Automation is the act of using a machine to perform a task or a process usually done by a human in order to “improve the process,” perhaps by increasing the speed of the process and/or reducing the necessary human labor or effort. Legal automation typically refers to the Machine execution of legal tasks, likely related to document and workflow Automation, expert systems/decision automation, robotic process automation, chatbots, and app developments. When lawyers are able to automate tasks, they do so by constructing digital workflows that meet their specific needs and can eventually work without their intervention. Automation can take over high-volume, repetitive tasks that might otherwise lead to burnout, giving the handy lawyer greater access to their competitive edge.
A workflow is a set of questions or data points that generate a particular set of documents via a “decision tree.” Automated workflows might look like mails and form fills that can be converted into service requests, calendar events and invites that can be created and sent, or work items that can be assigned/routed to the appropriate person at the same time that workloads are distributed by volume, time, or other criteria, alongside emails or alerts that connote changing statuses of work items. Of course, the possibilities for customization are endless; alerts can be set up to warn of approaching deadlines or past deadlines, and data can be synchronized whenever an email is received, or a form is filled.
By using these automated processes, a lawyer can enjoy higher productivity and efficiency without having to be bogged down in administrative or “housekeeping” work, hopefully saving them time to focus on the more important matters at hand and allowing them to not spend so many late nights at the office. Increases in productivity among lawyers also result in savings for firms that do not have to worry as much about burnout and can watch, before their eyes, the streamlining of billable hours. Opportunities for collaboration also arise cleanly with the use of automation; the cohesive nature of automated content makes it simple for members of teams from other departments within a company to view and contribute to, and of course, when emails, feedback requests, notifications, and alerts are automated, there is an ease in contact withthe elimination of lapses in conversation or “dropping the ball.” Using automation that automatically assigns tasks to particular employees also clarifies the responsibilities of all team members, aiding in transparent accountability and allowing managerial teams to better track the progress of projects and manage deadlines.
Time and time again, when dealing with technological advancements such as automations, and the introductions of AI-reliant technologies, it seems appropriate to reinforce the concept of synergy and enhancement rather than competition and demise for professionals. Those who can successfully work and grow with emergent technologies will be rewarded, not replaced. Perhaps the best way to approach these advancements is to analogize the legal field to the medical profession. When laparoscopic surgery became accessible, allowing for minimal scarring for patients, surgeons who learned these procedures could improve their patients' lives and make themselves more- not less- desirable.
