AI and the Future of Law

Discover how AI is reshaping legal education and the apprenticeship model. The hosts share innovative uses of AI, like custom GPTs for arbitration coaching and citation enhancements. They ponder the decline of traditional training methods and advocate for a structured approach to legal education. Key partnerships, like Harvey with LexisNexis, could signal a major shift in legal workflows. With a focus on accessibility and the future of training, this discussion highlights the opportunities and challenges AI presents in the legal field.

In Episode 27, hosts Jen Leonard and Bridget McCormack kick off a new chapter with a fresh name — AI and the Future of Law — and a new presenting partnership with the Practising Law Institute (PLI), in collaboration with the American Arbitration Association. The rebrand reflects their evolving mission while keeping the heart of the podcast intact: accessible, thought-provoking insights on how AI is reshaping the legal profession.Listeners can expect the same candid co-host dialogue, plus a broader range of formats, including expert interviews. In this bite-sized bonus episode, Jen and Bridget celebrate the new launch and share personal “AI Aha!” moments — from ChatGPT-powered tick identification in Michigan to motivational coaching for long-distance runs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean when AI outperforms law students? In this episode, Jen and Bridget explore a groundbreaking study showing that OpenAI’s latest model, O3, earned A+ grades on actual law school finals — outperforming top students in multiple subjects. But that’s just one part of the story.Episode Highlights(3:02) Bridget’s latest “AI Aha!” — using ChatGPT to design and facilitate a 300-person workshop in under 60 minutes(7:13) Jen’s latest “AI Aha!” — leveraging Deep Research to uncover funding leads and pitch differentiators for a nonprofit project(11:53) Meta’s $14.8 billion investment in Scale AI and the race for superintelligence(18:22) OpenAI’s new integrations with Gmail, Slack, and Asana — and what that means for legal workflows and privacy(23:02) A new study shows ChatGPT earning A+ grades on law school finals — prompting urgent questions about legal education, assessment, and what skills truly matterKey Questions We Explore:- Are traditional law exams still relevant?- How should law schools and employers adapt?- What new skills matter most in an AI-enabled legal future?#ChatGPT #LegalTech #FutureOfLaw #AIinEducation #OpenAI #MetaAI #LegalInnovation #2030VisionPodcastAI and the Future of Law is your essential podcast for understanding how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the legal industry. Hosted by Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard, each episode delves into cutting-edge technologies, trends, and strategies, providing invaluable insights for legal professionals, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of law. Join us as we navigate the evolving landscape of AI, empowering the legal community to thrive in an era of unprecedented innovation.Produced by Aaron Tran for the American Arbitration Association Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Highlights(03:27) Bridget’s AI Aha: Building “Bridget’s Second Brain” using ChatGPT and Microsoft tools(11:05) Jen’s AI Aha: AI itineraries, sci-fi style research, and nail polish via ChatGPT(17:30) What Just Happened: The firehose of announcements from Google I/O(24:28) Claude Opus 4 and the “grown, not built” philosophy at Anthropic(37:59) Microsoft’s AI plumbing: Connecting court systems and scaling impact(41:08) OpenAI & Jony Ive: Rethinking hardware for a world beyond screensEpisode DescriptionIs it possible to keep up with AI when the pace of innovation feels like a firehose? Jen Leonard and Bridget McCormack recap an extraordinary week of AI announcements from Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic—and explain why every lawyer should be paying attention. From Claude Opus 4’s “grown, not built” philosophy to Sam Altman’s $6.5B play to redesign hardware with Jony Ive, the future of AI is arriving fast—and it's already changing how legal professionals work.Bridget shares how ChatGPT helped her build a personal “Second Brain” for organizing professional chaos, while Jen experiments with AI trip planning, voice-mode research, and on-the-go translation. They also dive into the generational shift in how engineers and researchers think about innovation—“We’ll solve for that”—and why the legal world needs to adopt that mindset.If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to explore AI tools, this is your wake-up call. Because the most important takeaway from this episode? You’re not too late. But you don’t want to fall further behind.Key TakeawaysGoogle isn’t just adding AI—they’re rebuilding their entire ecosystem around it. With Gemini integrated into search, docs, and even hardware, the tools lawyers already use are becoming AI-native by default.Claude Opus 4 Isn’t Just Smart—It’s Reflective: With its “grown, not built” mindset, Claude challenges how we understand AI. It’s not about perfect outputs—it’s about persistent, deep reasoning over time, something law needs but rarely builds for.Microsoft’s AI Infrastructure Fix: Microsoft’s announcements focused on data plumbing—connecting