Can AI Make Lawyers Better? Daniel Schwarcz on Legal Reasoning

Legal training in adversarial processes—such as probing for precision and identifying counter-arguments—provides an ideal foundation for effectively leveraging artificial intelligence. Recent empirical research involving law students reveals that AI-assisted synthesis of legal materials can enhance performance in subsequent application tasks, challenging the assumption that AI inherently impairs cognitive development. However, relying on AI for revision under time constraints can diminish the quality of work, particularly for high performers who may inadvertently sacrifice precision when deferring to automated outputs. To mitigate risks, legal professionals should utilize AI for discrete, bite-sized tasks while maintaining rigorous, traditional training for foundational skills. While AI promises to transform legal practice, its integration requires a balanced approach that prioritizes human oversight and continuous evaluation of both the technology and the user's analytical capabilities.