“I hope this message finds you well …”
Ah, the classic opener — a staple in artificial intelligence-generated emails, client letters and now … this article. And yes, full disclosure: This piece was drafted (remarkably quickly) by ChatGPT, my ever-reliable AI assistant.
With just a few editorial tweaks from me — a practicing attorney and proud Emory Law alum —we had this article ready faster than opposing counsel can copy and paste an objection claiming our discovery request is “not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.”
But before you dismiss this as another instance of a lawyer outsourcing work to a robot, hear me out. This article isn’t just about AI — it’s about adaptability, innovation and the one thing even the most successful partners can’t win, have or buy more of: time.
What do courts, associates and managing partners all have in common?
They’re all trying to keep up — with deadlines, document dumps, discovery battles — and now, with AI.
At a recent recruiting event at Emory Law, a student asked me directly, “How is your firm using AI?”— not “Are you using it?” or “Do you think it’s the future?” — but how. She explained she was asking every firm that question as a benchmark for adaptability.
Fair question.
Because let’s be honest — if you’re still printing out Westlaw results and attacking them with a highlighter, it might be time to evolve. Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks — especially if that dog is billing 2,000 hours a year and still wants to make it to their kid’s soccer game.
ChatGPT, meet the practice of law
Let’s dispel the myth: AI isn’t replacing lawyers. Not even close. It’s not arguing motions or giving candid, face-to-face advice to a panicked client. What it can do — very well — is save you time.
Drafting emails, writing outlines, summarizing depositions, brainstorming article intros (hello again) … AI is like a junior associate who doesn’t sleep, doesn’t burn out and doesn’t complain when you ask for a redraft at midnight.
Is it perfect? No. But neither is your first-year associate. And unlike humans, ChatGPT won’t bill you $500/hour for a memo that starts with, “It depends.”
How courts are using AI (yes, they’re doing it too)
Courts across the country are exploring innovative ways to use AI to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and increase access to justice.
Take Michigan, for example. The Michigan Judicial Council’s Generative AI and the Courts Workgroup recently released a report recommending the integration of generative AI (GenAI) tools in several court functions. These tools are already transforming document management. By applying natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, GenAI can analyze, sort and extract relevant data from legal documents, speeding up workflows and reducing the risk of human error.
The report emphasizes that “GenAI systems can quickly analyze and categorize vast amounts of legal documents, such as case files, contracts and evidence” and automate routine paperwork, “thereby freeing up court employees to focus on more substantive work.” In short, GenAI isn’t replacing judicial reasoning — it’s making the paper chase less painful.
Of course, not all AI in the courtroom makes headlines for the right reasons. In a now-infamous episode, a Texas lawyer submitted a court filing that included several fabricated case citations generated by ChatGPT. The judge fined the attorney $2,000 and ordered him to complete CLE training on the ethical use of generative AI.
Let that be a lesson: No algorithm replaces accountability. It still needs a skeptical partner reviewing the work — or at the very least, an associate who knows better than to submit a brief without checking the citations.
AI trends worth knowing (especially if you’re a law student)
If you’re in law school wondering what this means for your future, here are a few key takeaways:
AI literacy is a differentiator. Firms increasingly expect junior lawyers to understand and leverage legal tech tools to boost efficiency. It’s not about cutting corners; it’s about being competitive.
Ethics are everything. Understanding how AI intersects with confidentiality, bias and unauthorized practice of law will be essential. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
You don’t need to code but you do need to adapt. Knowing how to work with new tools, from document review AI to brief generators, is becoming part of the skillset. Those who embrace change may just lead it.
Final thoughts: AI is the vanilla; you’re the real flavor
Left on its own, AI is vanilla. Ask it to write an article with no input, no direction and no edits, and you’ll get something technically correct … but painfully bland — the kind of “I hope this message finds you well …” content that reads like it was written by, well, a robot.
But give it a little guidance such as case strategy, tone, nuance and style, and now we’re talking. AI becomes the base. The foundation. The scoop of vanilla that holds up the whole sundae.
But the flavor? The whipped cream, the fudge, the cherry, the crunch? That’s you. That’s the lawyer.
It’s that secret sauce that turns regular ice cream into a sundae; that’s where we shine. The decisions we make. The creativity we bring. The instincts we’ve developed through training, experience and, yes, a few late-night deadline sprints.
So don’t be afraid to dive in. Ask questions. Learn. Experiment. That’s what we do every time we crack open a new file, face a new judge or tackle an unfamiliar statute. Embrace AI the same way you’d embrace any unfamiliar task: thoughtfully, ethically and with just enough skepticism to keep it honest.
And if you ever need help drafting your next article … I know a guy. He goes by Chat.
Adam Shepherd (J.D.’24) is an old dog who learned new tricks (yes, he’s 44). He is an associate at the Atlanta office of Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial. He earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law, with honors.
