Law in the Era of AI: Clients, Firms, and the Future of the Legal Industry (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781394375714)

A deeply informed discussion of the future of the practice of law in the age of AI

In Law in the Era of AI: Clients, Firms, and the Future of the Legal Industry, seasoned public company general counsel Bjarne P. Tellmann, draws on 30+ years of global legal experience to explore how AI-enabled clients will transform the legal profession. As technology reshapes corporate structures and decision-making, legal departments are evolving at unprecedented speed. Tellmann examines the forces driving this shift and reveals what it means for law firms, in-house teams, and the future of legal services, offering a roadmap for leaders navigating this era of disruption. This is a powerful story of technological, organizational, and competitive change that no legal leader can afford to ignore.

Drawing on both research and firsthand insights, Tellmann offers a rare, client-centric perspective on the future of the legal profession. Tellmann walks you through how in-house legal departments have evolved, what they look like today, and where they're likely heading. He reveals how shifts in the structure of multinational corporations are reshaping the way in-house counsel deliver legal services, which in turn is creating pressures that will disrupt the law firm model itself.

Law in the Era of AI also discusses why the traditional law firm model is misaligned with evolving client trends and why, despite consistent and growing pressure, firms remain resistant to change and unable to adapt. It also explores what the law firm model might look like in the AI Era and what alternative legal service models could emerge as the industry shifts.

The book also:

• Examines the traditional structure of law firms serving commercial clients and why the old "billable hour and pyramid structure" model is so ill-suited to the present moment.
• Explores emerging legal services models that may evolve alongside traditional firms, including marketplace platforms, "Big Four"-inspired legal services organisations, and corporate law firms.
• Outlines strategic pathways that law firms can take now to prepare for the changes to come.

Perfect for leaders of in-house legal teams, strategic legal leadership at commercially oriented firms of all sizes, and alternative legal service providers, Law in the Era of AI is an invaluable peek into what the future may hold for the legal industry as technological, regulatory, and societal changes promise to alter longstanding assumptions and traditions in the practice of law.

Author: Bjarne P. Tellmann
ISBN-10: 1394375719
ISBN-13: 9781394375714
Publisher: Wiley
Language: English
Published: 05/04/2026
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover