"Lots of questions swirl around the use of AI by lawyers in general and young lawyers in particular. The questions all center around how do we train young lawyers to use AI tools safely and proficiently while ensuring they develop the skills firms want them to have? At least two leading firms have recently taken affirmative steps to do just that and prepare for a future where proficiency in the use of AI tools will be critical. Both firms have elected to make an investment in the future that we often don't see in the legal community."
"Ropes has decided to make a sizeable investment in AI: starting immediately, first-year associates can spend up to 400 hours of their annual 1,900-hour billable hour requirement for AI training and experimentation. This can include time experimenting and working in groups. That's up to 20% of the total requirement. The time, of course, can't be billed to clients."
"According to Amy Ross, Chief of Attorney Talent, and Jane Rogers, Partner & Co-head of the Finance Practice, the associates will work in mentoring circles to discuss how they have used AI, what success they have found and importantly what opportunities they have identified. The associates will also receive hands on training. "Associates are expected to co-create solutions, act as thought partners, and help establish repeatable, defensible approaches for applying AI in practice.""
Law firms face the challenge of training junior lawyers to use AI tools safely while preserving essential legal skills. Two leading firms have invested in giving associates dedicated non-billable time for AI training and experimentation, foregoing immediate revenue to build future capability. Ropes & Gray allows first-year associates up to 400 of their 1,900 annual billable hours for AI work, including group experimentation and mentoring circles. Associates will receive hands-on training, use approved AI tools, co-create solutions, act as thought partners, and help establish repeatable, defensible AI approaches while the firms gather and disseminate use cases.
Read at Above the Law
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