siloed systems in courts and governments. It may not be sexy, but it’s foundational for real change in justice delivery.OpenAI + Jony Ive = No More Screens?: With a $6.5B move to reimagine AI hardware, OpenAI is chasing the next interface revolution—wearables, voice-first tools, and frictionless access to intelligence, far beyond the browser.We’ll Solve for That” Is the Mindset Law Needs: Engineers assume problems are solvable. Lawyers assume problems are risks. That cultural mismatch is why the legal field lags in AI adoption—and what needs to change first.It’s Not Too Late. Catch Up Fast: The AI tools are here, and most people haven’t used them. Starting today puts you just weeks behind the front of the pack—not years. There’s still time to lead, not lag.KeywordsAI in law, OpenAI, Anthropic, Claude Opus 4, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, Jony Ive, ChatGPT voice mode, legal innovation, legal tech, AI, court system integration, AI safety, AGI, future of work, AI strategy, innovation mindset2030 Vision: AI and the Future of Law is your essential podcast for understanding how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the legal industry. Hosted by Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard, each episode delves into cutting-edge technologies, trends, and strategies, providing invaluable insights for legal professionals, tech enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of law. Join us as we navigate the evolving landscape of AI, empowering the legal community to thrive in an era of unprecedented innovation.Produced by Aaron Tran for the American Arbitration Association Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of 2030 Vision, Jen Leonard and Bridget McCormack explore OpenAI’s surprising executive reshuffle, Google's declining grip on search to the UK’s official authorization of Garfield Law, the first an AI-native law firm.Jen and Bridget analyze the implications of Garfield AI's regulatory approval, the practical limits of paraprofessional models in the U.S., and how agile regulation could unlock innovation while maintaining public trust. They also examine the concept of Jae Um’s "Bionic Boutiques", law firms that blend elite legal expertise with AI-powered agents and debate how this model could redefine leverage, value, and access to justice.They share personal insights on using AI to evaluate website quality and prepare for a live television interview, while reflecting on broader shifts in legal education, practice, and client service as the profession adapts to a world rapidly approaching AGI.Episode Highlights:(2:54) Bridget’s AI Aha! From foraging on the Appalachian Trail to prepping for live TV, Bridget shares how AI helped identify mushrooms and simulate interview feedback.(4:48) Jen’s AI Aha! Jen runs her website through Ogilvy’s marketing taxonomy—then gets ChatGPT to tailor it for legal audiences. Game-changer for law firm sites.(7:03) What Just Happened at OpenAI OpenAI appoints a second CEO. Are they splitting responsibilities ahead of AGI? And what does it mean for the future of applications?(12:38) Google’s Antitrust Trial & Search Decline Apple execs reveal Google Search usage is dropping—for the first time in 20 years. Is AI replacing traditional search?(15:58) Garfield AI: UK’s First AI-Only Law Firm Meet Garfield Law: approved by UK regulators to deliver legal services entirely through AI. What does this mean for U.S. regulation?(29:58) Bionic Boutiques & the Future of Legal Practice Jae Um’s bold predictions: $10K/hour partners, AI agents doing associate work, and billion-dollar firms with zero overhead. Are bionic boutiques the next big shift?Key Discussion Points:OpenAI's structural shakeup and the race toward AGIGoogle’s search engine under threat from AI tools like ChatGPT and PerplexityRegulatory differences between the U.S. and UK on legal AI toolsGarfield Law: The first AI-native law firm approved to practiceThe future of legal service delivery: Bionic boutiques and paraprofessionalsWhat legal education and junior roles might look like in an AI worldKeywords: AI in law, Garfield Law, OpenAI, AGI, regulation, bionic boutiques, legal tech, legal education, Google vs ChatGPT, access to justice, future of workAbout the Podcast: 2030 Vision: AI and the Future of Law is your essential guide to how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal profession. Hosted by Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard, this podcast dives into cutting-edge AI technologies, their applications, and the trends shaping the future of law. Join us to stay informed, inspired, and prepared for the AI revolution.Produced by: Aaron Tran for the American Arbitration Association. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A captivating study reveals that AI bots are far more persuasive than human lawyers, even convincing Reddit users with ease. As AI technologies like OpenAI’s O3 reshape legal argumentation, the hosts delve into how these advancements challenge traditional advocacy. They discuss the evolving role of memory-enabled AI in legal workflows and highlight the dangers of AI bias in generated content. With clients and judges likely utilizing AI, the podcast poses critical questions about the future of law and the necessary adaptations for legal professionals.

