Navigating the New Sources of Electronically Stored Information

Emerging technologies are expected to have a significant impact on the legal profession, both in terms of new electronic devices containing discoverable information as well as the increased use of artificial intelligence to perform tasks typically performed by attorneys.

New technologies, forms of communication and data formats entering the marketplace present challenges as to how to locate, preserve, analyze and ultimately produce relevant information from these sources during a litigation matter.

The rise of artificial intelligence has led some to predict that lawyers may be the next profession to be replaced by computers. However, the more likely outcome is that, in the near term, artificial intelligence will only have a significant impact on those routine tasks performed by attorneys that can be standardized or that fit within a defined structure of rules (e.g., document review, will writing, real estate closings, etc.).