The Use of Artificial Intelligence to Cultivate the Ultimate Trial Lawyer

Introduction

Artificial intelligence is no longer futuristic; it is reshaping industries. US News and World Report recently sat down with prominent personal injury CIOs and vendors. In a new webinar hosted by Precedent, Josh Fogelman, a former trial lawyer who co-founded FVF Law, discusses his firm's journey toward modernization and how attorneys can use data and AI to embrace technology.

From Trial Lawyer to AI Advocate

Josh describes his youth as a "blue-collar" Austin kid who worked full-time jobs while earning his law degree. Opening FVF Law in a high-volume market, he quickly realized that the way firms prosecute cases was antiquated, often neglecting deep dive metrics of workflows.

He describes how he became fascinated by the promise of AI to automate bottlenecks, improve efficiency, and help lawyers focus on what matters most: client advocacy. He also points out the need to educate attorneys so they learn how not to fear innovation.

"It became obsessing for me, buying back your time, and making your report writers something quality."

The Challenges of Adoption

Despite the clear benefits, Josh acknowledges that many lawyers remain skeptical. He highlights several common barriers to adoption:

• Mindset Resistance: Attorneys often feel comfortable with tradition and resist tools that automate core parts of their workflow.
• Ethical Concerns: Knowing data security, client confidentiality, and compliance with professional rules is paramount.
• Mental Overload: With so many new tools emerging, it can be hard to separate hype from genuinely useful solutions.

Josh emphasizes the importance of asking hard questions about any technology partner's security practices and understanding exactly how AI fits into processes.

The Opportunity to Modernize

While some firms hesitate, Josh sees modernization as a critical competitive differentiator. Those who embrace the right tools now will be best positioned to deliver client satisfaction and operate more profitably.

He outlines several areas where AI is creating value:

• Intake & Onboarding: Automating initial data entry, document review, and initial communications.
• Pre-Litigation: Summarizing thousands of pages of records to construct demand packages.
• Settlement & Post-Trial: Streamlining disbursements and closing delays.

In each case, AI helps lawyers reclaim time for strategy, preparation, and direct client relationships.

A New Webinar Series for Trial Lawyers

Josh closed by previewing Precedent's upcoming webinar series, which will dive deeper into specific tactics for the entire lifecycle of a PI case. These sessions will cover smart contracts, medical record analysis, and real-world case studies demonstrating how technology makes firms more competitive.

As a related benefit, the webinar series integrates ethics so participants can earn CLE credits while exploring the future of legal practice.

"If we don't start learning these tools now, we risk falling behind the thousands of lawyers already modernizing their firms."

Stay tuned for the next section this month where Josh and the Precedent team will continue this practical conversation about tools for the ultimate trial lawyer's toolkit.