Will Coding Make You a Better Lawyer?

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape the legal industry, coding is becoming an increasingly valuable skill for lawyers. Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and others are transforming how law firms handle tasks like contract drafting and legal research, driving a need for legal professionals to understand the technological backbone behind these innovations. For instance, 51% of legal professionals believe that generative AI will have a positive impact on the profession, with 65% agreeing that it will enable them to prioritise higher-value work. Additionally, 53% of top U.S. law firms (Am Law 200) have already adopted generative AI tools, and the AI market in the legal sector is expected to grow from $52.27 million in 2022 to $781.55 million by 2032, demonstrating the increasing importance of technological proficiency in the legal field.

By learning to code, lawyers can tailor AI-driven tools to their specific needs, helping them work more efficiently while gaining a competitive edge. Coding allows legal professionals to automate time-consuming tasks such as document review, saving up to 70% of time and boosting accuracy to 94% in comparison to traditional methods. This technological advantage not only improves productivity but also empowers lawyers to better understand and control the AI systems that they use daily. Whether through automating legal research, summarising documents, or comparing contracts for inconsistencies, coding can help streamline processes, freeing up more time for complex legal work and strategic decision-making.

Moreover, coding enables lawyers to engage more effectively with emerging legal challenges related to technology, such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and intellectual property issues around AI. Understanding how AI functions at a technical level allows lawyers to provide more informed advice on matters involving algorithms, blockchain, and machine learning. In an industry increasingly shaped by technological advancements, coding knowledge helps lawyers bridge the gap between law and tech, positioning them to advise on and navigate complex legal challenges in the evolving digital landscape.

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