Welcome to Attorney Intelligence, where we break down the biggest advancements in AI for legal professionals every week.

After two weeks of back-to-back conferences — Legalweek NYC and Future Lawyer UK — it’s nice to be back in NYC.

I was catching up on the news this week, and one headline captured my eye.

That’s a first — a digitally generated person, created using AI, representing a real human in court.

Look at the bottom right of the photo below to see what I’m talking about.

Anyways, this got me thinking about AI's role in courtrooms and future legal proceedings — particularly AI avatars.

In this week’s Attorney Intelligence, we’ll explore:

1. Whether AI avatars belong in the courtroom

2. How avatars are being used in other areas of the industry

3. Opportunities and use cases for AI avatars in the future

Let’s get into it.

AI avatars in legal appeals

On March 26, 2025, Jerome Dewald attempted to present his case — an employment dispute — before a New York appeals court using an AI-generated avatar as his counsel.

Within seconds of the avatar presenting his case, the judges realized they were speaking with an AI and not a real person. The judges abruptly stopped the presentation, displeased with not being informed beforehand that Dewald had planned to use AI as his legal representation.

Dewald later explained that he created the avatar because he believed it could deliver his arguments more articulately than he ever could. In a letter of apology to the court, he acknowledged he should have been more transparent about his use of the technology and clarified he had not intended to mislead the court.

While the judges rejected his approach, the case highlights important questions about:

• How virtual representation might function in legal settings

• What boundaries courts establish around the technology

• And what other AI avatar use cases there are in the industry

The Arizona Supreme Court has an interesting one…

Arizona's judicial AI initiatives

The Arizona Supreme Court recently introduced two AI-generated avatars, named Victoria and Daniel, specifically designed to make the judicial system more publicly accessible by delivering court news and explaining legal rulings in clear, accessible language.

Unlike Dewald's use of AI avatars, Arizona's implementation follows a careful framework. The avatars:

• Are identified as AI-generated

• Operate within well-defined roles

• Function as educational tools rather than legal representatives

• Simply recite scripts prepared by justices — they’re not interactive

This model demonstrates how AI avatars can serve educational and informational roles within appropriate ethical boundaries — enhancing accessibility without compromising judicial integrity.

While Dewald’s demonstration of AI avatars may have been construed as deceptive, Arizona proves that AI avatars can be used in the legal setting safely and effectively.

How else may AI avatars be used in legal contexts?

The future of AI avatars in the industry

The emergence of AI avatars in legal contexts presents intriguing possibilities for expanding access to justice.

For individuals who cannot afford traditional legal representation, AI avatars could offer a more accessible entry point to legal information and basic guidance.

For example, I recently spoke with a lawyer who cloned his personality into a chatbot so his clients can ask him questions whenever they want, therefore saving them time and money.

It’s a nice 80/20 solution that makes legal guidance more affordable for early-stage companies:

• Providing a chatbot for all startup clients, allowing them to ask basic legal questions without incurring hourly fees

• Offering human support for situations that need actual legal counsel

However, this type of solution doesn’t come without complications.

Challenges with this model

Unauthorized practice of law (UPL) restrictions remain a significant hurdle for AI legal avatars and automated legal systems.

Current regulations across most jurisdictions prohibit non-lawyers from providing legal advice, creating a complex boundary that software developers and legal professionals have to navigate carefully.

The lawyer I mentioned above addresses this by explicitly stating that the chatbot's responses don't constitute legal advice.

Despite this hurdle, AI avatars could prove significant for individuals, SMBs, and startups seeking legal guidance. As these systems evolve, they could create new avenues for legal information and representation previously unavailable to many potential clients.

Bottom line

The integration of AI avatars into legal processes will require careful balancing of efficiency and ethical considerations.

While these technologies can increase accessibility and reduce costs, they must operate within appropriate boundaries that protect clients and maintain the integrity of legal processes.

The most successful implementations will likely combine AI capabilities with human oversight, using technology to extend legal services rather than replace legal professionals entirely.

Legal Bytes

Dentons launches legal tech incubator, Office Hours — Global law firm Dentons has announced the launch of Office Hours, a new legal tech incubator designed to accelerate innovation in the legal industry. The program will provide selected startups with mentorship, resources, and potential pilot opportunities within the firm and its client network.

DocJuris unveils AI email agent for contract review and negotiation — Legal tech company DocJuris has released a new AI email agent that automatically reviews contracts received via email and provides instant analysis of key terms and potential issues. The tool aims to streamline the contract negotiation process by identifying problem areas before human review begins.

AI adoption doubles in small law firms — Recent data shows generative AI use in small law firms has surged from 27% to 53% in a year. Tools for document review and research are driving the adoption, highlighting how even smaller practices are leveraging AI to boost efficiency and stay competitive.

Looking to improve your firm's efficiency?

Book a demo to see how PointOne can help maximize billable time and cut out admin at your firm.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week,

Adrian