How AI is Changing the Legal Game

Legal cases often start with a long and tedious process called discovery. This is where lawyers ask questions, gather documents, and argue about what should or shouldn't be shared. It's a crucial step, but it can take a lot of time and money. Jeff Schwartz, the founder of AI4Discovery, knows this process well. He has worked in both tech and law, giving him a unique perspective. He noticed that discovery is often slow and expensive, especially for lawyers representing plaintiffs (the ones suing). These lawyers get paid the same amount no matter how much time they spend, so discovery costs cut into their profits. Defense teams (the ones being sued) also face pressure. Their clients want lower costs but still expect high-quality work. So, everyone wants discovery to be faster and more efficient. Schwartz saw an opportunity to use technology to solve this problem. He created AI4Discovery, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to speed up the discovery process. The platform can generate questions, analyze responses, and even draft formal letters in minutes instead of hours. One big concern with AI is that it might make mistakes or "hallucinate" information. AI4Discovery has safeguards to prevent this. It uses a combination of AI, expert systems, and human knowledge to ensure accuracy. This means lawyers can trust the platform to handle routine tasks, freeing them up to focus on strategy and client outcomes. The platform is designed to work with existing legal technology, making it easy to integrate into law firms' workflows. It's not meant to replace lawyers but to support them. Schwartz believes that technology should save time, not add more work. While the legal industry can be slow to adopt new technology, Schwartz is hopeful. He thinks that solutions like AI4Discovery can change minds and improve the way discovery is handled.