Legal AI Live

Mathew Kerbis, The Subscription Attorney

Legal AI Live is a monthly live event on LinkedIn where legal educators and practitioners get together to discuss what they learned in AI over the last month. https://www.legalailive.com/ www.legalailive.com

  1. FEB 9

    (22) Legal AI Live, January 2026, Part 2

    January 2026, Part 2, Top 5 Takeaways: 1. Delegation Skills Are Essential for Working with AI. The ability to delegate effectively to AI is critical - treating AI like a team member or associate. Good managers who can clearly communicate tasks, ask for clarifying questions, and have AI summarize back what it will do are most successful with AI tools. 2. Process Mapping and Workflow Definition Are Key. As AI becomes more agentic, lawyers need to clearly define SOPs (standard operating procedures) and workflows. Many struggle to set up AI agents because they can’t articulate the exact process they want automated. Being able to map out processes is becoming essential. 3. Interrogation and Verification Skills Matter More Than Tool Mastery. The ability to interrogate AI results, asking “Can this be trusted?”, “What was left out?”, “Where did it go wrong?” is more valuable than learning specific tools. Red-teaming AI outputs and using structured protocols to verify statistics and claims is critical. 4. AI Consistently Fails at Creative Storytelling and Writing Quality. While AI can process facts and law, it struggles with creative legal storytelling, framing arguments compellingly, and producing writing that doesn’t need editing. It lacks the narrative skills needed for jury persuasion and compelling advocacy. 5. The Biggest Risk Is User Error, Not Tool Failure. AI failures typically stem from users not providing proper context (relevant cases, statutes, facts), using the wrong tool for the job, or not understanding terms of service. The risk isn’t the AI itself – it’s lawyers not knowing how to use it properly or putting sensitive client information into unsecured tools. Bonus insight: Voice-based interaction is becoming essential – speaking to AI (e.g., 300 words/minute) can be twice as fast as typing (e.g., 125 words/minute) and provides richer context for better results. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.legalailive.com

    29 min
  2. FEB 5

    (21) Legal AI Live, January 2026, Part 1

    January 2026, Part 1, Top 5 Takeaways: 1. Voice-Based AI Interaction is Gaining Traction. Multiple panelists highlighted the shift from typing to speaking with AI tools. Whispr Flow emerged as a key tool for voice-to-text prompting across applications, making AI interaction more natural and efficient. The consensus: talking to AI rather than typing is becoming essential for productivity. 2. Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) Will Become Standard. RAG - grounding AI outputs in verified sources rather than pure generation - is expected to become boring but essential by year’s end. This addresses the hallucination problem that’s gotten lawyers in trouble and ensures AI provides factually grounded answers, especially critical for legal work. 3. AI-Powered Client Intake is Normalizing. AI chatbots and receptionists for client intake are predicted to become as standard as traditional answering services. Firms without these tools may fall behind as clients come to expect instant, AI-powered initial interactions. 4. Continuous Case Assessment with AI is Transforming Litigation Strategy. Rather than static case evaluations, lawyers are using AI for ongoing reassessment after depositions, rulings, and document discoveries. This dynamic approach allows testing arguments before filing and continuously refining litigation strategy. 5. Custom Instructions and Personalization are Critical. The ability to tune AI with custom instructions - setting voice, tone, preferences, and workflows - is becoming so important that using someone else’s AI setup will feel foreign. Personalization is shifting from nice-to-have to essential for effective AI use. Bonus insight: The panelists emphasized that AI-adjacent skills (like prompt engineering, context curation, and critical evaluation of AI outputs) matter more than mastering specific tools, which will continue to evolve rapidly. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.legalailive.com

