Reinventing Professionals How to Think About AI
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Jul 8, 2025 
In a fascinating conversation, Richard Susskind, President of the Society for Computers and Law and author of 'How to Think About AI', dives into the transformative impact of AI on the legal field. He discusses strategies for navigating the balance between AI's benefits and risks, emphasizing the need for effective communication and long-term strategic thinking. Susskind also highlights the evolution of client expectations and the crucial leadership skills required in this new AI-centric landscape, advocating for curiosity and innovative approaches.
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No Single AI Future
- There is no single agreed future for AI; multiple hypotheses exist about its direction.
- Leaders should remain open-minded and cautious about definitive claims regarding AI's path.
Reframe Legal AI Use
- Legal professionals should focus on non-invasive and preventative approaches enabled by AI.
- AI should empower clients to achieve outcomes differently, not just automate existing tasks.
How Lawyers Can Harness AI for Non-Invasive, Preventative Legal Services
AI will transform legal services not just by automating tasks but by enabling fundamentally new ways of providing legal help.
Rather than focusing on simply replacing junior lawyers in routine tasks like document review or contract drafting, legal professionals should aim to empower clients through AI tools that enable non-invasive legal "therapy" and preventative lawyering.
Clients want effective legal outcomes that are less costly, quicker, and less intimidating—similar to non-invasive medical treatments compared to surgery.
The future lies in developing AI systems that help prevent legal problems before they arise and assist people to do some legal work themselves, shifting lawyers' roles toward creating and supporting these AI tools.