Lawyers Put the Brakes on AI Lawyer Experiment: The Battle is on!

Can AI lawyers be trusted to bring about the new era of the legal system, or are they a risk not worth taking? One US Bar Association recently made a ruling that could shape the landscape of legal technology for years to come. In this blog post, we examine the decision they made, the potential uses of AI lawyers, the thinking behind their decision, and the effects this could have on lawyers, legal advisors, and their customers. Read on to find out if the US Bar Association’s ruling is a good move or a bad one!

 

DoNotPay

There is a lot of debate surrounding the DoNotPay chatbot.

Created by Stanford student Joshua Browder in 2015, DoNotPay is a free online legal assistant that offers assistance with smaller legal matters such as parking tickets, consumer protection, and other administrative tasks. The chatbot interacts with its users by asking relevant questions about their legal predicament before producing a letter or form that matches their responses.

Once the form is filled out, it is sent off to the corresponding agency or business and the user receives a response. DoNotPay also provides other services, such as free legal advice and an online collection of FAQs. It is even accepted in court.

DoNotPay has faced controversy due to its ability to let people bypass lawyers and the traditional legal process. This might potentially lead to people using it for more serious legal matters that they cannot handle without professional help. Additionally, some claim that this service is taking away business from lawyers who specialize in the areas of law that DoNotPay covers.

DoNotPay had a strategy to use their AI in a speeding ticket case that was set to happen on February 22nd. This chatbot was to be operated by a smartphone, listening to what was said in court and then giving guidance to the unknown defendant through an earpiece.

 

Decision by bar association

In spite of the fact that AI lawyers had been successfully helping people with their legal issues for four years, the California State Bar Association recently declared that robots cannot replace human lawyers in court due to their inferior knowledge and experience in the field. This ruling was made despite the success of the AI bot.

The bar association requires the assistance of professionals to protect those in need of legal counsel. Machines can supply basic information and advice, but cannot replace the level of insight or attention a lawyer can offer. AI technologies are not able to factor in unique individual cases and make decisions based on personal interests, so human-provided services must be provided.

 

Reactions

The bar association’s recent move to close down the AI-powered legal assistant, DoNotPay, has generated controversy among legal professionals. Certain folks believe the shutdown is necessary to uphold the standards of the law, while others are concerned about this being a regression in terms of technological progress. In reality, this decision has much bigger implications than just in the legal field – it could affect the future of AI technology in numerous ways.

The announcement has met with a great deal of criticism, as some believe it is curtailing innovation and holding back advancement in the legal sector. Proponents of artificial intelligence highlight that technology is changing rapidly and AI lawyers may be able to offer more efficient and cost-effective support to those who need it. Furthermore, opponents argue that this ruling will only assist larger firms, which can pay for the pricier human lawyers.

The decision has important implications beyond the law. AI has a crucial role to play in our lives, and this verdict could shape its future growth. Evidently, regulators do not yet view AI as a suitable solution in court, which could lead to other industries taking the same path. This is an intimidating sign for those who are relying on AI technology.

In addition, this ruling could have a ripple effect on the advancement of AI technology in general. The bar association’s decision to shut down DoNotPay sends a clear message that AI-based legal tools are not welcome. It might discourage inventors from developing similar products, thus slowing progress in the field.

What do you think? Let me know. Follow me on LinkedIn or join The Law Of The Future Community to keep up to date with law and technology. Also you can find audio verisons of my Medium articles on my Podcast Law Of The Future.
 

​Dennis Hillemann is a specialist in administrative law and a partner in our Hamburg office. He has recently published and lectured on the use of AI in the public sector. In addition, he advises companies and public authorities on digitalization issues.