tech
The law firm of the future may look less like a pyramid
After 17 years at Quinn Emanuel, Christopher Kercher is building a law firm around the idea that AI can help lawyers offer faster, cheaper service.
TL;DR
- Christopher Kercher left Quinn Emanuel after 17 years to start his own law firm, Kercher Law.
- The firm's structure is designed to be "AI-native," using artificial intelligence to reduce the number of lawyers needed.
- Kercher plans to move away from the traditional pyramid structure of law firms, which involves multiple layers of junior lawyers, towards a more "obelisk"-like model.
- AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude are used to automate tasks such as document review, timeline creation, and organizing facts.
- Kercher is experimenting with how much one litigator can achieve with AI support, starting solo to test technology's reach before hiring more lawyers.
- This approach aims to provide clients with faster, cheaper, and more coordinated legal services, avoiding the "coordination tax" of large teams.
- The experiment faces regulatory and ethical questions regarding new practice methods and professional rules.