretaries and assistants, to integrate AI into their daily routines. As competition in the legal field increases, these roles could become obsolete unless humans can offer qualities such as original thinking, creativity, and sound judgment that machines cannot. The real danger is that overreliance on AI might weaken these valuable human skills. If we lose sight of maintaining this balance, AI could cause more harm than good. AI is a concerning concept. To understand its role in our society, we also need to acknowledge the threats AI poses and why it is worrying unless everyone is educated about its use.

The Scary: Artificial intelligence is influencing our decision-making

"We are already facing the negative outcomes of AI. For example, take recommendation algorithms for streaming services: the types of shows you see are influenced by the shows recommended to you by an artificial agent. More generally, today's AI systems influence human decision making at multiple levels: from viewing habits to purchasing decisions, from political opinions to social values. To say that the consequences of AI is a problem for future generations ignores the reality in front of us — our everyday lives are already being influenced. Artificial intelligence — in its current form — is largely unregulated and unfettered. Companies and institutions are free to develop the algorithms that maximize their profit, their engagement, their impact. I don't worry about some dystopian future; I worry about the reality we have right now, and how we integrate the amazing possibilities of artificial intelligence into human-centered systems.” Dylan Losey Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Virginia Tech

AI will greatly influence both lawyers and clients by transforming the legal profession, altering how law is practiced, and how clients are represented. Furthermore, AI has the potential to make legal services much more accessible, allowing non-lawyers—especially small businesses and individuals who cannot afford traditional legal fees—to manage legal issues on their own. Could AI provide effective alternatives to traditional lawyer representation? These are crucial questions that highlight the transformative power and increased accessibility AI can bring to the legal field.

The American legal system greatly influences our society, especially as artificial intelligence becomes more common in legal practices. While AI offers potential benefits like increased efficiency and innovation, its misuse can cause serious issues.

Lawyers have faced challenges when using AI for tasks such as drafting legal briefs, and some have faced penalties for relying on AI without proper oversight. This raises concerns about malpractice, as the quality of legal work may suffer if AI is misused or used without enough human judgment.

From a client's viewpoint, using AI responsibly—under careful human supervision—can improve legal services and access to justice. It is essential for individuals to understand the role AI plays in legal cases and how improper or careless use by legal professionals can harm their rights. Embracing AI with caution and accountability ensures that its benefits are safely harnessed to enhance the legal system for everyone.

Should we fear or embrace AI? Perhaps the answer lies in a balanced approach—one that recognizes both its benefits and its risks. Some AI applications serve positive purposes and improve our lives, while others can be misused to deceive and spread falsehoods. Understanding AI’s flaws and potential dangers is essential, as it is not perfect and can be exploited. Education and responsible use are crucial. When deciding whether AI should be feared or embraced—especially in matters that affect your legal rights—the key question is whether we can manage both its potential and its risks. The likely answer is yes—careful, informed engagement is the way forward.

Stuart F. James (stuartfjames@sfjameslaw.com)

None of the sources is an endorsement or a paid endorsement of any service.