Technology is advancing, and this consequently leads to a greater use of AI, the cloud, and similar technologies. The goal of companies is clearly to keep up with technology but, above all, to improve their processes with lower costs and times. In the legal world, technology that makes everything more automated is called Legal Tech, while the technology that enables external parties to be more autonomous is called Law Tech. As can be seen, technology is a great ally of law firms. However, it not only brings benefits but also entails risks, making companies more susceptible to cyberattacks, for example.
Among the tools most used by lawyers are artificial intelligence platforms - including ChatGPT but also sites specifically tailored to the legal sector, such as "AI Contract Assist by Lexion." Through AI, lawyers can minimize the time spent reading documents by asking the platform to summarize them or simply extract key points. Additionally, AI is also capable of drafting documents or providing legal information. Although one might think that the traditional lawyer can be replaced by these new technologies, this is a hypothesis that is still far from reality. This is not only due to people's skepticism but also because AI lacks emotion and media skills.
Equally popular in the legal sector are cloud platforms where all documents can be stored electronically in a secure and convenient manner.
The most daring, however, even dare to open a law firm in the metaverse; that is, a completely virtual law firm that offers services on digital platforms. Although it is a very enticing alternative for both the team and the client's side, cybersecurity remains a sore point. However, technology has developed cutting-edge programs to help companies maintain a certain level of security. In any case, it is important to emphasize that all law firms are aware of the risks and take steps to protect their clients' data from external entities, including authorities and involved individuals.
Clearly, professionals must ensure that they take the right precautions, as a breach of attorney-client privilege could be punishable under Article 321 of the Swiss Penal Code. Therefore, professionals, while embracing this new way of working, must continue to provide their services as they always have, incorporating this new technology to facilitate and expedite case processing.