Most trial lawyers I talk to are not anti-technology. They are anti-distraction.
They are busy trying cases, running their firms, and protecting outcomes for clients. So when the conversation turns to AI, the default reaction is often hesitation. Some think it is overhyped or ethically risky. Many simply do not know where to start with all of the tools already available and more coming online each day.
That hesitation is understandable. But it is also becoming a liability.
On a recent episode of the Trial Lawyer View by Synergy podcast, I sat down with Holly Cope, co-founder of The Global AI Skills Community For Lawyers, one of the leading global voices on AI in law, to talk candidly about what is really happening inside the legal profession. The takeaway was clear and uncomfortable.
AI is not replacing lawyers. But lawyers who ignore it are at risk of being replaced by firms that do not and are already deploying it to their competitive advantage.
The Biggest Misconception About AI in Law
The most common concern Holly hears from lawyers around the world is simple: “Is AI going to take my job?”
The reality is more nuanced. Technology does not replace judgment, advocacy, or human connection. What it replaces is friction. It replaces wasted time. It replaces inefficient processes that quietly drain profitability and delay outcomes.
The firms that are pulling ahead are not using AI to practice law. They are using it to think faster, prepare better, and operate more efficiently.
And that difference compounds.
Why Resistance Is So Common in Law Firms
The legal industry has always been cautious with change. That is not a flaw. It is a feature of a profession built on precedent and risk management.
But as Holly pointed out, resistance to AI often has less to do with ethics and more to do with culture.
Lawyers are creatures of habit. New systems require learning. Learning requires time. And time is the one thing most trial lawyers feel they do not have.
The firms that are breaking through this resistance are not forcing adoption from the top down. They are building cultures of curiosity.
Some are creating internal forums where lawyers share how they actually use AI in their day-to-day work. Others are encouraging experimentation and rewarding it. A few are even carving out dedicated time for associates to explore AI tools without penalty.
The common thread is leadership that treats AI as a strategic conversation, not a technical one.
AI and the Leveling of the Playing Field
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was how AI is changing the competitive dynamics of personal injury law.
For decades, defense firms and insurers had a structural advantage. More money. More technology. More resources.
That gap is narrowing.
Today, plaintiff firms can access tools that help them analyze records, prepare for depositions, and synthesize data faster than ever before. AI is not about doing more work. It is about focusing time where it matters most.
For contingency fee practices, that matters. You do not bill hours. You invest them.
The question is no longer whether AI delivers return on investment. The question is whether you can afford not to measure it.
The Ethical Conversation Cannot Be Ignored
With opportunity comes responsibility.
Holly emphasized something every trial lawyer should take seriously: firms need clear policies around AI use. Not to slow innovation, but to guide it.
Client confidentiality, accuracy, and accountability still matter. In fact, they matter more as tools become more powerful.
The firms that win in this next chapter will be the ones that treat ethics as part of the strategy, not an afterthought.
The Future Belongs to Firms That Stay Curious
This may be the most important insight from the episode.
The future of law is not about mastering one tool or platform. It is about developing a mindset that stays open as the landscape changes.
AI is evolving faster than any technology we have seen. What feels experimental today will feel foundational sooner than most expect.
The firms that thrive will not be the loudest about AI. They will be the most thoughtful. They will ask better questions. They will test, measure, and adapt. And they will build cultures that allow their people to do the same.
What This Means for the Peak Practice Community
The Trial Lawyer View podcast exists to surface these conversations because they are not theoretical. They are happening now, inside firms that are willing to evolve as technology evolves at a brutal breakneck pace.
If you are a trial lawyer thinking about how to scale, how to build a stronger brand, or how to stay human in a high-tech world, this conversation is worth your time.
And if you are not yet thinking about these things, your competitors probably are.
That is the key takeaway.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast conversation on Trial Lawyer View here: https://triallawyerview.com/podcast/holly-cope/
🔗 Want more insights like this?
If you’re a personal injury lawyer ready to scale, streamline, and step into your role as CEO, let’s talk. Join the Peak Practice Community, and learn how synergy. can help you eliminate settlement bottlenecks, resolve complex liens, and maximize recoveries. Learn more here: https://partnerwithsynergy.com/peak-practice/
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