AI and the Future of Law

Making Talk Cheap: Are AI Tools Devaluing Legal Writing?


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Is AI making legal writing too easy—and too cheap? In this episode, Jen Leonard and Bridget McCormack explore how generative AI tools are reshaping writing as a professional skill. They discuss the paper “Making Talk Cheap,” which argues that when anyone can generate polished text, writing loses its value as a signal of skill, effort, or merit. What does this mean for hiring, advancement, and lawyering in the AI era? Plus, they unpack a new Wharton study showing how enterprise AI use is soaring—with real ROI—while sharing personal stories of AI’s practical impact.

Topics Covered:

  • Wharton’s 2025 report on enterprise AI adoption and ROI (vs. the “failed pilots” narrative)
  • How generative AI is leveling the playing field in writing quality
  • The Making Talk Cheap study on devalued written work and hiring signals
  • Implications for legal hiring, promotion, and skill development in the AI era

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AI and the Future of LawBy Practising Law Institute

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