*This is an AI-powered machine translation of the original text in Portuguese.
**The image used in this article was created by a generative artificial intelligence.
*** Originally published in JOTA.
Another significant transformation brought about by AI is the predictive analysis of legal data. AI tools capable of forecasting judicial outcomes and analyzing trends in court decisions are becoming increasingly common. The analysis of legal data has proliferated, with predictive models informing judges and lawyers of the performance of judicial courts and the perspective of conflicts related to various contracts and clauses.
This approach not only enhances the efficiency of professionals but also implies a paradigm shift in how cases are approached and strategies are planned. Lawyers and judges now need to consider the impact of their decisions in a broader context, taking into account court adjudication policies and the social and economic impacts of their decisions.
Profound changes are forthcoming, with the potential transformation of vertical analysis by legal scholars of rights within a particular case to a horizontal predictive analysis of the performance of a judicial court in various domains. Judges may begin to consider not only the arguments of a particular case but also the consequences of the decision within the scope of all court outcomes and their impacts on society.
Instead of reasoning solely about the law pleaded in a particular case, the judge will also consider the court's adjudication policy. As a consequence, law firms will have to include adjudication policies in their argumentative arsenal. They will also have to consider contractual clauses that are less likely to result in conflicts, in a cooperative effort with the other party to the contract. This will require a certain knowledge of data analysis so that one can reason horizontally and strategically, to reduce and manage legal conflicts.
Thus, the lawyer of the future will be immersed in both the development and management of artificial intelligence technologies to boost their productivity. It will be essential to acquire knowledge not of programming but of computational logic, enabling effective collaboration with legal engineers and programmers in customizing AI tools according to the profile of their practice.
Furthermore, for a more efficient and experienced operation of AI platforms, understanding their functioning and mastering their operation will be crucial. Early-career lawyers should incorporate the use of AI tools into their professional practices and dedicate themselves to learning the basics of computing, including logic, reasoning, legal argumentation, as well as fundamentals of data analytics, with an emphasis on legal data.
This change naturally involves training these future professionals. The fundamental question in preparing future jurists for an AI-oriented world is to reduce the amount of information and develop skills and abilities in students that are associated with legal reasoning, strategic management of legal cases, and mastery of technologies.
At the University of São Paulo, we have emphasized content on legal reasoning, logic, and argumentation, focusing on activities that require students to be able to reason and debate about concrete cases. Additionally, from the beginning of their studies, students are introduced to formal logic and fundamental concepts of computing and artificial intelligence. We are also dedicated to assessing and creating a policy for the responsible and transparent use of artificial intelligence tools in our classrooms. Currently, for example, we conduct empirical research on the use of GPT by undergraduate and graduate students, aiming to establish clear policies and guidelines on the application of generative AI in the educational environment, both by faculty and students.
With the ongoing transformations, there is no anticipation of a decrease in the legal market; on the contrary, it is likely to grow. Law firms will be more effective in drafting legal documents with the assistance of AI tools. Likewise, citizens will use AI to perform legal tasks that previously required consulting an expert. This will result in a more informed public about their rights and legal opportunities, driving demand for more complex legal services. Therefore, it is expected that more informed citizens will seek more qualified professionals, thereby raising the quality of knowledge and services offered in the legal sector.
Thus, the integration of AI into the legal field is not a threat to the profession but an opportunity for lawyers to enhance their skills and increase their efficiency, combining competencies in legal reasoning, strategic case management, and mastery of new technologies.
