Can computers practice law? Many are inclined to say yes when using them affects us in so many ways. But how far can—or will—we go to automate dispute resolution?

Everyone associated with legal technology supports the use of computers in managing the practice of law. Years ago, many of the tasks easily accomplished today with computer assistance could not be accomplished at all. A simple time-delimited search for a case by category in a single court would have been unthinkable without a system like Reed Elsevier's LexisNexis or Thomson Reuters' Westlaw.

As technology evolves, computerization will be used increasingly to support legal practice and it will become more mobile as well. Offices are unnecessary for many except to promote camaraderie. Camaraderie is critical even as people annoy each other more; it is so much easier to rely on electronics for interaction. As we increase our dependency on devices, we actually have more disputes and misunderstanding. We do things and track things with computers just because we can, and so create entire categories of additional legal work.