Law Disrupted Mailbag: The Future of AI in Litigation, International Legal Practice, and Keys to a Successful Legal Career

John is joined again by producer Alexis Hyde for a second mailbag episode of Law Disrupted. In it, John responds to questions submitted by listeners rather than conducting a traditional interview. Topics include the future demand for lawyers, artificial intelligence, international legal practice, career development, and the experiences that shape effective litigators.

Despite AI’s growing ability to draft documents, analyze discovery, and perform other legal tasks, John expects the number of lawyers to increase over the next three years. Although AI might someday reduce human involvement in less complex legal fields, demand for junior lawyers has not yet declined at sophisticated litigation firms. At the highest levels of the profession, highly skilled lawyers remain essential.

A law firm founded today should integrate an AI platform throughout its practice, with lawyers trained to become sophisticated users. Because existing legal technology does not always fit specialized litigation workflows, firms have an incentive to develop proprietary systems tailored to their work.

Geopolitical tensions have also transformed international legal practice. Work in China has moved away from advising Western companies investing there and toward representing Chinese companies in disputes around the world. As the domestic Chinese economy has faced challenges, Chinese companies have increasingly looked outside China for growth. As Chinese companies expand their operations internationally, they encounter the same contractual, regulatory, and intellectual-property disputes faced by other global companies. Meanwhile, India and Japan have become major destinations for extensive private-equity investments, driven respectively by economic growth in India and undervalued assets in Japan.

To be successful, a young lawyer does not need a single defining mentor. Young lawyers learn by observing talented colleagues and adversaries and by doing the work themselves. Remaining focused and competitive is key to a highly successful career. Litigation is an especially exciting field for young attorneys because every case requires learning about new industries, facts, personalities, and legal issues.

John has had a wide variety of experiences outside of practicing law, including competing in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii multiple times, owning a Michelin-starred restaurant and a museum, collecting art, and creating an artist residency program. Experiences from these activities have strengthened his litigation skills by expanding his knowledge, enhancing his ability to develop effective analogies and metaphors, and helping him connect with people.

Finally, settlement decisions often reflect considerations beyond the legal merits. Reputational damage, adverse publicity, embarrassing disclosures, and the possibility that serious allegations will receive attention even if later dismissed can create substantial leverage and motivate parties to resolve otherwise defensible claims.