Legal AI's Real Value: Autonomy, Not Automation
Before AI, fear forced me to compromise. When a client's case didn't fit the template, I knew the optimal approach—but pursuing it meant hours of risk. AI didn't just save time. It gave me the autonomy to make the right decision, not just the safe one.
My 2026 Legal AI Predictions (From the Trenches, Not the Boardroom)
Stanford predicts AI's measurement era, Forbes predicts transformation, Above the Law warns about hallucinations. Nobody's predicting what will actually happen for resource-constrained practitioners. Here are five testable predictions with public accountability.
October 3 Changed Everything: How One $800 Fine Flipped Singapore's AI Coverage from Adoption to Accountability
On October 3, 2025, a Singapore lawyer paid $800 after an AI hallucination reached court. That single sanction flipped legal coverage from 89% adoption focus to 82% accountability warnings in eight weeks.
What I Learned at SMU's Legal Database Launch (And My Decision About zeeker.sg)
After 150+ hours building data.zeeker.sg, I attended SMU's SOLID database launch to see institutional legal data infrastructure in action. I applied my decision framework and made my choice: I'm continuing. Here's what I learned about when solo builders should persist alongside institutions.
Building data.zeeker.sg: Technical Architecture
The complete technical stack behind Singapore's first public legal news API: zeeker CLI standardizes data collection, Datasette serves SQLite straight from S3, and canned queries make legal research accessible without SQL. Built solo, runs on $6-12/month, designed to scale from 1 to many sources.
Singapore Court Rules on AI Hallucination: A Reality Check for Small Firms
Singapore's High Court just handed down what might be its first formal ruling on AI-generated fake cases in legal practice (2025 SGHCR 33). For resource-constrained practices, this case validates a hard truth - you might be better off avoiding AI entirely.
Beyond the Harvey Drama: The Real Lessons for Solo Counsel
While legal tech Twitter argues about Harvey's performance, solo counsel should focus on the real lesson: Harvey created a replicable blueprint for making AI feel safe and professional to skeptical lawyers. Here's how to apply their approach when evaluating any legal AI tool.
The Solo Counsel Reality: What MinLaw's AI Guidelines Miss About In-House Practice
Singapore's AI guidelines assume enterprise resources and committees. But what about solo counsel making real AI decisions with limited budgets and shadow tools? This consultation misses practitioners who need guidance most.
More thoughts on Generative AI
I attended a roundtable organised by the #Singapore Academy of Law titled "Generative AI and the Impact on Law
