As in many other sectors, it is clear that artificial intelligence can lead to substantial time savings in legal work, as legal practices in Iceland are in many respects inefficient. A great deal of time and cost is often spent on foundational and preparatory work that is necessary but delivers limited value in itself. Lawyers frequently have to review large volumes of case documents in order to establish the factual background, identify the underlying assumptions and potential disputes between parties, and highlight the issues that are relevant to the resolution of a case. They must then identify all sources of law that may be relevant, analyze them in accordance with recognized legal methodology, and prepare draft conclusions supported by legal reasoning.

 

Most people would likely see the value in doctors being able to devote their expertise to treating patients rather than spending their time on administrative paperwork, as this could, for example, shorten waiting lists. We view lawyers in much the same way and seek to enable them, as specialists in their field, to focus on higher-value work for the benefit of those they serve. For instance, proceedings before administrative authorities and courts should be able to move more quickly without compromising the quality of outcomes. On the contrary, quality is more likely to improve, as lawyers’ time can then be devoted primarily to deeper legal analysis and to verifying the work compiled by artificial intelligence.

 

The opportunities offered by artificial intelligence are of such magnitude that they would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. For example, AI can review vast amounts of data in a fraction of the time required by a human. Most importantly, however, artificial intelligence can perform the majority of the foundational and preparatory work that lawyers have traditionally had to carry out themselves. It is therefore no exaggeration to say that artificial intelligence can be a game changer in legal practice in Iceland—provided it is implemented correctly.

 

Reykjavík, 16 July 2025