Protégé: AI is young lawyers’ competitive edge

Many young lawyers see AI as a looming threat – something that could disrupt their careers or put them at a disadvantage in an already competitive field. But Lucy Southwick challenges this mindset, arguing that AI is a competitive edge for the next generation of legal professionals.

In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Lucy Southwick, a recent manager within Ashurst Advance’s client solutions practice. She shares how she began her journey in the innovation area simply by introducing herself to a senior colleague working in that space, discusses how rewarding it is to be at the forefront of emerging technologies and ideas, highlights the growing awareness among Australian lawyers of international work opportunities, and reflects on the valuable skills gained from working abroad. She reflects on her next chapter after four years at Ashurst, discussing how AI is transforming the daily work of junior lawyers, shares why now is the most exciting time to be starting a legal career, emphasises the importance for young lawyers to see AI not as a threat but as a competitive advantage, and addresses the fear some may feel about adopting AI – often influenced by senior lawyers’ slower embrace of technological change.

Southwick also outlines three practical steps to help young lawyers confidently and responsibly navigate this evolving technology, highlights the crucial role law firms and universities play in upskilling young professionals on AI and its applications, identifies common mistakes young lawyers often make with AI and offers strategies to avoid them, and shares valuable advice on how young lawyers can harness AI to gain a competitive advantage.