Engadget’s got a summary of an article by Business Day about Buys Inc., a South African law firm that plans to add 3 “robot” lawyers, Stacy, Dave, and Nathan, to their human legal staff in early 2007. Initially their duties will include answering basic questions and presenting training material online. They will operate under very strict human supervision at first, but the firm anticipates that if their early efforts are successful, the trio could begin offering legal opinions, advice, and additional services in the very near future.
The firm recognizes that clients may be slow to warm to the virtual lawyers, but once they recognize their advantages, including lower price, quicker turn around, and 24/7 accessibility, the clients will come around. At the end of the day the verdict is all that matters, and if the robots deliver wins, the clients will be satisfied.