A recent Above the Law piece highlights a new strategic direction in Biglaw: teaching lawyers to be more human. The argument is straightforward—when clients can outsource legal work to AI, the personal connection becomes the main reason to hire a human lawyer. Firms are responding by investing in training that emphasizes empathy, communication, and relationship-building.
This shift marks a change in how law firms talk about value. Historically, the selling point was expertise and billable hours. Now, with AI capable of handling drafting, research, and document review, the differentiator is the human touch. The article suggests that clients are no longer paying for the work itself, but for the experience of being understood and guided by a person.
The strategy carries implications for legal education and hiring. If human skills become a competitive advantage, law firms may start weighting emotional intelligence as heavily as technical legal knowledge. The piece does not offer data or case studies, but it reflects a growing industry conversation about what lawyers will actually do as AI takes over more of the profession's traditional tasks.