Using Al to Support the lnternationalisation of Lawyers
Today’s increasingly globalised economy has changed the nature of the legal profession, providing lawyers the opportunity to work for international organisations and multinational companies, or engage with international and foreign clients under their domestic jurisdiction. While such an expansion enhanced lawyers’ career opportunities and raised their income potential, it also exposed them to various challenges in understanding and practising international law, foreign law, and global issues[3]. Advancements in Al technology can support lawyers to overcome these challenges, helping them access relevant legal materials, understand different legal systems, and communicate with their international and foreign clients.
üne of the challenges that lawyers encounter while practising law at the international level is language and cultural barriers. lnternationalisation in the legal industry requires a good command of Legal English and, at the very least, basic level comprehension of different types of legal systems. Al can support lawyers in identifying cultural and legal issues and understanding nuances in legal languages and traditions. it can also provide language translation for lawyers, assisting them in navigating through legal materials in local languages and dealing with international clients[4].
Another challenge is the complex, multifaceted nature of international law. Lawyers must navigate a complex international legal framework. Additionally, it is difficult to find information on foreign legal jurisdictions. They need to research and follow recent legal developments, which requires, at times, going through huge amounts of data and follow-up(S]. Using Al tools, can facilitate it for lawyers to research, read, review and summarize documents and to work through vast amount of literature and access information in less time, thereby optimising their legal judgement. Accessing and processing information is a costly endeavour which requires resources. Al technologhy can also support the delivery of higher-quality services with reduced costs and give small partnerships and law firms the opportunity to be a player in the international field(6].
Finally, it is important to note that in no circumstance can Al replace legal advice(7], but it can only enhance lawyers’ capacity to research and process data and assist the legal drafting process. Lawyers must always verify the output generated by Al tools and use them in compliance with international human rights laws and their professional code of conduct.
ENDNOTES
[l] The author utilised ChatGPT4 while editing the article.
[2] Dr. A. Serçin Kutucu is a legal consultant specialised in international law. Apart from her area of expertise, she studies and teaches Legal English to both legal students and professionals.
[3] Carmel O’Sullivan & Judith McNamara, “Creating a global law graduate: The need, benefits and practical approaches to internationalise the curriculum”, Jou rna I of Learning Design, Special Edition: Legal Education, 2015, Vol:8, No:12, p.54,55;
https:/ /www.jld.edu.au/ article/ download/242/242-582- 1-PB. pdf
[4] lrene Pietropaoli, “Use of Artificial lntelligence in Legal Practice”, British lnstitute of lnternational and Comparative Law, 16th. October.2023, p.4; https:/ /www.biicl.org/ documents/11984_use_of a rtificia 1 _i ntelligence_i nlega l_practice_ fina I.pdf
[_fil Law Society of England and Wales, “Artificial lntelligence and the Legal profession”, May 2018, p.4; https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/resea rch/ ai- artificia I-intelligence-a nd-the-lega I-profession ( access date: 14.10.2023}
l6] Report of the Sheffield Project on the 1nternationa Iisation of the Legal Profession, “Technology: lmplications on the Nature of Legal Practice and the Role of the lnternational Legal Profession”, University of Sheffield, 2018, p.12,16, 2 2; https: / /www .sheffield.ac.uk/ media/951/ download
[7] Pietropaoli, p.4
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