Which Lawyers Will Be Replaced?

Legal tech consultant D. Casey Flaherty surveys a range of opinions on the question of machines vs lawyers, and more specifically to what extent the former will replace the latter. What’s clear is that automation of legal functions is proceeding apace – a pace that will surely do nothing but quicken, and the legal profession is not immune from “automation anxiety,” and probably for good reason. One scenario holds there will be a some dislocation, but it likely will include a redeployment from lower into higher value activities. On the other hand, the author notes, no one “seems to have any idea what higher value activities these dislocated resources are going to be redeployed to do.”