Kathleen Elliott Vinson (Suffolk University Law School), The Human Touch: Lawyer Leadership in the Age of Generative AI, 59 Suffolk U. L. Rev. 132 (2026) on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
In an era where generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can draft contracts, answer legal queries, and even simulate empathy, the need for authentic human connection by leaders in the legal profession has never been more urgent. The question facing today’s lawyer leaders is not whether GenAI will change the practice of law. It already has. The question is whether we will allow it to erode the human-centered foundations fundamental to lawyer leadership.
This Article argues that GenAI, for all its transformative potential, cannot (yet) and should not, replace the essential human skills that define effective lawyer leadership. As GenAI becomes more capable, the human traits they lack will be indispensable for lawyer leaders to effectively navigate complex challenges with nuance, ethics, and authenticity.
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