AI got this lawyer away from his desk: 'Dramatically more efficient'

Zack Shapiro, a corporate attorney and managing partner of the innovative AI-focused law firm Rains, has experienced a remarkable shift in his professional routine. Previously, he spent countless hours drafting legal documents using Microsoft Word, confined to his desk. However, the advent of artificial intelligence has revolutionized his approach to law, enabling him to escape from monotonous tasks and enhance his productivity. "AI has made me dramatically more efficient," Shapiro shared in a recent interview with Business Insider. He elaborated that much of the tedious grunt work that once consumed his time has been automated, allowing him to focus on the more intellectually stimulating aspects of his role, such as strategic thinking and client consultations. Shapiro, a Yale Law School graduate, primarily utilizes Anthropic's AI chatbot, Claude. He often engages with the technology through its voice feature, discussing legal matters while taking walks outside. This method, he claims, is when he performs his most challenging cognitive tasks. By the time he returns to his desk, he often has a first draft ready after free-associating for several minutes. He describes this new way of practicing law as "awesome," expressing that it has significantly improved his work-life balance. Although his firm comprises only three lawyers, Shapiro believes it operates with the efficiency of a much larger practice. "It feels like I have an army of AI agents," he remarked, noting that the human team can concentrate on judgment and providing client advice, thus allowing them to compete effectively with larger firms. Earlier this year, Shapiro documented his AI-enhanced workflow in a widely viewed online post titled "The Claude-Native Law Firm." This visibility has led him to consult with major law firms seeking to integrate AI into their operations, mirroring the successful strategies he employs at Rains. He expresses skepticism towards specific legal tech products, suggesting that the optimal path for lawyers is to become proficient in using AI tools like Claude directly. "It’s really about the prompts and instructions that lawyers give to the AI," he concluded.