Shout Out to Previous Podcast Guest Nichole (Niki) Black and her Article about the Apple Vision Pro.

The Apple vision pro has potential for lawyers to use them at work. 👩🏻‍💻

I recently read previous podcast guest Niki Black's editorial for the Apple Vision Pro. In light of several of my respective blog postings on the product, I found her perspective interesting and consistent with my thoughts on it.

Niki and I both recognize the steep price of the Apple Vision Pro and that alone may keep lawyers from purchasing one. But we believe it is an amazing device. We agree it has the potential to transform the mundane aspects of travel for lawyers into a more bearable experience. She, too, was impressed by the immersive experience of watching movies (in 3-D), which she deemed unparalleled compared to traditional methods (2-D). Niki highlights the device's innovative interface, which does away with hand controllers, offering a more intuitive interaction through hand movements and gazes.

I can see how the apple vision pro could one day be used for work while traveling on a Plane. 🛫

We agree that most lawyers should hold off on purchasing the device immediately. The current lack of productivity-focused applications and the anticipation of future improvements make it less essential for immediate adoption. Despite its high cost and initial limitations, Niki sees the Apple Vision Pro as a harbinger of the next computing era, particularly for tech-savvy lawyers willing to explore new technologies. I also think it could be a welcome addition to an attorney's toolbox, but I have a more wait-and-see attitude.

Meanwhile, I think you can better spend your money elsewhere. This is why I opted to buy two Samsung 27 Viewfinity S9 Series monitors over the Apple Vision Pro. I strongly believe that the Vision Pro's current lack of productivity capabilities for legal work and its novelty do not justify the investment for professional use today. My path to this conclusion (which may change over time with more productivity features and hardware improvements) parallels my personal journey with the iPad.

And yes, one day lawyers might use an Apple Vision Pro on the beach while on vacation—just beware of the awkward tan lines! 🏖️

The iPad was a significant innovation at the time of its release. But it never entirely replaced laptops for productivity needs. I think Niki and I both agree to take a cautious approach if you are contemplating it more for work than pleasure. This may change with future iterations of its applications, the device itself, and its operating system, and then it may offer more compelling reasons for adoption.

Despite its current lack of productivity features, I believe Niki and I both recognize it as a phenomenal device that could innovate the legal profession!

My Two Cents: The Future Of Lawyering: Exploring The Impact Of Apple's Vision Pro On Legal Professionals!

Has Apple's new Vision Pro created a breakthrough in augmented reality for the legal profession in the business world?

As legal professionals strive to enhance efficiency, improve client service, and streamline workflows, we increasingly turn to innovative technological solutions. One such solution that has generated significant interest within the legal community is Apple's Vision Pro.

Apple's Vision Pro is an augmented reality (AR) device developed by the tech giant, specifically focusing on aiding professionals in various fields. This cutting-edge device combines advanced optics, powerful processing capabilities, and seamless integration with Apple's ecosystem to deliver an immersive AR experience. While initially targeted at creative industries such as design and architecture, legal professionals are now exploring its potential applications within their own domain.

Apple’s new vision Pro
© Apple

I can see how this kind of technology holds the potential to revolutionize courtroom presentations, transitioning from static displays to engaging, interactive 3D visualizations. Attorneys could employ this AR prowess to project dynamic reconstructions of crime scenes or accidents, offering juries and judges an unparalleled perspective into complex evidence. Beyond the courtroom, the Vision Pro can help and possibly improve the day-to-day work (especially for people with certain health conditions or impairments[1]). 

For example, Vision Pro's potential to redefine legal research and document review is significant. It should enable attorneys to overlay case law, statutes, or annotations onto physical documents, thereby integrating digital information into the tangible world and expediting the research process. Augmented related can help improve collaboration amongst staff or when conducting depositions – giving parties the “feeling” they are all in the same room despite being miles away from each other. 

Will apple’s vision pro take lawyers in a new direction for their trial work?

Apple’s Vision Pro should provide lawyers with file management similar to any other technological device.  It should give an attorney the ability to access ?all? of the web-based tools they need – research, law practice management platform, file storage, etc. (I put the "all" in question marks as we will have to see if the devices OS has any compatibility issues.) Apple’s Vision Pro OS provides similar security as it does for its other products.  So, maintaining privilege and confidentiality should not be an issue for lawyers. Does that mean you should run out to buy one? 🧐

The Vision Pro starts at $3,499.  And it only provides 256 GB hard drive.  The battery lasts two hours.  And it is brand new.  While Apple is known for making great products, sometimes it’s not always best to be first in line to buy a new Apple product -- just like Apple is known for not being the first to create a new type of product -- just a good product after it has had some time to review the competition.

I remember how excited I was to get my first ipad - but it was no laptop killer!🙄

I remember when the iPad came first out.  It was nice, but at the time, I could not afford one.  At the time, my mother was astonished I did not have one (as I explained, I had to prioritize my spending) and was gifted one soon after (thanks, Grandma Harriet!).  Are you ready to go out and buy more than a baker’s dozen for a jury, the judge, and court staff?

