Lawyers polish human skills to beat robot threat

LAWYERS are being taught how to show their emotional side amid rising fears about competition from robots.

Fifty attorneys from Vario, a branch of international law firm Pinsent Masons, completed emotional intelligence training this week in an effort to “polish up their human skills”.

The course, in London, included information on how to create the right impression, build relationships and fit in, as well as interactive workshops on how to build a “personal brand”.

It comes after BakerHostetler, a US legal firm, hired a robot lawyer called ROSS to help with its bankruptcy practice. ROSS, created by IBM, can read, process language, formulate hypotheses and search millions of databases.

Matthew Kay, director of Vario, said the time had come for lawyers to “seriously consider” how to differentiate themselves from robot competitors. “Forming close and meaningful relationships with clients has always been hugely important in the legal sector, but with the rise of artificial intelligence and robots carrying out tasks in law firms, it will become more vital than ever for firms to ensure all their lawyers sharpen their own emotional intelligence.”

New employees at Vario also have to complete personality tests to match them to “their perfect assignments”.

Said Kay: “An ideal contract lawyer is flexible, good under pressure and has fantastic people skills. We have found that, by asking a series of specific questions, we can accurately predict how an individual will fare.”

Rick Seabrook, of Neota Logic which develops artificial intelligence platforms, said although the company had proved technology could reproduce some legal skills, “it will be a long time — if ever — before it replaces the softer side . . . of what lawyers do”. — ©