Attorneys Searches for ChatGPT Spike – Here’s Why

Attorney searches for ChatGPT are soaring — up over 100% since July of this year.

Google Trends tells us attorney searches have been relentlessly heading up since the end of July. While the what is important — the why reveals how Generative AI is making its way into corporate counsel thinking — and the impact on outside counsel. Here’s why:

Clients Pulling Attorneys Into Generative AI

Clients are sending a growing stream of AI Chatbot-generated documents to outside counsel for comment and review. These documents include:

• Board resolutions
• Contracts
• NDAs
• Employment agreements
• Leases
• Terms of service

Clients know these are drafts and can’t necessarily be relied on, but — they want to verify their content and usefulness. So, they are turning to a trusted source — outside counsel. Clients expect — and largely get — honest assessments — including suggested changes and commentary about risks.

This is an early step in clients figuring out how and where to use Generative AI. Some of the work generated gets used — some not — but it’s a learning process. And — clients get more skilled with every dive into ChatGPT.

Expanding Use Cases

These same corporate counsel are using AI chatbots to:

• Find language in documents likely to trigger risk or other issues
• Comment on law firm work product
• Generate opposing viewpoints to their own to freshen ideas
• Ask for new and different insights on Generative AI-related legal issues

This is in addition to more basic uses, including:

• Writing emails and basic correspondence
• Research
• Searches
• Proofing
• Content development

The Role of Outside Counsel

Requests for outside counsel to review drafts and work product through AI chatbots get attention from outside counsel fast.

As the vice chair of a global firm — working in M&A — said:

“The draft resolution my client generated from ChatGPT was pretty good. I couldn’t tell my client otherwise. I provided some comments and sent them back. I also started diving into how I might use ChatGPT. It’s real.” – Vice Chair, M&A, Global Law Firm

Opportunity and Risk

Attorneys can’t avoid the AI controversy. It is polarizing — and the stakes can be big. But, it remains a rare opportunity to break new ground with a client.

And outside counsel are exploring ChatGPT on their own. Some want to expand their knowledge; others want to be ready for their clients. And another group sees more risk than reward. All of these drive searches — and more use.

No client producing a ChatGPT-based draft document wants to hear their primary attorney decline to comment — or worse — tell them they can’t use it. They are already using it. And they see signs of hope for getting more done. Most importantly — they can shift more high-value work to outside counsel to make up the slack.

Exploring ChatGPT together is a classic client-building exercise. You bond through shared interest and learning. You can also help clients save time and money — while getting yourself access to the more difficult work ChatGPT can’t touch.

We’ll be discussing these aspects of Generative AI and more at our upcoming BTI Market Outlook and Client Service Review webinar on January 9^th, 2025. Register here.