When AI Starts Doing Lawyers Work, What Labels Still Matter? (Dharshi Harindra) Notes To My Legal Self S14E10

Welcome to Season 14, Episode 10 of Notes to My (Legal) Self®. In this thought-provoking conversation, host Olga Mack sits down with Dharshi Harindra, Assistant General Counsel, APAC at FTI Consulting, to explore one of the most important questions facing the legal profession today: When AI starts doing lawyers’ work, what labels still matter? Together, they examine the evolving role of lawyers in an AI-enabled world and why judgment, not just technical proficiency, may become the profession’s most valuable skill.Dharshi brings a unique global perspective shaped by nearly two decades of experience spanning the UK, Australia, Dubai, and Singapore.With a background in technology, media, telecommunications, data privacy, executive coaching, and inclusion leadership, she offers a nuanced view of how AI is transforming legal work while simultaneously revealing the enduring importance of human reasoning, accountability, and ethical decision-making.Key insights from this episode:• Why the phrase “AI won’t replace lawyers, lawyers using AI will” may oversimplify the future of legal practice• How AI acts as a mirror that reflects and amplifies existing human judgment• Why legal value is shifting from information access and technical precision to decision-making under uncertainty• The growing importance of accountability, context, and strategic wisdom in legal counsel• How bias, labels, and assumptions can be reinforced through AI systems, and what lawyers must do about it• Why asking better questions may become a defining legal skill in the age of AI• How lawyers can help organizations deploy AI responsibly while preserving human oversight and judgmentWhether you're an in-house lawyer, law firm leader, legal operations professional, legal technologist, or simply curious about the future of the profession, this episode offers practical insights into what legal excellence will look like in an era where information is increasingly abundant but judgment remains scarce.Takeaways:• AI can accelerate legal work, but it cannot replace accountability.• Human judgment remains the critical differentiator in legal decision-making.• The future lawyer will be valued less for information retrieval and more for wisdom, context, and strategic guidance.• Bias doesn't disappear with technology, it can be amplified by it.• Great lawyers will combine technological fluency with strong ethical reasoning and business judgment.• The ability to navigate ambiguity may become more important than having all the answers.S U B S C R I B E! Want to be a guest on NTMLS or know someone who should be? Reach out! Self-nominations are acts of courage.Engage with us below, like, comment, and subscribe to follow the future of in-house law!Thank you for watching!Like, Comment, Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode!Subscribe to our channel: @NotesToMyLegalSelfINTERSECTION OF LAW AND FUN®#NotesToMyLegalSelf #LegalInnovation #LegalTech #FutureOfLaw #LegalLeadership