Carlos Coelho highlights the role of artificial intelligence in transforming the legal profession

'Lawyers don't have to be afraid of losing their jobs,' says Carlos Coelho, Head of Innovation and Knowledge at Morais Leitão, in a commentary for The Next Big Idea on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the legal profession.

Speaking on the sidelines of the E-Commerce Connect event in Cascais, Carlos Coelho argued for a proactive and strategic approach to digital transformation in the legal sector.

Technological change is reshaping the legal landscape, and Morais Leitão is an example of this change. We are a firm of lawyers and consultants, but we also provide IT services related to legal services themselves," said Carlos Coelho, stressing that the future of the profession lies in greater integration between legal knowledge and technological skills.

In a context marked by increasingly demanding European legislation, such as the GDPR, the Digital Services Act or the rules on cross-border trade, companies, especially those in the e-commerce sector, are facing complex and growing legal challenges.
Morais Leitão began working with artificial intelligence tools in 2017, with the aim of freeing lawyers from repetitive tasks and allowing them to be more strategic. 'Our job is to analyse contracts, analyse emails, analyse information, and if we can shift the time we spend analysing content to solving problems, we can do a much better job for our clients,' he said.

As for the future, Carlos Coelho is clear: "The practice of law is going to change, but it shouldn't be seen as a threat. On the contrary, it is an opportunity to broaden skills and integrate new legal professions, such as data analysts and technology application specialists.

Read the full interview on The Next Big Idea website.

(The interview si in english only)