AI, Law, and Sensible Use: A Consultant’s Perspective

AI is everywhere in legal conversations at the moment.

Some lawyers are excited.
Some are uneasy.
Most aren’t quite sure how to use it; especially if they’re practising, consulting, or thinking about working independently.

Here’s my honest view, based on actually using AI in legal and consultancy work!

AI does not replace legal judgement

AI cannot assess risk properly.
It can’t weigh commercial nuance.
It can’t take responsibility for advice.

And it certainly can’t practice law.

What it can do (when used deliberately) is remove a lot of friction from how we work.

Where AI is genuinely useful for lawyers

Used well, AI works best as:

• a thinking assistant

• a first-draft generator

• a workflow smoother

In practice, that might mean:

• turning rough notes into a clear structure

• summarising long documents so you know where to focus

• outlining client updates or internal emails

• creating a skeleton for articles, posts, or guidance that you then refine

That word matters: skeleton.

AI should never be the finished product.
It gets you past the blank page and you bring the judgement, tone, and accountability.

Where people go wrong

Problems arise when AI is used:

• blindly

• lazily

• or as a substitute for thinking

That’s when quality drops and risk creeps in (and a negligence claim waiting to happen)

Used without oversight, AI is dangerous.
Used intentionally, it’s extremely helpful.

Why this matters more if you’re consulting

For consultants, time is a finite resource.

AI can:

• reduce admin

• shorten non-billable work admin

• help produce consistent, professional content

• make workflows lighter and more sustainable

What it should not do is:

• replace your voice

• replace your expertise

• tempt you into producing noise instead of value

Don’t be scared of it BUT be deliberate

AI isn’t something to fear or idolise

It’s just a tool.

And like any tool in legal work, the question is:

• when to use it

• how to use it

• and when not to

That discernment is part of senior legal judgement; it's not a threat to it.

This comes up often in conversations I have with lawyers building consultancy practices, because once you’re working independently, how you structure your workflows really matters.

Used properly, AI doesn’t replace lawyers.

It gives good lawyers their time back.

So don't be scared, embrace it - but just remember who is boss!