Lawyers: Purely Legal Professionals or Multidisciplinary Individuals?

Lawyers: Purely Legal Professionals or Multidisciplinary Individuals?

In the age of artificial intelligence, some professions may be nearing their end. The legal profession is not one of them. For lawyers, natural intelligence will always be indispensable.

It is true that the concept of multidisciplinarity is nowadays commonly associated with professional firms that bring together different professions within the same organisational structure.

However, I would like to apply this concept to lawyers from the perspective of social skills.

A lawyer, in addition to being a legal practitioner and technical expert, must also be a good listener, an effective communicator, and someone capable of managing emotions with balance and sensitivity.

From my professional experience, I have observed that it is not enough to master legislation, legal doctrine, or case law. It is equally essential to have an understanding of human nature, combined with an empathy that cannot be learned from textbooks—let alone from the Official Gazette.

There is no doubt that technical expertise and the ability to produce legal work are fundamental. However, they are not enough. They are not enough because we are not robots. They are not enough because clients often place all their trust in a person or a team that must inspire confidence and assure them that their case will be defended as though it were their own.

And yes, one must be careful when defending one’s own interests, maintaining objectivity and sound judgment. The necessary professional distance is essential and, in this context, would never be compromised.

With that in mind, I would offer the following challenge to those responsible for recruitment: alongside the traditional curriculum vitae, perhaps they should start by asking whether the candidate “has life experience.”

Having life experience means possessing something that cannot be found in legal codes or on the shelves of a university library. It means having lived experiences that allow us to connect with clients and genuinely understand their circumstances.

I emphasise that academic knowledge, technical ability, and operational competence are all essential—but we already know that. I wanted to focus instead on what is often overlooked.

In the age of artificial intelligence, some professions may be nearing their end. The legal profession is not one of them. For lawyers, natural intelligence will always be indispensable.

No client wants to be represented by a machine that operates according to algorithms. Clients want to work with a real lawyer—someone who listens, communicates, and knows how to manage emotions. Natural intelligence, in both its technical and emotional dimensions, will always remain essential.

What do you think? Has the legal profession been affected by the age of artificial intelligence? It has certainly been enhanced, but not replaced. Clients do not want to work with machines; they want to work with real people.