In Episode 111 of the Power Up Your Practice podcast, host Ruby Powers sits down with Dorna Moini, CEO and founder of Gavel, a former Sidley Austin attorney, ABA Legal Rebel, and Fastcase 50 honoree, for a practical discussion on choosing between rules-based and generative AI in legal work.
Moini, who built Gavel to automate legal workflows, explains that rules-based AI is best for high-volume, repeatable tasks with clear logic—like form filling, document assembly, and deadline tracking—where accuracy and auditability are critical. Generative AI, on the other hand, excels at unstructured tasks such as drafting initial versions of contracts, summarizing lengthy documents, or brainstorming legal strategies.
The key, Moini says, is understanding the trade-offs: rules-based systems are transparent and predictable but rigid; generative models are flexible and creative but can produce errors or hallucinations. She advises law firms to map their processes, identify where each type of AI fits, and combine them for maximum efficiency.
Powers and Moini also discuss how smaller firms can adopt AI without big budgets, the importance of training staff, and the future of legal practice as AI becomes more integrated. This episode offers actionable guidance for lawyers looking to stay competitive in an AI-driven landscape.