(13) Legal AI Live, September 2025, Part 1

Sep 29, 2025

Guest

George Bellis

Guest

Greg Kochanski

Guest

Damien Real

Damien Real, a product builder at V-Lex, discusses innovative AI tools for enhancing legal workflows. Greg Kochanski from the AAA shares insights on AI's potential in alternative dispute resolution. Lawyer George Bellis reveals how he uses ChatGPT for business valuations. Throughout the conversation, they address skepticism around AI's accuracy and the evolving skillset required for new lawyers, emphasizing that AI should augment rather than replace human judgment. Opportunities for solo practitioners using AI are also explored, highlighting a shift in legal practice dynamics.

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ANECDOTE

AI-Assisted Business Valuation Prep

George Bellis used ChatGPT Pro to produce a preliminary business valuation before consulting a human expert.
The AI produced detailed analysis from balance sheets and P&Ls that informed his follow-up with the valuation consultant.

ANECDOTE

Prototype Before The First Call

Greg Kochanski used Base44 to generate a proof-of-concept web app and VLex to create a 50-state legal survey as a knowledge base.
Bringing a working prototype to the first meeting accelerated stakeholder feedback and improved design speed.

ANECDOTE

Multi-Model PowerPoint Makeover

Damien Real ran four LLMs (Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity) on a PowerPoint and consolidated their feedback into a quick improvement summary.
He produced high-quality edit suggestions in minutes that would have taken an hour manually.

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September 2025, Part 1, Top 5 Takeaways:

* AI Adoption in Legal Practice Is Diverse and Accelerating

* All panelists are using AI in different ways, from business valuations and legal research to software prototyping and document review. Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and specialized legal AI platforms are being integrated into daily workflows, speeding up processes and improving outcomes.

* Skepticism and Critique of AI Remain, Especially Among New Entrants

* Law students and some seasoned professionals express concerns about AI’s accuracy, environmental impact, and potential to eliminate jobs. The panelists counter these by highlighting that humans are also prone to error, AI’s energy use is rapidly improving, and that adaptation is a constant in the profession.

* Trust but Verify: AI as an Associate, Not a Replacement

* The consensus is that AI should be used as a tool to augment, not replace, human judgment. Lawyers must still verify AI outputs, much like reviewing an associate’s work. New tools are making it easier to trace AI-generated content back to sources, supporting a “trust but verify” approach.

* AI Is Reshaping Legal Education and Entry-Level Work

* There is concern among students about the loss of entry-level jobs, but the panelists argue that AI is shifting the skillset required for new lawyers. The ability to manage, verify, and leverage AI tools is becoming as important as traditional legal skills, and there are new opportunities for solo and small firm practitioners.

* The Legal System and Society Will Adapt—Efficiency and New Roles Will Emerge

* Routine legal tasks and simple cases may be increasingly handled by AI, freeing up human lawyers and judges for more complex work. The panelists predict that, as with past technological shifts, new roles and opportunities will arise, and the legal profession will continue to evolve.

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