Should you hire an expert who uses AI?

History has a habit of repeating itself, don't be on the wrong side of history.

Mo Khalaf
January 15, 2025

Some businesses will go bust in the upcoming years because of AI advancements.

It’s not whether or not it will happen, but to what extent.

History has a habit of repeating itself.

During the Industrial Revolution, machines replaced most manual farming labor.

The same happened to the retail industry when e-commerce became a thing.

The rise of AI is one of those turning points for certain industries.

The workforce will be dramatically reduced, possibly cut in half or more.

And most of the affected will be generalists.

I’ll explain…

Let’s take the legal industry as an example.

The legal profession is a particularly strong case to analyze because:

1. Becoming a lawyer requires years of study and passing the bar exam.

2. Lawyers need to understand and navigate complex legal language.

3. Legal cases are often highly contextual, meaning AI can't address every nuance.

4. Legal writing and contracts are highly rational but a good legal negotiator needs a nuanced emotional intelligence mastery.

And of course, because I have two masters of law and a bit of insight into the industry. (I’m just boasting here).

In recent years, some Legal-Tech companies developed AI software capable of generating templates, drafting contracts based on specific inputs, and automating repetitive tasks.

While these AI-generated contracts are impressively accurate, people often overlook a few points:

1. AI requires human input to function effectively.

The initial programming (and updates) rely on human expertise (usually lawyers or law students with tech skills). You might argue that the data fed to AI comes from past rulings and codified laws… but the legal landscape is ever-changing. Humans will always be needed to update and refine these systems.

Conclusion: Studying law won't become obsolete, but the nature of the profession will evolve.

2. AI is not omnipresent or omniscient.

AI isn't in every courtroom, doesn't understand the full nuance of legalese, and can't grasp the "spirit" behind every ruling. It can handle general, repetitive tasks and provide a solid starting point, BUT it can't replace the expertise of a skilled lawyer who can navigate complex legal matters.

Conclusion: AI is a springboard, not a substitute. You’ll still need competent lawyers to cross the finish line (safely).

3. Not all legal affairs can or should be handled by AI.

AI operates on rational, analytical logic. It may simulate or analyze emotions to some extent, but it cannot replicate the subtle nuances of human interaction.
Take negotiation for example. It’s a critical part of legal work and requires emotional intelligence and situational adaptability, skills AI cannot master anytime soon.

Conclusion: AI can support negotiations but shouldn't replace human oversight.

Okay…

With all these conclusions in mind, how will AI impact the future of the legal profession?

The current experts in the legal field don’t need to fear AI replacing them… but they shouldn’t ignore it either. Much like farmers who adopted machinery and multiplied their output during the Industrial Revolution, today’s professionals must integrate AI to enhance their productivity.

Junior lawyers, who already have a foothold in the industry won’t have to worry either… AI will become an essential tool for their work and allow them to work faster and better.

The “lawyers” that will suffer the most on the other hand are generalists and new legal students or interns. AI can outperform them in many tasks, and will therefore create a higher barrier to entry into the profession. Mentorships will likely become longer and more demanding. Aspiring lawyers will need to work harder to master the fine details that AI might miss.

So will lawyers go extinct?

Absolutely not.

But the legal workforce will shrink, perhaps by half. The profession will become more specialized and competitive. And the elites will form tight circles that won’t be easy to break into.

This shift isn't something to fear but to embrace.

Because now, real expertise will be worth more. As AI continues to evolve and weed out the so-called “experts”… the value of true expertise will only rise.