Tech Talk: Law firm uses AI to pursue justice for clients

An increasing number of law firms across the country have adopted technology tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve efficiency in their daily operations. AI is helping streamline routine tasks, assist in drafting court briefs and motions, and enhance interactions with potential clients—enabling firms to more quickly and accurately assess whether a client has a viable case or legitimate claim.

Palace Law in Tacoma embraced AI years ago, using it to help make internal office functions more efficient, from sifting through documents sent to them during discovery to researching precedent-setting cases in law books, and much more.

For instance, if they developed a medical malpractice case, Palace explained AI-driven research “…may give us the predictive outcome of the case, help us identify the cost of the case, look through all the medical records, and lay out all the important pieces there. It may even write briefs from one end of the case to the other.”

However, for Palace Law’s founder, Patrick Palace, the power of AI goes beyond assisting his fellow lawyers. He prefers to use it to help clients understand the law and their rights, especially those who are too often overlooked and underserved.

“The poorest amongst us have the most legal issues because they have to fight with so many different government agencies and entities and companies, and they find themselves taken advantage of constantly, and they just give up,” Palace said. “I really believe law should not be for the rich, it should be for everyone.”

Palace started thinking about new, innovative ways to better serve clients the moment he cracked open his first law book. Thirty years later, his firm developed “PatBot,” an AI-driven online chatbot that clients can interact with to answer questions about their potential case and other cases like it, while an online calculator helps tell clients how much money their claim may be worth.

“And it will give you a response. It will give you the information you need,” Palace said. “It will cite you the law.”

According to a recent American Bar Association (ABA) survey, 30% of responding lawyers use AI, suggesting AI is becoming more mainstream in the legal profession. However, Palace warned AI shouldn’t be considered a replacement for face-to-face meetings with an attorney, and added AI tools are “not legal advice, but legal information.”

AI hallucinations

The same ABA survey showed that 76% of people who responded are concerned about so-called AI-generated hallucinations.

Palace said he’s seen hallucinations firsthand.

“You ask AI for information about the law, and it makes up cases,” Palace said.

He also remains optimistic about future iterations and evolving technology in AI platforms.

“As things progress, these issues become more understood, the systems become closed and protected, and we can worry less and less about it,” Palace said.

Palace, the incoming president of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, said he’s energized by the potential of AI to level the playing field—offering powerful tools to lawyers, but especially clients who often feel the legal system is stacked against them.

“Bridging that gap to provide greater access to more people,” Palace said. “Helping scale out the power of law to equalize the world and bring justice.”

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