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Comment by epalmer | Hacker News Reader

Many entry-level lawyers have historically been involved in document discovery. AI-based software and having a significant impact on the job market for freshly minted lawyers. Software now performs ediscovery.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/609556/lawyer-bots-are-sh...

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From first hand experience, I would say that the willingness of clients to outsource discovery to cheap contract lawyers has had a far greater impact on the job market for fresh graduates than automation of discovery. The software for electronic discovery just isn't very good or smart. It also requires a ton of up-front work to train the model which makes it not cost effective except for the largest document reviews.

I've heard this example bandied about every time this topic comes up, but does this actually mean that those entry-level lawyers would be out of a job? Or does it simply mean that they would be freed up to perform other tasks? Wouldn't that be a win for a law firm that's presumably trying to grow and take on more clients?

The current job market for lawyers is kind of messed up. When in law school you can be applying and accepting job offers clerking or working at law firms 2 years before the start date.

I don't know what even more increased pressure on that job market would do to it.

I'm not sure I understand: do you sign a contract for when you finish your studies?

Or do you do unpaid work in the hope that when you finish you'll get a job?

You accept an offer conditional on passing the bar. But even once you're out of school, if you want to do a clerkship you have to apply for it 1-2 years in advance.

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