The iPad is a great device, but it never became the laptop killer some were hoping it would be.  Given the cost and newness of the device, I’ll wait for a few versions before I go out and get one.

(Unfortunately, Grandma Harriet is no longer with us. 🙁 But if anyone wants to buy me one, I won’t complain! 🥳)

[1] Editor’s note: This aspect of Vision Pro (and other augmented reality devices) is beyond this editorial's scope.

My Two Cents: Happy New Year! AI Is Going To Be The Biggest Game Changer For Lawyers In 2024!

Lawyers celebrating 2024 with AI - at least according to DALL*E!

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making significant strides in various industries, and the legal profession is no exception. As technology continues to evolve, I believe that AI will become the biggest game changer for lawyers in 2024. Law practice management platforms are already integrating AI into their software, allowing attorneys to streamline their workflows and enhance their overall efficiency. While some concerns have been raised regarding AI's potential to replace attorneys entirely, Chief John Roberts, in his 2023 report, believes that AI will not replace lawyers (or at least judges). 🤗 However, legal professionals must remain cautious of the limitations of AI technology, as highlighted by former Trump attorney fixer Michael Cohen.

AI has the potential to automate repetitive tasks and streamline complex legal processes, allowing attorneys to focus more on strategic and high-value work. Law practice management platforms are incorporating AI-powered features that assist with various aspects of legal practice, from research document analysis to contract review and client communication.

Traditionally, lawyers spend countless hours sifting through vast amounts of information to find relevant cases, statutes, and regulations. However, with AI-powered research tools integrated into law practice management and legal research platforms, attorneys can now conduct comprehensive searches in a fraction of the time. These tools utilize machine learning algorithms that continuously learn from past searches and user interactions to deliver highly accurate results tailored to specific legal queries.

CJ Roberts has an opinion about AI’s Place in the practice of law.

In addition to research assistance, AI is also transforming how lawyers manage documents. Document analysis tasks that were once tedious and time-consuming can now be automated using advanced natural language processing techniques. Law practice management platforms equipped with AI capabilities can quickly analyze contracts, identify key provisions or clauses, and generate summaries or comparisons. This not only saves valuable time but also reduces the risk of human error inherent in manual document review processes.

Client communication is another crucial aspect of legal practice that benefits from AI integration. Law firms often handle large volumes of client inquiries via emails or phone calls. By utilizing AI-powered chatbots or virtual assistants embedded within law practice management software, attorneys can provide prompt responses while managing multiple client interactions simultaneously. These intelligent assistants can understand natural language queries, offer basic legal advice based on predefined parameters set by attorneys themselves, or redirect clients to appropriate resources within the platform.

AI is not going to be replacing lawyers but lawyers who do not use AI will be replaced.

But will AI replace lawyers?  A recent federal case in a U.S. District Court in Illinois dismissed a case against the "robot lawyer" DoNotPay, Inc.  The defendant "...offers an online, subscription-based service that it claims will help consumers “[f]ight corporations, beat bureaucracy and sue anyone at the press of a button.” It offers services related to marriage annulment, speeding ticket appeals, timeshare cancellation, breach of contract, defamation, copyright, child support, restraining order"  This non-lawyer is currently free to operate.  But since it was dismissed on standing issues, I won't be surprised if this case (and others similar to it) won't find its way to the courthouse.

Despite this news, Chief John Roberts asserts that AI will not replace attorneys entirely.  He argues that while AI can assist lawyers by handling repetitive tasks or providing legal insights, the human element of legal practice, such as critical thinking and empathy, remains irreplaceable. AI's limitations in understanding nuance and complex emotions make it unlikely to replace the nuanced advice and strategic thinking that lawyers provide their clients.

But caution must still be exercised when relying on AI technology. Michael Cohen, former Trump attorney fixer, serves as a reminder that AI is not infallible. Cohen's experience with using AI-powered software for document review revealed its limitations: He provided in a "sworn declaration in federal court in Manhattan that he did not realize the citations generated by Google Bard [that he provided his attorney] were fictitious.[1] (Why his attorney, i.e., the party who signed the legal pleading, did not check the citations before submitting the pleading to the court is something I have warned about in the past.) This emphasizes the importance of lawyers remaining vigilant and thoroughly reviewing AI-generated results to ensure their accuracy.

Lawyers should be celebrating 2024 with AI as it will likely be part of the practice of law!

I predict AI to be the biggest game changer for lawyers in 2024. As technology continues to advance rapidly, embracing AI as a valuable tool while acknowledging its limitations will be essential for legal professionals in navigating the ever-changing landscape of the legal profession.

MTC

Happy New Year and Happy Lawyering!

[1] https://www.reuters.com/legal/ex-trump-fixer-michael-cohen-says-ai-created-fake-cases-court-filing-2023-12-29/