The Attune Legal journey with AI began in February 2023 when our principal, Yule Guttenbeil first explored Notion’s AI feature, igniting his interest in the transformative potential of this technology for legal work. Since then, our interest as a firm in, and understanding of using AI tools has deepened. In this article, Yule explains how we use AI in our legal practice—both for transparency and because we think you’ll find it interesting. Read on.
Our AI-Powered Approach
At Attune Legal, we’re early adopters of AI, regularly utilising at least seven different tools for specific tasks:
- Analysis
- Legal research
- Email summarizing and drafting
- Document reviews and drafting
- Information organization
- Proofreading
- Sub-editing
These tools not only boost our efficiency but also significantly enhance the quality of our work. This dual benefit translates to cost savings for our clients, whether we’re billing by the hour or offering fixed-fee quotes.
Prioritising Confidentiality and Security
We take client confidentiality extremely seriously. Our vetting process for AI tools ensures:
• No use of input data for training purposes
• Encrypted data transmission
• No retention of queries after closing the application as far as is practicable
All our AI tools are enterprise-grade, providing an additional layer of security and reliability.
Client Choice and Transparency
We’ve updated our engagement terms to clearly communicate our AI usage. While we believe in the value these tools bring, we respect our clients’ preferences. Clients can opt out of AI tool usage, though this may affect the cost or time required for the work.
It’s important to note that for certain clients, particularly those in the defense industry, we do not use AI tools due to the classified nature of the information involved. We understand that some matters require this level of caution, and we’re fully equipped to handle such cases without AI assistance.
The Impact of AI: A Real-World Example
The benefits of integrating AI into our workflow have been substantial. Last year, I experienced firsthand the dramatic impact of these tools. Over a two-week period, I handled a volume of work that would have typically required four lawyers to complete in the same timeframe.
This wasn’t a theoretical comparison – I know this because I had outsourced effectively the same task to a team of four lawyers just a few months earlier when I didn’t have the capacity to handle it myself. The difference? The AI tools at my disposal.
This level of efficiency allows us to take on more complex work and provide faster turnaround times for our clients.
Looking to the Future
As I’ve discussed in my LinkedIn articles and interviews with Lawyers Weekly, AI is not a future consideration for the legal profession – it’s here now, transforming how we work. While AI brings significant benefits, it’s crucial to understand its limitations and use it responsibly.
At Attune Legal, we’re committed to leveraging AI to enhance our services while maintaining the highest standards of legal practice. We believe that by embracing these tools, we can provide more efficient, accurate, and valuable services to our clients.
Your Choice Matters
If you’re a client of ours, you have the option to opt out of having us use AI tools for your work. However, it’s important to understand that this decision will affect the value of fixed-fee quotes or time/cost work we perform. Without AI, tasks will take longer to complete, potentially increasing costs.
We don’t recommend opting out unless absolutely necessary, as the benefits to clients have proven invaluable. However, we respect your decision and are prepared to work according to your preferences.
If you have any questions about how we use AI in our practice or would like to discuss this further, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to share our experiences and insights on this exciting development in legal technology. To work with our team, get in touch via our website here.
