Zack Shapiro Revolutionizes Law with AI: Boosted Efficiency

AI Transforms the Legal Practice of Zack Shapiro

Zack Shapiro, a business law attorney, has radically transformed his way of working thanks to artificial intelligence. As the founder of the firm Rains, which integrates AI at the core of its operations, Shapiro has seen a significant improvement in his professional efficiency. He attributes this advancement to the automation of repetitive tasks that were previously time-consuming.

Shapiro shared with Business Insider that this technology allows him to be "drastically more efficient." Before adopting AI, he spent long hours drafting legal documents on Microsoft Word, a task he found tedious. Today, AI has freed him from these constraints, thereby changing his legal practice.

A Renewed Focus on the Core of the Profession

Thanks to automation, Shapiro now dedicates more time to the strategic aspects of his job. He focuses on strategic thinking, client advising, and direct interactions, which constitute the true heart of the legal profession. This reorientation allows him to concentrate on the skills for which he was trained.

Shapiro's main tool is Claude, developed by Anthropic. He particularly uses the voice mode of the chatbot, which allows him to discuss his legal matters while walking. During an appearance on the MTS show, he explained that these walking moments are conducive to his "most challenging cognitive work."

A New Working Method

During his walks, Shapiro uses a microphone to record his thoughts for three to four minutes. Upon his return, he finds a first draft already prepared, which saves him valuable time. He describes this method as an "incredible way to practice law," claiming it has significantly improved his quality of life.

Although his firm consists of only three attorneys, Shapiro asserts that the efficiency of AI enables them to operate like a much larger structure. He compares his team to an "army of AI agents," where human lawyers focus on aspects requiring judgment and personalized advice. Shapiro's firm is particularly focused on venture capital and mergers and acquisitions.

A Model for the Future of Law

Earlier this year, Shapiro shared his experience in an article titled "The Claude Native Law Firm," which attracted millions of views. Since then, he has committed to consulting to help other firms integrate AI into their practices, similar to what he has achieved at Rains. He collaborates with some major law firms to guide them through this technological transition.

However, Shapiro remains skeptical about certain specific legal products like Harvey and Legora. He advocates instead for direct learning of AI tools like Claude, believing that efficiency lies in the instructions and prompts that lawyers provide to the AI.