Paul Handal: "AI is clear and highly beneficial for the legal sector".

"We are living in a sweet spot. A few years ago it seemed like we were preaching in the wilderness; today AI is at the centre of the conversation and sets the new market standard," says Paul Handal.

Handal has seen the evolution of legaltech since its inception: from closed, complex tools to much more flexible, agile and applicable systems. On that journey, AI has been a turning point. "The adoption of generative AI is easier and faster. What was a competitive advantage two years ago has now become a must. Whoever does not implement this technology will be left behind the rest".

Strategy before tools

The partner warns, however, that it is not about using AI in any way. "There are two risks: applying it without a clear strategy - which can lead to errors or leaks - or under-using it. Only with vision, governance and training can it be used competitively and responsibly".

At ECIJA, this vision is framed within the Full AI Firm model, a transversal strategy that combines proprietary technology, strategic alliances and a culture of responsible adoption, always with the aim of putting AI at the service of talent and improving the productivity, quality and efficiency of teams.

A new way of practising law

For Handal, AI opens up a unique opportunity for lawyers who want to lead change. "Practitioners will be able to focus on the highest value matters and enjoy a higher quality of life. This is a before and after in the way we deliver legal services."

Looking to the future, the ECIJA partner points to the interconnection between AI agents, capable of executing complex tasks without supervision, and the impact that quantum computing will have on exponentially improving the predictive and analytical capabilities of systems.

"We are only at the beginning of a new technological era," he concludes. "The question is not whether AI will transform the legal sector, but how and by whom it will be harnessed.