    28 min
  3. JAN 13

    (20) Legal AI Live, December 2025, Part 2

    December 2025, Part 2, Top 5 Takeaways: * AI Agents Are Evolving, but Definitions and Expectations Vary. The panel discussed the rise of “agentic” AI—tools that can autonomously perform tasks or string together workflows. However, there’s debate about what truly counts as an “agent,” and most panelists agree we’re still in the early days of practical, reliable AI agents. * Human Oversight Remains Essential. While AI agents and automation are advancing, the consensus is that human involvement is still crucial—especially in law. AI should augment, not replace, professionals. Oversight ensures quality, ethical use, and helps avoid over-reliance on “black box” systems. * Focus on Practical Impact, Not Hype. The group emphasized the importance of using AI to solve real problems in the legal industry, rather than getting caught up in hype or chasing every new tool. The goal is to improve workflows, client service, and industry outcomes—not just to experiment for experimentation’s sake. * Continuous Learning and Community Are Key. With rapid AI advancements, it’s impossible to keep up with everything. Panelists recommend focusing on your interests, joining relevant communities (both legal and non-legal), and leveraging podcasts, newsletters, and peer groups to stay informed without being overwhelmed. * Legal Education and Training Must Adapt. As AI tools become more integrated into legal work, both legal education and ongoing professional development need to evolve. The panel called for more practical, apprenticeship-style training and for law schools to teach not just technology, but also how to think critically and ethically about AI’s role in practice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.legalailive.com

    36 min
  4. JAN 6

    (19) Legal AI Live, December 2025, Part 1

    December 2025, Part 1, Top 5 Takeaways: * AI Tools Are Now Essential in Legal Practice. All panelists described how AI has become a daily part of their work—whether for document drafting, research, translation, or workflow automation. Tools like NotebookLM and custom GPTs are now integral to legal professionals’ routines. * Vibe Coding and No-Code Platforms Are Transforming Workflows. Several panelists highlighted the rise of “vibe coding” and no-code/low-code platforms, which allow legal professionals to build custom solutions and automate tasks without needing developers. This shift is streamlining collaboration and enabling more personalized, efficient workflows. * AI as a Reliable First Draft and Research Assistant. AI is now “boringly reliable” for tasks like generating first drafts, summarizing complex documents, and providing starting points for legal research. While not perfect for final outputs, AI excels at overcoming the blank page problem and accelerating content production. * The Importance of Human Oversight and Critical Thinking. Despite AI’s advances, panelists stressed the need for human review—especially to catch errors like incorrect citations or to ensure nuanced legal analysis. The best results come from “human-in-the-loop” or “human-on-the-loop” approaches, combining AI’s speed with expert’s judgment and intervention. * Continuous Experimentation and Adaptation Are Key. The legal AI landscape is evolving rapidly. Panelists encouraged ongoing experimentation with new tools, being open to change, and not being “monogamous” with any single AI platform. Staying curious and adaptable is crucial for leveraging AI’s full potential in legal work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.legalailive.com

    30 min
  5. 12/08/2025

    (18) Legal AI Live, November 2025, Part 2

    November 2025, Part 2, Top 5 Takeaways: * Evolving Privacy and Recording Norms:The conversation highlighted the growing complexity around recording conversations, especially with varying state laws (one-party vs. two-party consent). There’s a need for new social norms and possibly legal standards for when and how recordings are made, stored, and deleted—especially as technology makes recording easier and more pervasive. * AI Tools Are Transforming Legal Practice:The panel discussed how AI tools like Perplexity, Paxton, and NotebookLM are streamlining legal workflows, from automating research and monitoring legal news to analyzing contracts and generating summaries. These tools are making legal work more efficient and accessible, even for those with learning differences like dyslexia. * Transparency and Commoditization in AI Models:There’s a trend toward greater transparency in how AI models operate, with companies like Google and DeepSeek openly sharing their prompting methods. The differences between major AI models (OpenAI, Gemini, etc.) are narrowing, leading to more comparable outputs and a “race to the bottom” in terms of trade secrets. * Multi-Model and “Judge” Approaches Yield Better Results:Rather than relying on a single AI model, the panelists recommend using multiple models and even “judge” models to compare and select the best outputs. This approach helps mitigate individual model biases and leverages the strengths of different systems for more reliable results. * Accessibility and New Features Enhance Legal Tech:New features—like audio overviews, customizable prompts, and integrated reporting—are making legal tech more accessible and powerful. Tools that convert documents to audio or provide study guides are especially valuable for users with different learning preferences, and ongoing updates are rapidly improving the user experience. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.legalailive.com

