No 'Fear Factor': Biglaw Summer Associates 'Excited' About Using AI

Generative AI comes to Biglaw summer associates, but how do they like it?

AI Robot GettyImages-917581126-300×200Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day.

I think, broadly, summer associates are familiar with the technology because they’re a tech-focused generation, and they were really excited about it and eager to use it. Which in turn made me excited. There wasn’t any resistance to it. … They don’t have that fear factor.

Kathleen Orr, global head of practice innovation at Orrick, in comments given to the American Lawyer, on how summer associates at the firm are working with generative artificial intelligence at the firm. K&L Gates is also training its summer associates on AI. “We want everyone to get into it and get curious,” partner Brendan McDonnell told Am Law, “and we want to convert some people who are not that interested because it’s a tool we’re going to be using every day in a year to 18 months.”


Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on X/Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.