Every day we are surprised by something new in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), whose application is transforming processes and modifying standards in work environments in various sectors. In the field of legal operations, where time, predictability and precision are essential, it could not be different. In a short period, we have had several advances, especially thinking about access to information e process optimization.
Historically, the use of AI in law dates back to the 1990s and 2000s, driven by advances in computing and legal databases. With the development of data processing, natural language. machine learning and big data, AI has evolved significantly. This has occurred especially since the 2010s, when its use became more systematic.
Over the past 10 years, AI has significantly transformed the industry, evolving from an experimental tool to an important part of the daily work of lawyers and legal departments within companies.
Among the advances, the systems began to perform more complex legal analyses, such as case law research, results forecast of cases and the support for the creation of legal strategies. Specialized platforms have emerged to assist in pattern identification in court decisions and optimize research time.
As technology advances, AI becomes more present and essential. A lifting released by the National Council of Justice (CNJ) in 2024 showed that there was a 26% growth in the use of AI in the Judiciary in 2023, compared to the same period in the previous year.
Integration is a key part of the system
Currently, Projuris, the platform of the Group's Legal Intelligence business unit Softplan, is a successful example of the use of AI in legal operations. The solution, which is the leading software for legal departments and law firms, contributes to connecting different sectors of the legal ecosystem, And speed up production e avoid wasting resources.
The integration of information in Law is extremely important to increase efficiency and transparency in the administration of Justice. With the use of integrated systems, such as Projuris, it is possible to share data between courts, law firms, prosecutors, defense attorneys and other actors in the process.
This possibility ensures, among other things, that important information, such as court decisions, evidence and petitions, are accessible in real time, avoiding duplication of work, procedural delays and loss of essential data.
Furthermore, the unification of information allows everyone involved in the process to have a complete and up-to-date view of the cases, facilitating timely decision-making.
More time for what really matters
Specifically in law firms, we observed important impacts linked to increased productivity, with the help of AI for tasks such as creating text content. With the tool, lawyers speed up their writing work, based on insights that this technology offers for defense arguments, appeals, among others.
Another important function is the generation of procedural summaries. With AI, the work of reading for analysis, comprehension and conclusion, which could previously take hours, can be done almost instantly.
Artificial Intelligence, trained to understand the patterns of the judicial process and supplied with structured data, guarantees high efficiency rates.
This way, lawyers and other legal professionals save time on operational tasks and can focus on interpreting and applying legal information in a strategic and careful manner.
In legal departments, AI is an ally in strategic decision-making. With the technology developed by Projuris, for example, it is possible calculate the chances of success or failure of a lawsuit, based on historical data from almost 300 million business processes that supply the system's big data.
With this database, the AI is able to indicate when it is worth taking a process forward, statistically calculating the chances of victory, or when a court settlement is the most advantageous way out. The financial impact for companies is enormous.
Regulation: uncertainties and challenges
As we look to the future, however, we still see some uncertainties. These are mainly due to regulation. Among the main challenges to be overcome, we can mention the definition of legal liability about what is produced by AI, discussions about copyright e data protection and privacy, Besides the guarantee of transparency about how algorithm-based decisions are made, preventing systems from being “black boxes”.
The discussion on the subject needs to be broad, so that it can produce clear rules on its use. Currently, a bill (PL) 2.338/2023 that specifically deals with the regulation of the use of Artificial Intelligence in Brazil is being processed in the Federal Senate. After a series of adjustments, the PL, also called AI Legal Framework, has a vote eagerly awaited.
In other parts of the world, important steps have already been taken. In the European Union, which is at the forefront of AI regulation, the Artificial Intelligence Act has classified AI systems into risk categories, stating that systems deemed high risk will be subject to strict transparency, security and quality control requirements. The process of creating this act involved public consultations and the participation of experts in technology, ethics and law, reflecting the EU’s cautious approach to promoting the safe use of AI.
In the United States, there is still no federal law on the use of these devices. On the other hand, sectoral regulatory agencies, such as the Department of Transportation and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), have issued guidelines on the use of these devices, in an approach that is more focused on encouraging innovation, without establishing centralized regulation, which has led to criticism from some sectors due to the lack of standardization.
Future of possibilities
As we move forward with regulation, it is also possible to glimpse a huge field of possibilities, and imagine how much AI can further impact legal operations in the future.
A interpretation of evidence such as documents and photos, for example, is one of the fronts in which technology can evolve, in addition to a greater development of automation of administrative and repetitive tasks, such as contract analysis, document review, case screening and form filling. Or even for use, in less complex situations, in assistance in conflict resolution efficiently, quickly and affordably without the need for formal legal proceedings.
Given this scenario, among countless advances, some challenges and a huge field to be explored, there is no doubt that the use of Artificial Intelligence in legal operations already contributes significantly to improving the judicial system, both from the point of view of the professionals who work in it and from the point of view of society.
Likewise, it also seems clear that the next steps in this timeline are promising. The way forward is to continue investing in technology to improve AI tools, as well as their security and transparency. As a result, we will increasingly have a justice system that meets social demands quickly and equitably, strengthening trust in the judicial system as a whole.
