Thomson Reuters Publishes Article by Lorie Almon on Attorney Growth in the Age of AI

Thomson Reuters featured an article by Lorie Almon, chair & managing partner of Seyfarth, “Designing lawyers: Attorney growth in the age of AI‑fueled practice.” The piece, published on May 11, 2026, examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping not only the delivery of legal services, but the very way lawyers develop judgment, expertise, and professional identity.

In this forward‑looking analysis, Almon challenges firms to look beyond efficiency gains and instead rethink the systems that produce excellent, client‑centered lawyers. The article explores the risks of over‑reliance on AI, the limits of traditional apprenticeship models, and the leadership responsibility to intentionally design training, workflows, and feedback mechanisms that ensure AI strengthens—rather than erodes—human judgment and critical thinking.

Almon underscored the stakes for the profession, writing:

“Leaders cannot simply roll out AI tools and tout productivity gains — to do so risks losing essential developmental opportunities to gain judgment and expertise and produces lawyers that are little more than a set of hands for AI systems.”

She further cautioned against mistaking polished outputs for true competence:

“Beautifully crafted AI work product can create the illusion of competence but may create scenarios in which lawyers fail to grasp fully the underlying reasoning.”

At the same time, she emphasized the promise of AI when deployed thoughtfully and in service of human growth:

“The best firms will use AI to build better lawyers, not just faster work. Long-term success will depend on whether firms use AI to strengthen human judgment, critical thinking, and client service, rather than replacing them”

The full article is available here.