Is it possible that not using AI could soon be seen as unethical for lawyers? Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard dive into two recent Georgia cases where savvy use of AI helped lawyers win major verdicts and why these examples could signal a turning point in professional responsibility.Along the way, Bridget shares her AI "aha" moment with ChatGPT acting as a woods guide (and porcupine expert), while Jen explores how AI’s voice mode turbocharged her workflow. They also unpack the provocative AI 2027 Report, which predicts a near-future explosion of superintelligent AI and its impact on law, society, and ethics.From personal injury trials to global AI arms races, this episode challenges listeners to reimagine what “competence” looks like in a rapidly evolving profession and why AI isn’t just a tool, but a future teammate you can’t afford to ignore.Episode Highlights:(02:54) Bridget’s AI Aha: Using ChatGPT as a nature guide and getting schooled on porcupines(05:49) Jen’s AI Aha: Voice-mode website editing and using ElevenLabs for hands-free learning(9:50) What Just Happened: Exploring the AI 2027 Report and the path to superintelligence(19:16) Lawyers, Ethics, and AI: Two Georgia cases show why ethical duties may be shifting(23:45) Rethinking Client Advocacy: Why using AI could become a new professional mandateKey Discussion Points:How AI is changing everyday problem-solving and new ways AI assistants boost productivity and creativity in professional work.The AI 2027 Forecast: Why researchers believe super intelligent AI could arrive by 2027—and what that means for law and society.Two medical malpractice cases illustrate how AI-assisted research and storytelling can transform trial outcomes.Why integrating AI thoughtfully may soon be required for ethical, client-centered lawyering.What rising anxiety around AI means for lawyers and their clients.How AI levels the playing field for plaintiffs’ lawyers, solo practitioners, and small firms.Keywords:AI and law, legal ethics, AI 2027 report, superintelligence, legal tech, ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, legal innovation, plaintiff lawyering, change management, client-centered lawyering, trial strategy, research automation, professional responsibility, future of work, AI accelerationAbout the Podcast:2030 Vision: AI and the Future of Law is your essential guide to how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal profession. Hosted by Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard, this podcast dives into cutting-edge AI technologies, their applications, and the trends shaping the future of law. Join us to stay informed, inspired, and prepared for the AI revolution.Produced by: Aaron Tran for the American Arbitration Association. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bridget McCormack and Jen Leonard dive into the fascinating world of AI's role in law, showcasing insights from the VAL benchmarking report. They discuss how AI tools not only rival but sometimes outperform human lawyers in efficiency. The concept of 'cybernetic teammates' is explored, highlighting AI's potential to boost collaboration and morale. The conversation shifts to the future of legal practice, where AI may dismantle traditional specializations and reshape junior lawyer development, urging legal leaders to embrace transformative change.

In this special discussion, co-hosts unveil a groundbreaking AI course tailored for legal professionals. They emphasize the importance of mindset over mere tools in driving innovation. The conversation highlights the need for a culture of curiosity and adaptability within law firms. They explore the role of leadership in fostering collaboration and navigating the rapidly evolving legal landscape. Listeners can expect practical takeaways on integrating AI into legal education, making them proactive change agents in their fields.

The discussion centers on AI's transformative role in the legal profession, emphasizing the need for transparency and leadership. Personal experiences highlight AI's efficiency in legal work and the demanding skills for future lawyers. Recent advancements in AI models, including Google's innovations and upcoming iterations, are examined. The potential impact of artificial general intelligence on society is explored, alongside the necessity for legal education to pivot towards human-centric skills. The importance of ethical reasoning is underscored as legal practitioners adapt to this evolving landscape.