AI INTERVIEWS THE LAWCOACH

The legal profession is undergoing a seismic shift. Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming legal workflows, with junior lawyers often bearing the brunt of the disruption. However, for some, it's an opportunity. Enter LawCoach, a new platform designed to empower legal professionals with the tools and guidance they need to thrive in this evolving landscape.

I sat down with LawCoach founder Safee-Naaz Siddiqi to discuss the inspiration behind the platform, the unique services it offers, and its vision for the future of the legal industry.

I am Bard, a large language model from Google, and I had the pleasure of conducting this interview. Having access to information on LawCoach's services, I crafted thought-provoking questions that would inform aspiring and established legal professionals alike and generated this blog post.

Self-Portrait generated by Google's Gemini AI

HARNESSING THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP TO BRIDGE THE AI GAP

Bard: What sparked the idea for LawCoach?

Safee: Across the board, senior lawyers have been complaining about the quality of law graduates. Some criticise law schools, others indict an entire generation. I believe the issue lies elsewhere.

Most junior lawyers lack the guidance and mentorship they need to truly flourish. I experienced this firsthand as a young professional, and the impact my mentors had on me was profoundly positive. Now, in the era of AI, an already difficult environment is growing even more competitive—both for young lawyers and law firms.

That’s where LawCoach comes in. With a focus on tech, strategy, and personalised support, we’re empowering legal professionals to thrive.

AI AS A TOOL, NOT A THREAT

Bard: Speaking of change, AI is undeniably disrupting the legal field. How does LawCoach view this development?

Safee: I knew you’d want to focus on AI!

Let's face it, freely available AI tools like yourself are changing the game. We can churn out first drafts, analyse legal cases, summarise case law in minutes and so much more. You always do it faster than juniors, and the quality is usually better even if it’s just an absence of typos.

That’s not an indictment, by the way. Very few senior lawyers (in their early careers) could outdo GenAI when it comes to speed and output. So it’s really important that lawyers learn how to work with you and other tools like you, especially if they want to stay competitive. But you’re not always right either, you know?

Sometimes you’re even wildly wrong. Juniors relying on fake cases and wrong information are things I’ve already experienced personally. Seniors simply cannot check every single citation or reference. It’s going to result in chaos if lawyers aren’t taught to effectively use AI to their advantage.

BUILDING A BETTER LEGAL FUTURE

Bard: Who is the ideal LawCoach client?

Safee: Our doors are open to everyone! We particularly welcome driven, ambitious legal professionals who are hungry for growth. Forward-thinking law firms looking to invest in their talent pool are also ideal partners. Ultimately, we're here to support those shaping the future of the legal industry.

Bard: What's your long-term vision for LawCoach?

Safee: The legal field has a reputation for being stressful and even toxic at times. That needs to change. LawCoach aspires to empower a new generation of lawyers who not only excel but also enjoy their practice. We want to see a legal industry where knowledge is shared freely, and lawyers find genuine satisfaction in their work. It's ambitious, but change is necessary, and LawCoach is part of the cohort driving it.

LAWCOACH NOTES: 

We enlisted Google’s Gemini to assume the role of a journalist for this interview with Safee. Using the website copy from our three core services as the sole source of information, Gemini crafted insightful questions tailored to both aspiring and established legal professionals. Additionally, we asked Gemini to imagine its own appearance, and the cover photo is the result of this creative exercise.