This summer, thousands of law students are walking into firms as summer associates, ready to apply what they've studied. But the ground is shifting: the legal profession is grappling with artificial intelligence, and no one knows exactly how the role of a lawyer will evolve by the time these associates take the bar next year. The lessons that stick this summer will have staying power.
Using AI isn't lazy
Some of the hardest-working lawyers are also the most frequent AI users. One client put it directly: "AI makes excellent lawyers more excellent." That perspective reaches junior lawyers, too.
At one large firm, associates are regularly featured in partners meetings for using AI as a safe space to ask questions and build confidence with new assignments. Others have used it as a thought partner to uncover insights across thousands of documents-insights that would have stayed buried without the technology.
The distinction that matters is accountability. AI is a tool, not a stand-in for your own judgment. Before handing work to a senior lawyer, ask whether that partner will be reviewing your best effort or effectively reviewing AI-generated output. Pass work along without your own analysis, and the question of whether AI replaces associates becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Know the rules
Effective AI use gets noticed. Using AI when a client or partner has prohibited it gets noticed for the wrong reasons. The path through the confusion is simple: ask.
Don't assume silence means "no AI." Many clients and partners now expect lawyers to use AI in ordinary legal work and don't feel the need to call it out. Still, limits can vary by task or by the type of data-protected health information has different requirements than other client data. Get comfortable asking not only whether AI use is acceptable broadly, but whether any specific guardrails apply to the assignment you're holding right now.
Get comfortable with change
A new metric is making the rounds: adaptability quotient, or AQ. It measures how well someone adjusts to uncertainty and new circumstances. For a profession that relies heavily on precedent, this doesn't come naturally. Dr. Larry Richard's research on lawyer psychology found that roughly 90% of lawyers score in the bottom half on resilience.
As someone just entering the field, you have room to build new habits. Integrate AI into your personal life, seek out uncomfortable experiences, challenge the status quo. Advancements aren't slowing down. The American Bar Association has already underscored that lawyer competence includes understanding both the benefits and risks of AI. Meeting that standard means staying literate in AI for Legal tools and practices, not avoiding them.
Why this matters for legal professionals
The summer associates who stand out won't be sorted by who used AI and who didn't. They'll be the ones who continuously learn the risks and benefits of evolving technologies, ask the right questions, and exercise sharp judgment about when, why, and how to use these tools to drive value for clients. That's the skill that lasts well past the bar exam.
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