Although 2016 was the breakthrough year for artificial intelligence (AI) in legal services in terms of market awareness and significant take-up, legal AI represents evolution rather than revolution. Since the first 'robot lawyers' started receiving mainstream press coverage, many law firms, other legal service providers, and law colleges are being asked what they are doing about AI.

Robots in Law: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Legal Services is designed to provide a starting point in the form of an independent primer for anyone looking to get up to speed on AI in legal services. The book is organized into four distinct sections:

Part I: Legal AI - Beyond the hype
Part II: Putting AI to work
Part III: AI giving back - Return on investment
Part IV: Looking ahead

The first three present an in-depth overview, and analysis, of the current legal AI landscape; the final section includes contributions from AI experts with connections to the legal space, on the prospects for legal AI in the short-term future.

Along with the emergence of New Law and the burgeoning lawtech start-up economy, AI is part of a new dynamic in legal technology and it is here to stay. The question now is whether AI will find its place as a facilitator of legal services delivery, or whether it will initiate a shift in the value chain that will transform the legal business model.

For insights, knowledge, and literacy, Goodman’s book lays a clear framework for the novice to understand AI
Jason Moyse, Lisa Culbert

For those lawyers who fall into that group of wanting to better understand AI, there may be no better starting point than Robots in Law.
Robert Ambrogi
Above the Law

AI is here now. And going to work in law firms. In the second half of 2016, hardly a week went by without some firm, academic or start-up announcing an innovation. Anyone inclined to dismiss this entirely as hype should read Robots in Law. In 150-odd pages we get a clear round-up of what is happening plus (perhaps more interestingly) some predictions from the best human brains in the business about what it all means.
Michael Cross
The Law Society Gazette

This book, is recommended for all those wanting to catch up with AI, or those needing to catch up (whether they want to or not). That is pretty much all of us.
Laurence Eastham
Computers & Law, The Society for Computers and Law Magazine

Joanna Goodman is a freelance journalist, writer, and author. She covers business and technology topics for national publications and blue-chip corporates. She is the IT columnist for the Law Society Gazette and writes regular features for The Guardian about cutting-edge technology, brands, and media. Her favourite topics include artificial intelligence, robots and chatbots, virtual assistants, connected devices, driverless cars, and virtual and augmented reality - and she's always interested in finding out about technology that's new and different.

Her professional life reflects her interests in technology, books, art, and design.

Joanna has written several short films and an independent feature film, Alfheim's Edge (2016). She has an MBA in strategic management from Kingston University.

Joanna is based in London. She likes films, going to dance classes, and travelling to new destinations.