Cat Casey On AI, Dragons, And The Future Of Legal Technology

When you talk to Cat Casey, you quickly realize she’s not just an expert in AI and legal technology — she’s a force of nature. As the chief growth officer at Reveal and a globally recognized voice in legal AI, Cat brings a unique blend of humor, insight, and pop culture references to a field that desperately needs all three. In our recent conversation, Cat unpacked the transformative potential of AI in the legal world, her favorite metaphors (spoiler: “Game of Thrones” plays a starring role), and why lawyers need to embrace change — or risk being left behind.

Watch the full conversation here: AI & The Future of Legal: Challenges and Opportunities.

Dragons And The Dance Of Data

Cat’s chapter in our book, “Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data,” is everything you’d expect from her: sharp, insightful, and wildly entertaining. Using “Game of Thrones” as a metaphor, she breaks down the high-stakes world of eDiscovery. “It’s all about finding that one piece of information that can change everything,” she said. “Just like in Westeros, one secret can shift the balance of power in litigation.”

The dragons in her analogy are eDiscovery tools, which start as helpful companions but can grow into powerful beasts that transform the game entirely. “If you’re not prepared to ride the dragon, you’re going to get burned,” Cat quipped. It’s a vivid reminder that while technology can be a lawyer’s greatest ally, it requires skill, strategy, and a touch of bravery to wield effectively.

AI As Fire: A Transformational Force

When it comes to the impact of generative AI, Cat doesn’t mince words. She likened it to fire — a transformative force that changes how humans interact, work, and live. “This isn’t just the next internet or the next printing press,” she explained. “It’s reshaping everything, including how we think about information and decision-making.”

For Cat, the speed of AI adoption is both thrilling and daunting. “I’ve spent 20 years pushing the rock up the hill, trying to get people to embrace AI. Suddenly, the rock is rolling on its own — and fast.” The challenge now is helping lawyers and legal professionals ride the wave without being overwhelmed.

What Keeps Cat Up At Night

Cat isn’t losing sleep, but she’s deeply curious about who will thrive in this AI-driven future and who will be left behind. With studies predicting that up to 70% of legal work could be automated, the stakes are high. “Robot lawyers aren’t going to replace us,” she said. “But lawyers who use AI effectively are absolutely going to replace those who don’t.”

Her biggest concern isn’t fear or ethics — it’s inertia. “Lawyers are used to doing things the same way. AI requires us to rethink how we work, and that’s hard for a lot of people.” She’s on a mission to break through that resistance and help legal professionals see the opportunities AI brings.

The Rise Of The ‘Liar’s Dividend’

As generative AI and deepfakes become more advanced, Cat sees a major challenge for the legal system: trust. “We’re entering an era where video and photo evidence isn’t automatically reliable,” she said. She pointed to cases where defendants have claimed that incriminating videos were deepfakes. “It’s already happening, and it’s going to bottleneck the legal process.”

The solution? New tools and expertise to authenticate digital evidence. “We’re going to need a whole industry dedicated to verifying what’s real. It’s going to get messy before it gets better.”

How To Future-Proof Your Career

Cat’s advice for lawyers navigating this AI revolution is straightforward: be curious, start experimenting, and find your people. “I tell everyone to start small. Use ChatGPT before you Google something. Play around with MidJourney. Get comfortable with the tools, even for low-risk tasks like finding a recipe or researching a vacation spot.”

She also emphasized the importance of building a community. “Find your tribe. Surround yourself with people who are passionate about AI and willing to share what they know. No one can keep up with this pace of change alone.”

Most importantly, Cat urged lawyers to lean into their humanity. “AI is a tool, not a replacement for you. Your expertise, judgment, and creativity are what make you valuable. Use AI to amplify those strengths, not replace them.”

The Final Word

Talking to Cat is like sitting in a masterclass on the future of legal technology — with a lot of laughs along the way. Whether she’s comparing eDiscovery to dragon riding or urging lawyers to embrace their inner dork (her words!), her message is clear: the AI revolution is here, and it’s time to dive in. As Cat put it, “This isn’t the time to sit on the sidelines. Get curious, start experimenting, and get ready to ride the dragon.”

Watch the full conversation here: AI & The Future of Legal: Challenges and Opportunities.

Olga V. Mack is a Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT. Olga embraces legal innovation and had dedicated her career to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive than before by embracing technology. Olga is also an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She authored Get on Board: Earning Your Ticket to a Corporate Board Seat, Fundamentals of Smart Contract Security, and  Blockchain Value: Transforming Business Models, Society, and Communities. She is working on three books: Visual IQ for Lawyers (ABA 2024), The Rise of Product Lawyers: An Analytical Framework to Systematically Advise Your Clients Throughout the Product Lifecycle (Globe Law and Business 2024), and Legal Operations in the Age of AI and Data (Globe Law and Business 2024). You can follow Olga on LinkedIn and Twitter @olgavmack.

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