A Texas attorney agrees with a new report which concludes there is no need to worry about robots replacing lawyers and offering their own legal advice… yet.

"I think as a general matter people freak out about AI and they overreact and they panic," said Josh Blackman, a South Texas College of Law Houston professor whose expertise includes the intersection of law and technology. "The short answer is that computers won't replace lawyers. They'll simply assist them in different ways." 

In "What Jobs are Affected by AI?" the Brookings Institution concluded the legal industry is the least exposed to AI, but AI-backed advanced analytics, legal research and document creation are removing some human-powered tasks while allowing lawyers to improve their counseling and work more creatively.

For instance, AI software will most likely automate document review and routine contract creation and allow lawyers to perform less "drudge" work, said Jackson Lewis principal and national e-discovery counsel Ralph Losey.

"They are already making AI that can create these contracts. I understand what lawyers do, it's not all that special, it doesn't require creativity or real thinking but a logic game of putting things together," Losey noted. Instead of performing those routine tasks as AI adoption increases, most lawyers will supervise and review the AI-backed software's results, he said.

However, the growing adoption of AI in the profession could lead to fewer paralegals, administrative assistants and associates. Indeed, the Brookings report noted, "While lawyers may still make the ultimate decisions, lower-level researchers and paralegals may see their ranks dwindle as AI saves firms time and improves accuracy."

In turn, a smaller fraction of lawyers will solve clients' challenges by pairing advanced analytics with the traits AI software doesn't have, such as interpersonal and creativity skills, Losey added.

Spencer Fane partner John Browning agreed the amount and types of work available for some entry-level associates may decline, and he noted any lawyer reluctant to embrace technology could be replaced.

"Lawyers that don't adopt AI where appropriate as AI adoption becomes more commonplace is going to find themselves on the outside looking in," Browning said.

He explained the push for greater AI adoption will come from outside the law firm. "It's largely client-driven, the clients we represent may be using various technology. They are going to look to their outside counsel to share that same mindset."

But, Browning doesn't think the need for tech-created efficiency and speed will replace the specialties of a human lawyer.

"I think it's exaggerated. I'm not ready to kneel to our robot overlords yet," he said.