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- Jun 11
How AI Is Changing Law Firms Forever with Aaron Shechet
AI Is Not Replacing Lawyers... It's Changing What Clients Pay For
Most conversations about artificial intelligence focus on one question:
Will AI replace lawyers?
The better question is this:
What will clients still pay lawyers for when AI can perform many of the tasks that once took hours?
That was the focus of my recent conversation with attorney-turned-AI entrepreneur Aaron Shechet.
His story is not what you'd expect.
A Cancer Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Aaron and his wife started their law firm in 2008 and built a successful litigation practice. Their work included business litigation, real estate disputes, and even a case before the California Supreme Court.
Then everything changed.
In 2023, Aaron was diagnosed with a rare cancer called thymoma. The tumor, larger than a baseball, was pressing against his heart. Surgery and radiation treatment followed.
While recovering, Aaron began experimenting with artificial intelligence.
His goal wasn't to start a technology company.
He simply wanted to learn.
His wife challenged him to create an AI tool that could help her improve her sourdough baking. What started as a learning exercise eventually became a commercial app that analyzes photos of bread and provides recommendations to improve the baking process.
More importantly, the project taught Aaron how to build AI-powered systems.
That knowledge eventually led him back to the legal profession in a completely different way.
The Real Opportunity for Law Firms
Many lawyers think of AI as a writing tool.
That's a mistake.
The most valuable use cases are not generating content. They are improving workflows.
During our conversation, Aaron shared several examples of how AI can help law firms:
Drafting contracts using a firm's own clause library
Creating settlement demand letters using the firm's preferred style
Generating first drafts of complaints and motions
Organizing and analyzing large volumes of information
Identifying patterns hidden inside firm data
Improving intake and case selection processes
Notice a common theme.
None of these examples eliminates the lawyer.
They make the lawyer more efficient.
The attorney still provides judgment, strategy, negotiation, and client guidance.
Why This Matters for Profitability
As a CFO for law firms, this is where my attention immediately goes.
Most law firms still operate under a model where revenue is tied directly to attorney time.
The challenge is that AI is making many tasks dramatically faster.
If a task that once took 5 hours now takes 20 minutes, firms have a decision to make.
Do they continue billing hourly?
Do they increase rates?
Do they move toward flat-fee pricing?
Do they create new service offerings?
These are business questions, not technology questions.
The firms that answer them well will create a significant competitive advantage.
The firms that ignore them may eventually find themselves wondering why clients are calling less often.
The Data Opportunity Most Firms Are Missing
One of the most interesting parts of our discussion focused on personal injury firms.
Imagine having a database containing:
Every lead that contacted your firm
Every case you accepted
Every case you declined
Key facts from each matter
Settlement outcomes
Litigation outcomes
Referral sources
Geographic information
Case values
Now imagine being able to identify patterns across thousands of matters.
Which case types generate the highest profit?
Which referral sources produce the best clients?
Which fact patterns lead to stronger settlements?
Which cases should never be accepted?
Most firms already possess much of this information.
The challenge is organizing it in a way that produces useful insights.
This is where AI can become extremely valuable.
Not because it replaces decision-making.
Because it helps uncover information that humans may never have the time to find on their own.
Where Lawyers Still Provide Value
One point Aaron made repeatedly is important.
AI is not a substitute for professional judgment.
Clients still hire attorneys for:
Strategic thinking
Experience
Risk assessment
Negotiation
Court appearances
Complex decision-making
Accountability
An AI tool can generate information.
It cannot replicate decades of professional experience.
The best lawyers will use AI to strengthen their expertise, not replace it.
The Firms That Will Win
Every major technology shift creates winners and losers.
The winning firms rarely ignore the technology.
They learn how to use it strategically.
The goal is not to become a technology company.
The goal is to become a better law firm.
That means:
Delivering results faster
Improving client service
Creating operational efficiencies
Making better business decisions
Increasing profitability without increasing stress
The firms that embrace these opportunities thoughtfully will be positioned to thrive over the next decade.
The firms that resist change may discover that the market has already moved forward without them.
Final Thoughts
AI is not just a technology discussion.
It's a business discussion.
It's a pricing discussion.
It's a profitability discussion.
And for law firm owners, it's becoming one of the most important strategic conversations happening today.
The question is no longer whether AI will impact your firm.
The question is whether you'll use it intentionally or allow it to reshape your business without a plan.
About Aaron Shechet
Aaron Shechet is an attorney and AI entrepreneur who helps professionals build highly specialized AI systems and workflows. His platform, Veilgrid, allows organizations to create custom AI-powered solutions designed around their specific business processes.
Connect with Aaron:
Website: https://veilgrid.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashechet/
Substack: https://shechetai.substack.com
Related Reading on Your Profitable Law Firm
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