Any advice on this question?
The legal industry is evolving rapidly with advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly in generative AI, which has the potential to revolutionise legal research, document drafting, and even client interactions. At Shoosmiths, we’ve been working with AI for years and know a thing or two about what responsible AI can do in the real world. We lead the conversation on innovation and use our expertise to help drive change where it matters. It’s why we don’t ban the use of AI in trainee solicitor application forms.
Effective communication and being detail oriented are essential skills for succeeding as a trainee at Shoosmiths, and an application form is the first opportunity you have to communicate as your authentic self. You may choose to use generative AI as a tool to assist you in developing your own original and thoughtful responses, but you should never simply copy and paste answers from the internet.
At Shoosmiths, we place a high value on originality of thought, creativity, and innovation. Successful applications will be personal; you’ll demonstrate genuine effort and unique perspectives, as well as giving the reader a true sense of why you are applying for the role. You’ll also show how your strengths will help shape the future of the firm.
We view the responsible use of AI as something that can strengthen your abilities, fostering creativity and refining ideas, rather than a shortcut to replace authentic input.
How do you expect to use generative AI tools to enhance your effectiveness as a solicitor in the future?
If you have, you may also choose to include specific examples of how you have utilised generative AI to elevate part of your application to Shoosmiths, in this answer.
Hiya
@hanz123
To tackle this question effectively, I think it’s important to focus on concrete ways generative AI could enhance your effectiveness as a solicitor, rather than talking in broad terms (e.g. saying things like that it would make you “efficient” or “more productive”). The question also makes several prompts, including its emphasis on Shoosmiths' commitments to originality and personal insight, so your response might reflect thoughtful consideration of how AI might practically support your work in cultivating these skills/qualities.
To start, I'd encourage you to think about specific tasks where generative AI could play a transformative role. For example, rather than simply stating that AI can speed up document review, client onboarding, or drafting, you could emphasize how its ability to do these things will help free up time for you to focus on the more strategic aspects of being a good lawyer, e.g. allowing you to learn how to negotiate during transactions/cases, build client relationships, or develop comprehensive legal strategies.
You might also reflect on how generative AI could help you communicate more effectively, another skill that Shoosmiths' questions prompts you to consider. How do you think AI tools could, for instance, assist in drafting initial versions of client updates or memos by helping you organise complex legal concepts into clear, client-friendly language. Do you think generative AI could play an important role in helping lawyers break down barriers to communication, and what role do you think this might have for the way lawyers build relationships with clients, the matters they work on, and so forth?
If you’ve already used generative AI, this is a great opportunity to provide a specific examples since the question expressly invites you to do so. Perhaps you used AI to brainstorm ideas, or perhaps you utilised it to understand certain industries/sectors. I'd recommend using an example which shows how you thoughtfully adapted the AI-generated output to ensure it reflected not only your resourcefulness but also your ability to approach AI responsibly.
Finally, try to address the question’s forward-looking element by discussing how your use of generative AI might evolve over your career. For instance, as a trainee, you could see it supporting tasks like research or due diligence, but as you gain experience, you might rely on it for even more sophisticated roles, such as analysing legal trends to offer clients proactive advice or exploring creative solutions to novel legal challenges. By framing AI as a tool to elevate your work rather than replace your efforts, you’ll demonstrate that you understand how to integrate innovation into legal practice thoughtfully and responsibly. I'd recommend having a look at how some law firms are using 'technology incubators' as a way to apply and develop generative AI tools in the work they carry out and enhancing their firms' business development strategies.
Good luck and let us know if you have any other questions!
