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Welcome to the first episode of the Smart Lawyer Podcast a series dedicated to understanding how the legal profession is changing as a result of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. The goal of this podcast is not to add to the hype surrounding AI, but to provide a clear, structured perspective on what is actually happening in legal work, what will change in the coming years, and what lawyers need to learn to stay relevant and effective.
The legal sector is encountering a shift that is deeper than the transition from paper to computers or the adoption of electronic document management. This time, the change concerns the core of what lawyers do: analysis, drafting, decision-making, and advisory work. AI can now perform parts of these tasks. This does not mean that the legal profession is disappearing; it means that the role of the lawyer is evolving.
In this episode, we discuss with my guest Aleksandra Broniek lawyer and linquist the emerging role of the Legal Engineer. This is not a software developer with a law degree, nor a lawyer who becomes a technologist. It is a professional who operates at the intersection of law, process design, and technology. A Legal Engineer understands how legal work is performed and how it can be improved, standardized, automated, and supported by AI systems. This role is already in demand in the UK, the US, and international corporate legal departments. It is starting to enter Central Europe and is likely to become central to legal operations in many organizations.
This episode outlines the key skills that lawyers need to work with AI, the mindset shift that is required, and the practical first steps that lawyers can take to integrate AI into their daily work. It also addresses the anxieties that often accompany technological change: fear of being replaced, fear of losing professional identity, and fear of making mistakes while using new tools. We discuss how to approach these concerns in a grounded, strategic way.
Episode Overview
The conversation begins by examining what exactly AI changes in legal practice and what remains fundamentally human. We then introduce the structure of the podcast and the perspective of the guest. The core portion of the episode describes the key competencies needed for effective collaboration between lawyers and AI tools. We provide concrete examples of how AI can be applied to legal drafting, research, contract review, and workflow management.
We then discuss training approaches, workshops, and education pathways for lawyers who want to adopt legal technology. Attention is also given to the recommendations of professional legal associations and regulatory bodies regarding the ethical use of AI. The episode concludes with a discussion on digital debt in legal organizations and how legacy technology, rigid work habits, or document chaos can slow down modernization.
Timestamps
00:00 How AI is transforming legal work 01:34 Introduction to the podcast and guest 04:00 The first key skill needed for lawyers working with AI 07:00 Practical examples of AI tools for legal tasks 09:45 Background context and professional perspective of the host 12:00 How workshops are structured to train lawyers to use AI 15:39 How a lawyer without technical background can begin using AI 22:49 Recommendations from Polish legal professional bodies regarding AI 23:53 Additional competencies that will shape the future of legal work 31:40 A complex question: Will AI replace lawyers? 36:18 Digital debt and its impact on legal transformation 37:00 Key takeaways from the conversation
Who Should Listen:
• Lawyers in private practice • In-house counsel • Legal operations professionals • Compliance and regulatory professionals • Junior lawyers and law students planning their careers
You do not need technical knowledge or programming experience to benefit. The only prerequisite is willingness to learn and curiosity about how legal work is evolving.
Key Insights
AI does not replace lawyers; it replaces repetitive legal work that does not require strategic judgment. The ability to collaborate with AI will increasingly differentiate experienced legal professionals from those who struggle with efficiency.
The core value of a lawyer remains contextual reasoning, professional responsibility, ethical judgment, and understanding business consequences.
The role of the lawyer is shifting from producer of documents to designer of legal solutions and processes.