    27 min
  6. 12/01/2025

    (17) Legal AI Live, November 2025, Part 1

    November 2025, Part 1, Top 5 Takeaways: * Ground Truth Data is Essential for Legal AIRelying on large language models alone can lead to hallucinations and unreliable results. For legal analytics and predictions (like case outcomes or motion success rates), using curated, ground truth data—such as actual court records, judge rulings, and firm data—is critical for accuracy and actionable insights. * Data Privacy and Anonymization are Major ConcernsLaw firms and clients are highly concerned about confidentiality and privacy when using AI tools. There is ongoing debate about how to anonymize or de-identify client data so it can be used for analytics or AI training without breaching privacy or client consent. * AI Tool Selection and Plan Matter for Law FirmsNot all AI tools or subscription plans offer the same privacy protections. For example, only enterprise-level plans of tools like ChatGPT may provide adequate data privacy for law firms. Firms must carefully review both the product and the specific plan’s privacy policy before adoption. * Recording and Transcribing Legal Interactions Has Upsides and RisksTools that record and transcribe meetings or trainings (like AI note-takers) can be valuable for capturing knowledge and creating actionable records. However, they also raise legal and ethical issues around privilege, discoverability, and inadvertent recording of sensitive or inappropriate conversations. * The Future of Legal Practice May Require AI CompetenceAs deterministic, data-driven AI tools become more accurate and widely available, there is an open question about whether it could become malpractice for lawyers not to use them—especially when such tools can provide statistically significant insights that benefit clients. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.legalailive.com

    31 min
  7. 11/13/2025

    (16) Legal AI Live, October 2025, Part 2

    October 2025, Part 2, Top 5 Takeaways: * Diversify Your Tools and Vendors: Don’t rely on a single AI tool or vendor. The legal tech landscape is rapidly evolving, and tools may change, merge, or disappear. Build flexibility into your workflows and always have a backup plan. * Connect the Business and Substantive Sides of Law: The most valuable legal tech solutions will be those that integrate business operations (like client management) with substantive legal analysis. Tools that can bridge this gap—such as integrating case data with AI-powered legal research—offer a unique competitive advantage. * Ethics and Data Security Require Active Engagement: Lawyers must take personal responsibility for understanding the contracts, security certifications, and data governance policies of their AI providers. Trust should be based on clear terms of service and certifications, not assumptions. * Competence and Verification Are Essential: Many issues attributed to “AI ethics” are actually failures of basic legal competence—such as submitting hallucinated or incorrect case law. Lawyers must verify AI outputs, use the right tools for the job, and treat AI as an assistant, not an infallible authority. * Experiment, Learn, and Adapt: The panel encourages a scientific, experimental approach to AI adoption. Try new tools, document your results, and learn from both successes and failures. AI can dramatically improve efficiency, but only if used thoughtfully and with ongoing learning. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.legalailive.com

    28 min
  8. 11/11/2025

    (15) Legal AI Live, October 2025, Part 1

    October 2025, Part 1, Top 5 Takeaways: * AI as a Thought Partner, Not Just a Tool: The panelists emphasized using AI not just for research or drafting, but as a conversational partner—bouncing ideas off multiple AI tools, asking for pros/cons, and even role-playing as judges or adversaries to get more critical feedback. * Diversity and Redundancy in AI Tools: Relying on a single AI tool is risky, both for quality and vendor stability. The group recommends using a mix of paid and free tools, and being ready to switch if a vendor falters or a better tool emerges. Month-to-month subscriptions are preferred for flexibility. * Human-in-the-Loop Remains Essential: Even as AI capabilities improve, human oversight is crucial—especially for legal work. The panelists shared stories of AI-generated hallucinations and stressed the importance of verifying results, documenting successes and failures, and maintaining office policies for AI use. * AI’s Role in Improving Access to Justice: There’s significant potential for AI to help self-represented litigants and improve the customer experience in courts. Rather than replacing judges, AI can help organize, summarize, and clarify information, making the process less intimidating and more efficient for all parties. * Vendor Stability and Contingency Planning: With the rapid proliferation of legal AI startups, vendor shakeouts are inevitable. Lawyers should assess vendor stability, avoid long-term lock-ins, and always have a “Plan B” for critical workflows in case a tool disappears or changes unexpectedly. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.legalailive.com

    31 min

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About

Legal AI Live is a monthly live event on LinkedIn where legal educators and practitioners get together to discuss what they learned in AI over the last month. https://www.legalailive.com/ www.legalailive.com