Harvey’s CEO told Business Insider that law firms shouldn’t write off junior lawyers — even as AI takes over much of the work once reserved for them.
Winston Weinberg, the CEO of the $5 billion legal AI startup Harvey, said in an interview earlier this month on the sidelines of TechLaw Fest in Singapore that he’s “100%” committed to hiring and training young lawyers.
“Junior talent is very willing to try new tools,” he said. “The younger you are, usually the more agile you are at adopting a new playbook and figuring it out.”
Weinberg said young lawyers who grew up with AI tools could surpass senior partners in fluency with AI and adaptability.
The 31-year-old founder also said that young lawyers are able to do “more high-risk things sooner,” which allows them to grow massively.
“If you’re scared of something and stressed about doing something, do it and lean into doing it,” he said. “Your performance will be better just because you’re less stressed by doing it.”
“In 10 years, they’re going to be a way better partner,” he said, referring to junior lawyers.
Harvey, which has about 340 employees since launching three years ago, hires junior lawyers in every market where it opens offices, including Australia and the UK, Weinberg said.
The company said its APAC office in Sydney opened this month. Harvey plans to hire about 15 people there this year, with more down the line.
How AI is affecting junior lawyers
Weinberg’s comments come as some industry players see AI hollowing out the apprenticeship model that traditionally develops junior lawyers.
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Weinberg said AI is transforming the industry, creating new practice areas while shrinking some in-house teams. Some law firms have shifted to flatter, pyramid-like structures, with more associates and fewer partners.
In the age of AI, firms need to refocus on training and upskilling junior attorneys, he said.
“AI systems can do the work, but there’s no reason you can’t turn those into education platforms,” Wenberg said. Firms will need to prevent junior lawyers from getting lazy with these tools, he added.
AI could even make it easier for junior attorneys to strike out on their own and start firms, Weinberg said.
Business Insider reported in April that legal-tech startups are increasingly luring young attorneys with the chance to shape the future of the profession.
According to an American Bar Association survey released in April, over 6% of 2024’s law school graduates have already defected to business and industry employers. While most grads — 54% — landed in law firm positions, others are choosing to put their JD degrees to work at startups, building the next generation of legal software.
Going into tech “was probably thought of as a career-limiting move before,” Omar Haroun, a three-time legal-tech startup founder told Business Insider. “Now, it’s starting to become a career-enhancing move.”
