Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most powerful and transformative technologies of the 21st century, with the potential to revolutionize industries and fundamentally reshape society. It has even begun to modernize one of the oldest careers in the world that has roots tracing back to ancient civilizations¹ — the practice of law. Recent reports and analyses highlight the pervasive influence of AI, not only in automating tasks but also in driving innovation, enhancing productivity, and creating new opportunities across various areas.

With this advancement comes the need to fully understand what is ahead of us and how AI will continue to impact the practice of law. Due to this increasing need, the State Bar of Michigan has published a report titled “Transforming the Legal Profession in the Age of AI.”² Drafted by the Board of Commissioner’s AI Workgroup, it is a comprehensive special report assessing not only the benefits and risks of using AI but also provides forward thinking and considerations in all aspects when using AI in the legal field.

The areas it covers are as follows:

• Practice management: AI tools assist lawyers in automating manual processes, allowing lawyers to become more efficient and productive while also meeting their professional and ethical responsibilities. This section examines current AI tools such e-discovery, contract analysis, and predictive analytics and how they are being used.
• Ethics: A lawyer’s ethical responsibilities when using AI do not cease when using an AI tool and therefore it is imperative to keep those responsibilities in the forefront when utilizing any type of technology. This section explores duties of competence, diligence, confidentiality, transparency, and supervision under Michigan’s Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Unauthorized practice of law: The questions surrounding AI and unauthorized practice of law continue, but the underlying goal remains the same: protection of the public. This section discusses how AI intersects with practicing law without a license and the broader public policy.
• Access to justice: AI tools must be evaluated continuously to determine its efficacy and impact on closing access to the justice gap. This section proposes using AI to expand legal help to underserved populations.
• Public policy: Regulation surrounding AI is determinate on state and federal government, but lawyers and the Bar must continue to remain involved and vigilant in monitoring legislation and legal developments.

AI is rapidly transforming the legal world by automating routine tasks, enhancing legal research, and providing predictive analytics, leading to increased efficiency and potential cost savings for law firms and clients. While AI is not expected to replace lawyers entirely, it is poised to augment their capabilities, allowing them to focus on more complex, strategic, and client-facing work.

A more detailed look at how AI tools are changing the legal landscape includes automation of routine tasks. AI-powered tools automate tasks like document review, contract analysis, and legal research, significantly reducing the time and effort required for these processes. For example, AI can quickly scan through thousands of documents to identify relevant information, saving lawyers hours of manual work. This automation frees lawyers to focus on higher-value tasks such as strategic planning, client communication, and complex legal analysis.

AI can also analyze vast amounts of legal data, including case law, statutes, and regulations, to identify relevant precedents and arguments more efficiently than traditional methods. It can summarize large volumes of documents and generate drafts of legal documents, saving lawyers significant time and effort. AI also helps lawyers discover relevant resources and tools, continuously streamlining the research process.

Predictive AI is a tool that uses historical data and machine learning to forecast legal outcomes, such as litigation results or jury behavior. This capability allows lawyers to assess the likelihood of success in a case and develop more effective strategies.

By automating these tasks and improving research, AI can significantly increase the efficiency of legal work, potentially leading to cost savings for both law firms and clients. Firms can leverage AI to compete by automating tasks, predicting matter outcomes, and expanding their practice areas.

Further, AI-powered tools can help make legal information and assistance more accessible to individuals who may not have the resources to hire a lawyer. For example, legal aid groups and nonprofits are using AI-based virtual assistants to provide preliminary legal advice to underserved communities.³ AI-powered chatbots can also help individuals navigate legal processes, such as challenging parking tickets or filing consumer protection claims.

While AI offers numerous benefits, it also raises various concerns, such as bias in algorithms and the potential for job displacement. It is crucial to address these challenges to ensure that AI is used responsibly, professionally, and ethically in the legal field. Ensuring data privacy and security is also essential when implementing AI-powered tools. Law schools, legal professionals, and the courts must all adapt to the changing landscape and develop the skills and knowledge needed to work with AI effectively.

There are several key takeaways for lawyers from this report:

• Competence is non-negotiable. Attorneys must stay current on AI technologies, supervising and scrutinizing outputs. AI should supplement, not replace, human judgment.
• Ethics stay central: Lawyers must ensure confidentiality, clearly inform clients if AI will be used, and reflect any efficiency gains in billing.
• AI for the underserved: AI promises to revolutionize casework and streamline access for those previously underserved.
• Policy shifts ahead: The report urges the State Bar to lead in reshaping AI regulation while balancing innovation and protection.

Lawyers may ask why this report matters. It serves as a go-to AI guide — what is allowed, what is restricted, and what lawyers must know. For law firms and firms-in-training, it offers a blueprint to integrate AI ethically into workflows such as contract drafting, research, and client communication. For access and advocacy, it outlines proactive ways AI can democratize legal services, particularly in areas lacking affordable representation. It further sets the stage for statewide policy dialogue around AI oversight and governance when discussing regulatory development.

The State Bar of Michigan’s AI report is more than a paper; it’s a call to action. In June 2025, Michigan’s legal community took a bold step: acknowledging AI’s transformative power while committing to professional, legal, and ethical deployment.

The State Bar published this special report to help Michigan lawyers understand AI’s rapidly expanding role, from practical applications to ethical considerations, and beyond. The report takes a deep dive into AI and how it’s reshaping legal practice. It is a timely and essential resource for attorneys across the state and beyond. AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a reality that is rapidly transforming the world around us. To harness its potential for positive societal and economic impact in the legal field, collaboration among courts, law firms, organizations, and the public at large is crucial. Establishing clear regulations, ensuring proper use, promoting ethical AI design, investing in workforce reskilling, and fostering a culture of responsible AI will be essential to ensure AI benefits humanity while mitigating its risks.

Whether a lawyer is a solo attorney, a litigator in a large firm, or an advocate for social justice, this document equips the legal field with the knowledge and strategies they need. Want a breakdown of recommended policy or procedural changes? Or a guide on implementing AI tools responsibly in a law practice? The State Bar of Michigan’s “Transforming the Legal Profession in the Age of AI” report has got you covered.