Patent lawyers produced better drafts with an AI assistant at their side, but the improvement largely vanished once the tool was taken away—except for the most experienced attorneys. A randomized trial at eleven firms, described by Patently-O, gave 133 patent lawyers access to an AI drafting assistant for 90 days.
During the trial period, draft quality improved across the board. The lasting effect, however, split along seniority lines: senior lawyers continued drafting at the improved level after the tool was removed, while more junior lawyers did not keep the gain. That pattern suggests the assistant acted as a lasting skill booster for experienced practitioners but offered no permanent advantage to less seasoned ones.
The results raise a practical question for patent firms: whether AI drafting tools teach skill or simply supply it. For junior lawyers, the tool may need to be paired with explicit training if firms want the benefit to outlast the subscription.