Comments on: Why Twitter might make lawyers as important as ever

By: Byron M. G. Sanford, Esq.

Byron M. G. Sanford, Esq. — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:27:27 +0000

Anybody who thinks that even “mundane” legal work, including drafting documents, providing opinion letters (i.e. applying the law to facts), or examination through interrogatories, either had not actually performed these functions in the real world or greatly overestimates the state of the art in knowledge processing. While we may reach a point where these types of functions can be automated, we are still a long way away from being able to do so in way that actually approaches what an experienced lawyer can bring the table.

By: rodenlaw

rodenlaw — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:14:21 +0000

Standard legal work would most likely be the first to go (I.e. drafting documents, opinions on settled legal questions, examination through interrogatories, etc.) Anything that can be put down into a template will be outsourced to knowledge-processing companies. Legal expertise can then focus on novel and difficult questions of law, and appellate practice.

By: Derrick Harris

Derrick Harris — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:36:52 +0000

I don’t know if I agree with that, but it would take some re-training for many lawyers to speak to a general audience.

My point, though, in the post is more about how journalists are losing even their limited ability to inform the public about the law.

By: Terry.A

Terry.A — Sat, 05 May 2012 06:22:50 +0000

I think it’s vital for lawyers and journalists to have an appreciation of each other. That said I think more journalist could make good lawyers but I’m not sure if the converse could be true…

By: Steven J. Gelman

Steven J. Gelman — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:51:06 +0000

It’s too bad that some journalists don’t think they need to understand patent law to write about patents.