Can Artificial Intelligence Make Lawyers Obsolete?
In many industries, there is a fear that human workers could be replaced by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Jobs with a high degree of automation are particularly affected. Fields that involve soft skills, such as interpersonal competence, appear less threatened.
A survey by the digital association Bitkom revealed that a quarter of respondents could imagine being represented in court by AI instead of a human lawyer. Of the 26 percent open to AI legal representation, 14 percent would only resort to AI for simple issues, while 12 percent would do so in any case. This indicates that one in eight of the 1004 people surveyed by Bitkom sees human lawyers as potentially unnecessary.
Trust in AI lawyers varies by age. Among those aged 65 and older, 81 percent would not choose an AI lawyer. The figure is 69 percent for those aged 50 to 64. Younger people are more open to AI in court. Among respondents aged 16 to 29, only 64 percent cannot imagine AI representation, and it is 63 percent for those aged 30 to 49.
The biggest advantage of AI over human lawyers, according to most respondents, is that AI is available 24/7. This was noted by 61 percent of respondents. When it comes to legal expertise, opinions are divided. Only 21 percent believe AI has better expertise. However, when asked whether a human or AI can better explain legal questions, the responses were evenly split at 50 percent. Only 46 percent believe human lawyers have greater competence in recognizing complex legal contexts.
In terms of empathy, 54 percent of respondents believe AI struggles more to empathize with those involved. The much-discussed human competence still plays a role. Markus Scheufele, a legal expert at Bitkom, states that AI will not fully replace lawyers in the foreseeable future. AI is already being used successfully in corporate legal departments, law firms, and courts. He emphasizes the need to improve legal and practical frameworks to use AI as a supportive tool in the legal field.
AI as a legal representative is not entirely futuristic. The US company Donotpay offers a bot that helps people obtain refunds, reduce bills, and contest parking tickets. These are simple formalities where soft skills are not crucial. In early 2023, Donotpay planned to support defendants in real-time in court via headset. However, after protests from the bar association, this did not happen.
In 2024, Donotpay itself ended up in court. The FTC claimed the company never had its bot’s accuracy verified by real lawyers. Donotpay had to pay $193,000 and limit its offerings.
AI is already being integrated into various sectors, but its application in the legal field is still developing. While AI offers advantages like availability and efficiency, it currently lacks the empathy and nuanced understanding that human lawyers provide. The future may hold a more collaborative approach where AI supports human lawyers, enhancing their capabilities rather than replacing them entirely.