Why Hire a Lawyer to Revise an AI Drafted Contract?
If you’re in a rush to draft a contract, you might consider using AI, especially because it’s become so common. An AI-drafted contract is a legal document that’s been generated by artificial intelligence software. It can involve the creation of contract templates or fully generated clauses and terms.
One of the potential drawbacks of using AI to draft your legal contracts is that it could make costly mistakes. This is why hiring a lawyer to revise it is recommended.
Read the rest of this article to explore issues involved in relying on AI to generate legal contracts, what a lawyer can identify that AI misses, and the process lawyers typically follow when revising AI contracts.
What are Common Problems with AI-drafted Contracts?
Although using AI to draft legal contracts can save you time and money on legal fees, it does come with several risks. Some common reasons why you should get a lawyer to review an AI contract include the following:
- AI lacks customizability. Every company is different and every legal contract needs to be tailored to the parties signing it as well as their working relationship. AI won’t have all this personal information, which can make contracts generic.
- AI lacks practical details. While AI might generate professional-sounding contract terms, it might not always provide details of how these will actually play out in real life. If you don’t have a legal background, you might not notice these subtleties when reviewing an AI contract.
- AI lacks legal understanding. AI doesn't have the legal experience that lawyers do to ensure your required protections are included in the contract, such as in terms of intellectual property (IP) and ownership rights. Without this, you could be at legal or financial risk.
- AI can make errors. It’s common for AI to make mistakes, which can remove the validity of your legal contract.
- AI doesn’t ask you questions. Although it’s fast, AI doesn’t go the extra mile when drafting contracts by asking you questions. A lawyer will do this, and it ensures they have a complete picture of your requirements, goals, and risk profile.
How Does a Lawyer Revise an AI-Drafted Contract?
When reviewing an AI-drafted contract, a qualified lawyer will typically engage in activities such as the following:
Discussing the Client’s Needs
It’s common for a lawyer to discuss your requirements before they revise the contract. They will gather information about your specific situation and agreement, your risk tolerance, your business goals, and more. This will help them to customize the contract to prioritize your interests.
As the client, it’s important to inform the lawyer of any special terms or clauses you want included in the document. You should also be honest with them about using AI to draft the contract, so that they will know what aspects might require special attention or revision.
Scanning the Generated Content
A lawyer will go through the entire document, checking for errors, such as missing information that AI neglected. It will flag any sections that should be revised for clarity and legal soundness.
Checking Compliance
To ensure the contract is aligned with all state and other relevant laws, a lawyer will rephrase wording if the AI hasn’t properly explained or clarified it. This prevents future legal troubles. Lawyers have an in-depth knowledge of the legal landscape to guide them when revising solid contracts.
Considering Real-World Scenarios
A lawyer will tailor the contract terms to consider real-world risks parties could experience. This prevents generic information that can be misinterpreted by parties, or cause issues due to a lack of disclosure.
Negotiating with the Other Party
Something AI can’t do is negotiate contract terms with the other party. A lawyer will decide, using their legal experience, what clauses in the contract can be negotiated successfully for more favorable terms. They’ll check that all negotiations are legally valid and can be enforced to protect your interests.
Where Can You Get a Legal Review of an AI-drafted Contract?
If you want a lawyer to review and revise a contract you had drafted with the help of AI, it’s in your best interests to find a qualified one. You don’t have to struggle to hire a reputable lawyer or go the route of cold-calling traditional law firms. An easier, more convenient method is to post a request for a contract review on the ContractsCounsel platform.
ContractsCounsel is one of the largest online legal marketplaces connecting clients with vetted lawyers. You can use the platform from the comfort of your home and it’s easy to request a contract review. Here’s how.
1. Go to the ContractsCounsel marketplace. Post your project for free.
2. You’ll receive multiple bids from lawyers directly on the platform who have the experience to assist you.
3. Once you receive the lawyer bids, you can review the lawyers' profiles. There’s lots of info provided by the ContractsCounsel platform to help you choose the best lawyer, such as their location, client ratings, years of experience, and field of expertise.
4. Connect with a lawyer you think is best suited to your requirements and hire them.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Revise an AI-drafted Contract?
By hiring a lawyer from ContractsCounsel, you can save money on contract reviews. The review process costs an average flat fee of $600, but it can vary depending on the complexity of the agreement you need to revise.
Once you purchase a contract review, you’ll have peace of mind that the contract is legal, reasonable, and clear. Spending money on the review enables you to avoid larger expenses in future due to incorrect or misleading wording. This avoids financial or legal consequences that can damage your working relationships or harm your business.