Couture, Robert J. “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Law Firms’ Business Models.” Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession, 25 Feb. 2025, https://clp.law.harvard.edu/knowledge-hub/insights/the-impact-of-artificial-intelligence-on-law-law-firms-business-models//.
To gain a qualitative understanding of AI’s impacts on the operation of law firms throughout the United States, Couture interviewed ten Chief Operating Officers from some of the largest law firms in the country.
Couture’s article focuses on AI’s growing presence as a tool accessible to attorneys in large law firms. Despite growing concern, Couture’s interviews reflected little change to the traditional structure of law firms. The process of billing by the hour and the number of staff in a firm is not projected to change. Rather, law firms are predicting a shift of focus within the firm. Rather than billing fewer hours or using fewer people, law firms hope that AI can be utilized to reduce the time spent on collecting information, allowing for more time to be devoted to analysis and the application of information. Overall, firms hope this results in stronger performance from their attorneys, rather than an overhaul of their business structure.
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