The demands on a modern attorney extend far beyond the confines of a traditional office. In an era of constant mobility, lawyers often find themselves working on the road—traveling to meet clients, attending court hearings, conducting depositions, or for a variety of other reasons. Although technology has evolved to the point that we can work on the road about as efficiently as in the office respecting most matters, traveling still presents some challenges that can make work on the road more difficult. ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI)–powered virtual assistant, can revolutionize the way attorneys work while on the move. In this article, we explore how ChatGPT can provide valuable assistance to attorneys practicing on the road, enhancing their productivity, efficiency, and overall effectiveness.
ChatGPT: Benefits for Mobile Lawyers
When ChatGPT first came out, it had severe limitations in comparison to the most recent iteration, ChatGPT 4. ChatGPT 4 has the ability to utilize legal analysis in its work, making it a potential assistant in a great many legal tasks. In fact, ChatGPT has advanced so far that it has the ability to successfully take and pass a bar exam (demonstrated in essays, multistate multiple choice, and a practical segment). ChatGPT 4 scored in the 90th percentile of bar examination takers, well above the pass rate and better than most of the examinees who passed the bar. This shows considerable advancement from its predecessor; ChatGPT 3 managed to pass some law school exams but failed the bar exam.
Expect that ChatGPT will continue to improve and acquire new capabilities while improving on those it already has. As it does so, it can evolve into an increasingly helpful supporting technology for most attorneys, both in and out of the office. For mobile attorneys, it can provide support that they otherwise would not likely have on the road. Some of the things ChatGPT can already do to assist lawyers in the office and on the road include:
Legal Research
Attorneys need access to comprehensive and up-to-date legal research. ChatGPT can act as a portable research tool, allowing attorneys to access case law, statutes, regulations, and legal opinions with just a few keystrokes. By leveraging its vast knowledge base and natural language processing capabilities, ChatGPT can provide attorneys with quick answers to legal questions, helping lawyers stay informed and make well-founded decisions. Attorneys can ask ChatGPT about recent legal developments and precedent-setting cases or even seek clarification on complex legal concepts. It can also assist lawyers in formulating queries for their online law libraries.
Document Drafting
Drafting legal documents, such as contracts, pleadings, and demand letters, takes a fair amount of time. ChatGPT can act as a virtual assistant, providing suggestions, templates, and language recommendations to mobile lawyers during the drafting process. By inputting key information and desired outcomes, lawyers can receive tailored document templates that adhere to legal requirements and best practices. This feature not only can accelerate the drafting process but also can help ensure the accuracy and quality of legal documents. Additionally, ChatGPT can proofread and review documents, spotting errors, suggesting edits, and improving the overall quality of the written material.
Document Review
Analyzing and reviewing documents is a crucial part of a lawyer’s work. Mobile lawyers can leverage ChatGPT’s natural language processing capabilities to analyze contracts, legal briefs, and other legal documents. ChatGPT can assist in identifying relevant clauses, potential issues, and inconsistencies in existing documents, thus saving valuable time for lawyers. Furthermore, ChatGPT can generate summaries of lengthy documents, enabling mobile lawyers to extract key information.
Calendar and Task Management
Attorneys on the road need to deal with managing their schedules and staying on top of tasks. ChatGPT can serve as a personal assistant, helping attorneys organize calendars, set reminders for important deadlines, and manage to-do lists. Attorneys can use ChatGPT to schedule meetings, send meeting reminders, and prioritize tasks, helping them ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
Client Communication and Support
Attorneys need to maintain effective communication with clients, even while away from the office. ChatGPT can assist in managing client inquiries, providing answers to frequently asked questions, and offering updates on case progress. Attorneys can leverage ChatGPT to compose and review client emails, respond to client questions promptly, and keep clients informed about the latest developments in their cases. Additionally, ChatGPT can assist in setting up virtual meetings or conference calls, enabling attorneys to stay connected with clients regardless of their physical location.
Translation and Interpretation
In an increasingly globalized legal landscape, attorneys may encounter language barriers while practicing on the road. ChatGPT can act as a language translation and interpretation tool, helping attorneys communicate with clients, witnesses, or colleagues who speak different languages. Attorneys can input phrases or questions, and ChatGPT will provide accurate translations or interpretations in real time, facilitating effective communication and avoiding misunderstandings.
Legal Knowledge Base Creation
Attorneys frequently encounter unique legal scenarios and, while on the road, may not have immediate access to colleagues or legal resources for guidance or assistance. ChatGPT can help in the analysis of such situations. It can also help by serving as a knowledge base, allowing lawyers to document their experiences, strategies, and insights. By feeding ChatGPT with case summaries, strategies, and successful arguments, lawyers can create a personalized legal knowledge base. Attorneys can continuously update the knowledge base and access it to assist them in future cases, thus enhancing their expertise and efficiency.
Workflow Automation
Mobile lawyers often find it challenging to manage their workload efficiently due to the absence of a physical office and support staff. ChatGPT can automate routine administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments, sending reminders, organizing case files, and managing deadlines. By integrating ChatGPT with existing practice management software, mobile lawyers can streamline their workflow, reduce manual effort, and focus on the core aspects of their legal practice.