Admission of Advocates and Solicitors to the Bar
On 14 May 2025, Justice Choo Han Teck presided over the admission of new advocates and solicitors over three sessions. Justice Choo delivered a brief address at each session. For the first session, Justice Choo wrote the address himself, leaning on his personal knowledge and experience. In the second session, he utilised Deepseek, by feeding Deepseek his original address and giving instructions to “improve” on it. In the third session, Justice Choo used Claude without giving the latter any instructions other than to “draft a speech for lawyers newly admitted to the Bar, on the subject of ‘AI and lawyers’ and to keep it under 400 words”.
Here we publish the results of this experiment.
Session 1
Young lawyers in the past were trained to do research differently from today. They were accustomed to spending long, quiet moments in a law library browsing indexes and reading text books, articles, and cases. Research had elements of detection and curation. The result of the effort is blended with the analyses of the young and eager minds, and finally, displayed in what is known as a “draft opinion” for the senior lawyer.
Those long hours of tedious labour laid the groundwork for the introduction of what became known as time costing and the concept of “billable hours”. But young lawyers today can cut a swathe through all the law in every library with the minimum of effort – most of it not his own. It is the research and function of artificial intelligence that now produce the same draft opinion that lawyers used to take hours, if not days to complete.
This impact of AI will, paradoxically end the lawyer’s billable hours. AI can produce all the relevant law in less than 30 seconds, and it can equally produce an opinion just as quickly. Lawyers will starve if they charge by the minute. Make no mistake AI is a boon but it may also be a curse. It depletes your skills as it enriches your research. It helps you in legal combat, but it is at the same time, making you less and less relevant.
The lawyer today needs less effort in research and drafting, but he has to work harder because he is in a constant battle to stay ahead of the machine. You may think that we still need the human mind to supervise the work of the machine, but the moment you believe that this will last forever, you have lost. You are entering the last phase of human endeavour and AI is just beginning its own. It will improve itself exponentially, and the day may come when the client realises he no longer needs you.
You must forge ahead harder and figure out how you can preserve the viability of the human lawyer, and thereby, yourselves. Now is not the time to slack but to work even harder, think even deeper. Inspire yourselves to create. Whatever it takes – go away if need be, or read avant garde materials or even weird old classics. Do whatever it takes. Determine your own future and not leave it to AI.
Justice Choo Han Teck
Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore
Session 2
In the past, young lawyers trained to conduct legal research differently from today. They spent long, quiet hours in law libraries, meticulously browsing indexes, reading textbooks, articles, and cases. Research was an art of detection and curation – an intensive process that required patience and insight. The fruits of their labour culminated in a “draft opinion”, a careful synthesis crafted by eager, sharp minds.
These painstaking hours laid the groundwork for the advent of billable hours and the concept of “time costing.” Yet, today’s young lawyers can navigate the entire body of law across countless libraries with minimal effort – most of it not even their own. Artificial intelligence now performs the research and analysis that once took hours or days, producing draft opinions in seconds.
This technological leap is paradoxical. Al’s ability to deliver relevant law and draft opinions instantaneously threatens to eliminate the very foundation of billable hours. Lawyers who charge by the minute may soon find their traditional livelihood unsustainable. AI is a double-edged sword: it’s a powerful tool that accelerates legal work but also risks eroding the skills that define a human lawyer. It can assist in legal battles, but at the same time, it may make your expertise less vital.
Today’s lawyers face a new challenge: doing less research and drafting, yet working harder to stay ahead of the machine. While some believe human oversight will always be necessary, that conviction is increasingly fragile. We are approaching the final phase of human effort -AI is just beginning its exponential rise. It will improve itself at an unprecedented rate, and the day may come when clients realise they no longer need human lawyers at all.
To survive and thrive, you must adapt. You need to forge ahead with greater determination to preserve the relevance of the human lawyer – and, ultimately, yourselves. Now is not the time to relax; it’s time to work smarter, think deeper, and innovate relentlessly. Seek inspiration wherever you can whether by exploring avant garde ideas, reading classics, or venturing into unfamiliar territories. Do whatever it takes to shape your own future instead of leaving it to AI.
The future belongs to those who dare to think differently – those who refuse to let machines define their worth. Your resilience and creativity are your greatest assets in this new era.
(Deepseek)
Session 3
Congratulations on joining a profession that has endured for centuries, evolving through countless societal transformations. Today, you enter legal practice during another pivotal shift – the integration of artificial intelligence into our profession. Let me be direct: AI has fundamentally changed legal practice. Tasks that once occupied junior associates for days now take minutes. Document review, legal research, contract analysis, and even drafting routine documents can be completed with remarkable efficiency using AI tools.
This isn’t cause for alarm – it’s an opportunity. Throughout history, technological advances have never eliminated the need for lawyers. They’ve simply redefined how we practice. Here’s how you can thrive in this new landscape: First, become technologically fluent. Understand Al’s capabilities and limitations in legal applications. The lawyers who will lead tomorrow are those who can effectively collaborate with these tools today. Your competitive advantage lies not in competing with AI but in knowing how to leverage it.
Second, cultivate uniquely human skills. AI excels at pattern recognition and data processing, but it cannot replicate human judgment, ethical reasoning, creative problem-solving, or the ability to build genuine client relationships. These are now your most valuable assets.
Third, specialise strategically. Find practice areas where human expertise remains irreplaceable. Complex negotiations, novel legal theories, strategic counselling, and courtroom advocacy still demand the human touch. Fourth, embrace continuous learning. The legal profession has always required lifelong education, but the pace of change has accelerated. Stay ahead by remaining curious and adaptable.
Remember that what clients truly seek hasn’t changed. They need trusted advisors who understand their needs, advocate for their interests, and guide them through complex situations with wisdom and care. Your law degree remains incredibly valuable, but its application is evolving. The future belongs to lawyers who combine technical proficiency with deeply human skills – empathy, judgment, creativity, and ethical reasoning. This isn’t the first time our profession has transformed, and it won’t be the last. But I have every confidence that you will adapt, innovate, and ultimately redefine what it means to be a lawyer in this new era.
Welcome to the profession. The future is bright, and it’s yours to shape.
(Claude)
