There’s a lot of talk about artificial intelligence, and for good reason: Montreal is a hub for this cutting-edge field that is already omnipresent in our daily lives. From Siri on your iPhone to facial recognition on Facebook, artificial intelligence (“AI”) is becoming established everywhere, quickly and for good.

Managing risks

AI reduced to its simplest expression is a set of technologies that aim to simulate human intelligence. You will therefore not be surprised that the smartest lawyers are already using AI! However, most of these tools are not yet fully adapted to our Quebec civil law and do not yet master the language of Molière. With the increase in the number of cyberattacks and more demanding legislation regarding the protection of personal information, it is necessary to understand the machine well. In particular, it is necessary to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to manage risks.

In 2018, Lavery Avocats set up the Lavery Legal Laboratory on Artificial Intelligence (“L3IA”). Since its creation, the L3IA has already analyzed and tested more than 50 AI tools. Some have been integrated into our practice and strategies. We actively collaborate on the implementation of various AI projects and work closely with researchers in this field.

Better quality control

Concretely, with AI, I can free myself from tasks that do not add value, because the technology performs certain repetitive and predictable operations with unrivaled speed and precision. For example, AI can review a large volume of documents during a transaction to extract the relevant elements, without forgetting or getting tired. Lawyers can also have their documents reviewed by an AI system that will flag ambiguities and contradictions. The lawyer produces a perfect document for his client more quickly and more reliably. Thanks to these tools, we improve our productivity while ensuring better quality control. These advantages translate into cost and time savings for both the lawyer and his client: everyone wins!

AI in the legal field goes even further: fully virtual courts have emerged, and platforms already allow people to settle certain disputes. This means that AI, instead of dehumanizing the law, improves access to justice.

Humans first

However, you will quickly see that the strategic contribution and expertise of the lawyer remain irreplaceable. After all, it is not Me Selena-Bot who will negotiate your commercial lease or who will think with you about your expansion plan. The human remains at the heart of the relationship of trust between the lawyer and his client. I will therefore be there to stay (lucky me!) and help you take advantage of these new technologies!