Should law firms share AI tools with their clients and peers?
BigLaw firms are exploring sharing proprietary AI tools with clients and peers to scale practices, despite potential risks to traditional billing models.Summary
Several major law firms are beginning to share their proprietary artificial intelligence tools with clients and other legal professionals. For example, Cooley is offering its Cooley Go Lab to Y Combinator startups for free, while Debevoise & Plimpton offers its STAAR 2.0 platform via subscription. Additionally, A&O Shearman has entered a revenue-sharing agreement with the legal AI provider Harvey to license tools to others.
While sharing these technologies can create new revenue streams and help firms scale their practices, the move is not without controversy. Some legal experts express concern that providing clients with powerful AI tools might lead them to perform tasks themselves, potentially undermining the traditional billable hour model that sustains law firm revenue.
(Source：Aba Journal)
