The Rise of AI in the Legal Profession: A Case Study of Legalscape at Maruyama Yoshihiro Law Office

In the evolving landscape of legal services, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prominent. A notable example is the recent implementation of the AI legal research platform, Legalscape, at Maruyama Yoshihiro Law Office, based in Nagoya, Japan. This case study explores how the firm leverages AI to enhance operational efficiency while addressing the challenges posed by the traditional practices that still dominate the industry.

Background: Addressing the Digital Transformation Challenge in Legal Services

The legal landscape, particularly in Japan, has remained largely reliant on paper-based workflows, even as society shifts towards digital solutions. Maruyama Yoshihiro Law Office specializes in registration procedures for startups and publicly traded companies, where the need for accurate and swift research is critical. According to Yoshihiro Maruyama, the firm's representative, the legal industry risks falling behind if it does not adopt new technologies. He notes that interactions with banks and real estate companies often still necessitate the use of fax, reflecting an outdated operational framework that must adapt to modern demands.

To fulfill their specialized legal tasks effectively, Maruyama’s office previously relied on extensive research, often transporting and accessing documents from national and university libraries. This not only consumed valuable time but also added unnecessary burdens to their workload.

Efficient Research Through AI Technology

Faced with these challenges, the firm chose to adopt Legalscape, citing several key factors that influenced their decision:

1. Comprehensive Literature Access: Legalscape offers a vast array of legal texts relevant to commercial registration, including valuable resources that are often hard to find.
2. Advanced AI Functionality: The platform features an AI research tool known as “Watson & Holmes” which comprehends user inquiries and provides clear citations from relevant literature.

Currently, the firm utilizes AI for various research purposes, including addressing complex queries related to contract evaluations, such as taxation concerns for stock option allocations to overseas residents. The AI research capabilities have also been beneficial for sourcing reference materials needed for book writing endeavors.

Outcomes of Legalscape Implementation

Since adopting Legalscape, Maruyama Yoshihiro Law Office has reported significant improvements in several areas:

- Enhanced Output Quality: The ability to conduct AI-assisted research simultaneously with document drafting has increased both the quality and quantity of their outputs within operational hours.
- Increased Client Responsiveness: The AI functionalities allow the office to prepare initial responses to client inquiries more quickly, thus improving overall customer satisfaction.
- Streamlined Document Management: Transitioning from paper-based document management to PDF storage within project folders has led to enhanced workflow efficiency.

Insights from Yoshihiro Maruyama

Reflecting on the introduction of Legalscape, Yoshihiro Maruyama emphasizes the importance of human judgment in utilizing AI outputs. He states, “While we do not directly apply AI outputs without scrutiny, these tools serve as an initial reference point to critically examine pertinent literature, enabling us to make more informed decisions. My goal is to actively apply legal tech in my practice while sharing insights with my peers to contribute to the overall vitality of our industry.”

About Maruyama Yoshihiro Law Office

- Name: Maruyama Yoshihiro Law Office
- Representative: Yoshihiro Maruyama
- Location: 5F Daiichi Nishiki Bridge Building, 1-8-43 Nishiki, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi
- Established: January 2022
- Services: Specializes in business registration for startups and publicly listed companies, business succession assistance, and real estate registration.
- Official Website: https://www.maruyama-shihou.com/

About Legalscape

Legalscape, established in June 2021, aims to revolutionize legal research by providing instant summaries and fast access to essential legal information. As of September 2023, it has implemented unique AI research functions that combine generative AI with proprietary natural language processing technology, offering an unparalleled experience in the legal domain. The platform features over 40,000 resources, including more than 4,000 authoritative legal texts.

For more information about Legalscape, visit their official site: https://www.legalscape.jp/.