At the recent ILTACON 2026, a significant shift was evident in the legal tech landscape, particularly in how artificial intelligence (AI) is being integrated into legal practices. The convention, sprawling over 700,000 square feet and attracting more than 5,700 attendees, underscored the industry’s rapid evolution and burgeoning scale.

A standout discussion at the conference was Steno’s panel on “AI as a Teammate: Use Cases That Drive Talent Development.” This session offered fresh perspectives on leveraging AI to enhance, rather than impede, the professional growth of junior lawyers. The panel addressed a critical concern from a previous Legalweek event where the paradox of AI in legal training was likened to "a snake eating its own tail" — senior lawyers need to train on tasks that are increasingly being delegated to AI.

Nick Hafen of BYU Law School argued that the repetitive nature of traditional legal tasks offers diminishing returns in training value: "Once you know what a clause looks like, doing it again and again doesn’t add a lot of value." He suggested that AI could focus and amplify training opportunities instead.

The concept of the ‘Doppelganger’ was introduced by Jeff Cox, director of brand at Steno, which marks a strategic pivot from AI as a generic assistant to a personalized mentor. This AI model doesn't just mimic legal writing broadly but is tailored to replicate the nuanced style of a specific, exemplary lawyer. This approach, according to Cox, allows junior lawyers to engage in a deeper, more predictive interaction with the AI, simulating mentorship with a senior partner.

Cox outlined a scenario where an associate could submit a draft to the AI, receive feedback based on the senior lawyer’s style, and then refine their approach before discussing it directly with the mentor. This system not only speeds up the feedback loop but also democratizes access to high-quality mentorship across a firm.

Creating such a doppelganger involves training AI on detailed legal arguments and decision-making processes as demonstrated in marked-up drafts, memos, and other legal documents. By understanding the rationale behind each legal strategy, AI can evolve from a simple drafting tool to a sophisticated cognitive partner.

The implications of this technological advancement extend beyond personal development. As law firms grapple with the need to innovate while managing risk, embedding the judgment of top lawyers into an AI infrastructure represents a transformative shift in legal practice. Cox emphasized the urgency of adopting this technology, stating, "The lawyers and law firms who build this now will be practicing at a materially different level than those who wait."

For more information or to see how these innovations might apply to your practice, consider scheduling a demo with Steno and explore the possibilities that AI can offer in reshaping legal mentorship and training.