AI is rapidly changing the legal world, especially in eDiscovery. Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) are now opening new possibilities. Here’s a look at emerging use cases and potential challenges.
Seven Promising Generative AI Use Cases in eDiscovery
- Early Case Assessment – AI can analyze electronic data early to identify strengths, weaknesses, risks, and relevant evidence. It can even generate timelines based on case documents, helping lawyers plan strategy or settle cases faster.
- Data Extraction & Document Summarization – AI can pull key facts, dates, and figures from documents, depositions, and emails, providing summaries with citations, so legal teams don’t have to read every page.
- Document Review & Classification – AI can automatically sort documents by relevance or privilege, often including confidence scores and explanations for its classifications. This may complement or eventually replace predictive coding.
- Identifying Privileged Information – AI can flag potentially privileged communications, reducing the risk of accidental disclosure.
- Anomaly & Pattern Detection – AI can spot unusual patterns in emails or transactions that may indicate misconduct or important evidence.
- Language Translation – AI can quickly translate documents in multiple languages, saving time and reducing translation costs.
- Question Answering & Legal Research – AI can assist with research and provide answers based on case law, precedents, and legal frameworks.
Four Challenges to Watch
- Accuracy & Reliability – AI can “hallucinate” and produce inaccurate summaries or classifications, so testing and verification are essential.
- Interpretability & Explainability – Like predictive coding before it, generative AI can be a “black box,” making it harder for lawyers to trust results without clear explanations.
- Data Privacy & Security – eDiscovery involves sensitive data. AI processes must protect personal and privileged information.
- Costs & Accessibility – AI tools are not free, and unclear costs can make ROI difficult to determine. Understanding implementation and usage costs is key for adoption.
Looking Ahead
AI has a place in legal practice. Lawyers who learn how to apply these tools proactively will gain an edge, while those resisting change may fall behind. The field is evolving fast, and staying informed is essential to leverage AI safely and effectively.
