AI and Summer Associates
I’m working as a summer associate at an AM 200 firm. The partners give me a mix of “lawyer/paralegal” work that is substantial legal work and some “admin” work that is less about strictly legal research/drafting pleadings and more “hey make a timeline on this case for me prior to the depo”
My firm allows AI use and for example I’ll feed Claude the publicly available pleadings and just have it give me a timeline table in word format. I’ll review and edit and send to the partner. Takes maybe 30 minutes.
However, I’m starting to get in my own head because the only real feedback I’ve gotten other than some very basic “make the executive summary shorter” type feedback- is that my work is excellent and I’m highly responsive.
But now I’m worried because I’m stitting here thinking that I know I’m not nearly the smartest person in the room so why am I being congratulated for doing something that seems painfully obvious- which is use AI to do the easy work and hardcore bill on something like an MSJ or appellate brief.