Discussion: Delving Deeper Than Purchases
In a bid to stay at the forefront of technology and deliver superior legal services, two prominent Singaporean law firms, Rajah & Tann and Allen & Gledhill, have taken significant strides in integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI into their workflows.
Rajah & Tann Singapore, under the leadership of Rajesh Sreenivasan, head of technology, has established an AI Core Committee. This committee, consisting of the Regional Knowledge Management Director, Group CIO, CISO, AI Consultant, and lawyers from various practice groups, is tasked with formulating strategies for seamlessly incorporating AI and Generative AI into the firm's existing operations.
Meanwhile, Allen & Gledhill, the first Singaporean law firm to receive a grant from the Infocomm Media Development Authority's GenAI x Digital Leaders Programme, has developed an in-house and on-premise Generative AI solution named "A&GEL". The development of "A&GEL" was facilitated by the same programme.
When evaluating new legal technologies, both firms place a strong emphasis on factors such as vendor reliability, integration capabilities, efficiency improvements, and client confidentiality. For Allen & Gledhill, the focus extends beyond what a legal technology solution can achieve to how it supports the commitment to delivering quality legal counsel.
RPC, on the other hand, prioritises easy-to-use tools that integrate seamlessly with existing systems and runs rigorous pilots before adoption. Sarah Vickery, associate director, knowledge & legal technology at RPC, emphasises the use of legal technology to enhance expertise and deliver value across the firm.
The introduction of "A&GEL" at Allen & Gledhill has led to notable improvements in efficiency and productivity. The AI solution is designed to augment staff capabilities in tasks such as contract review, translations, and document generation/summarisation.
At Rajah & Tann Singapore, the firm prioritises a strategy that emphasises integrable capabilities and vendor compatibility first, followed by the stability of the technology, and finally the demonstrable return on investment (ROI) or overall economic impact when assessing and purchasing legal technology. The newly appointed CISO at Rajah & Tann Singapore focuses on evaluating each technology solution for robust security and data privacy.
Allen & Gledhill views legal technology, particularly Generative AI, as a means to deepen the value provided to clients and stay responsive to evolving client needs. They collaborate closely between their legal, business services, and IT teams to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of new technologies.
In conclusion, both Rajah & Tann and Allen & Gledhill are making significant strides in leveraging AI and Generative AI to enhance their legal services, improve efficiency, and deliver superior value to their clients. Their strategic approaches to technology adoption, focusing on integration, security, and ROI, are setting a high standard for the legal industry in Singapore.
