AI in the Legal Field: Challenges and Opportunities with Dr. Don Simmonds

The Birth of Bron AI

Every story of innovation begins with a problem. For Dr. Don Ray Simmonds, a trademark attorney with over a decade of experience, that problem was success. His firm was so effective at handling “office action responses”—the legal arguments required when a trademark application is refused—that other, larger law firms began outsourcing their cases to him. While great for business, the mounting workload began to encroach on something far more valuable: time with his growing son.

The challenge was clear: how could he maintain his high standard of work and meet the increasing demand without sacrificing his family life? This question became the catalyst for a journey into digital transformation. He needed a way to streamline his workflow and boost efficiency, a classic business dilemma that many team leads and department heads face. The answer, as it turned out, was hiding in plain sight, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.

This personal and professional crossroads set the stage for the creation of Bron AI, a testament to how a pressing need can spark incredible innovation. It’s a powerful reminder that the most impactful technological solutions often come not from large corporate labs, but from individuals on the front lines trying to solve a very human problem.

Navigating Challenges and Breakthroughs

Dr. Simmonds’ “light bulb moment” arrived with an invitation to join OpenAI’s beta program, just before the public explosion of ChatGPT. With early access to this groundbreaking technology, he immediately saw its potential. The path forward, however, wasn’t a straight line. He envisioned a system that could help him draft complex legal arguments, but he needed a way to connect the dots and create a truly automated workflow.

This is where low-code platforms entered the picture. With only a basic, self-taught understanding of coding and JSON files, Dr. Simmonds turned to tools like Make.com and n8n. These platforms provided the flexibility he needed to build a bridge between his legal expertise and the power of AI. He embarked on a period of intense development, filled with late nights and, as he puts it, “a lot of failures.” This part of the journey is crucial for any leader in a risk-averse environment; innovation requires experimentation and the resilience to push through initial setbacks.

So I set to work late nights, ripping my hair out, as you can see. And it took months doing innovation after in different designs and trying to figure out, and there were a lot of failures.

After three months of rigorous work, he had a functional prototype. The system could take the specifics of a case and automate the drafting of a full legal response. But the real test was yet to come. To build trust in his own creation, he began using the AI-generated drafts for his actual casework. He needed to prove that the arguments were as sound as those he would have written himself. The breakthrough was confirmed when the trademark offices began accepting the AI-drafted responses. The result was transformative: a process that once took a full day was now completed in about two hours. This remarkable efficiency gain is a powerful example of successful automation that directly addresses the challenges of scalability and productivity.

Scaling and Success: From Personal Tool to Profitable SaaS

Once Dr. Simmonds had validated the tool for his own use, the next logical step was to see if it could benefit others. This transition from a personal productivity hack to a scalable, commercial product is a critical phase in any innovation lifecycle.

And I was like,if this works for me, is it possible that I can make it so it works for some other attorneys?

He knew that what worked for his specific needs had to be standardized to be useful for other attorneys. This required another few months of development to create a more universal version of the platform. To ensure the system was robust and reliable, he enlisted another attorney as a beta tester. This collaborative approach not only helped identify and iron out bugs but also provided external validation of the tool’s value. Building this kind of feedback loop is a core tenet of agile methodologies and is essential for developing user-centric products. The beta tester’s positive experience confirmed that he was onto something significant.

Today, Bron AI is a fully-fledged SaaS product with paying customers. It has created a new, consistent revenue stream for Dr. Simmonds, proving that a well-executed digital transformation initiative can open up entirely new business opportunities. His story demonstrates that you don’t need a massive development team to build a profitable tech solution; a deep understanding of a specific problem combined with the accessible power of low-code and AI tools can be a recipe for incredible success.

The Bigger Picture: Generative AI in the Legal Profession

Dr. Simmonds’ experience is a compelling case study, but it’s just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The legal profession, traditionally slow to adopt new technologies, is now seeing a wave of applications for generative AI and machine learning. These tools are changing the very fabric of business processes within law firms.

The legal services business requires to get better at automating things because a lot of things we do are very repetitive.

Some of the key use cases emerging include:

• Document Analysis: AI can rapidly sift through thousands of pages of case files, contracts, or evidence, providing quick summaries and identifying key information. This drastically reduces the time legal professionals spend on manual review.
• Regulatory Tracking: Large language models can be used to stay abreast of evolving laws and regulations, providing summaries of changes and ensuring compliance.

Looking ahead, Dr. Simmonds is already working on the next frontier: a “live AI paralegal.” This concept envisions an AI agent integrated with a firm’s internal databases, client information, and case law. Such a system would represent a paradigm shift in human-AI collaboration. It could answer routine questions from staff, freeing up senior attorneys and improving employee engagement by reducing administrative friction. By leveraging platforms like n8n, which can intelligently choose the right tool for a given task, this AI paralegal could draft emails, manage schedules, and eventually even interact with the internet for research, opening up a world of possibilities for automation.

The Future of AI and IP Law: A New Frontier of Challenges

The rise of generative AI is not without its challenges, particularly in the realm of intellectual property (IP) law. For leaders guiding their organizations through this new landscape, understanding the potential hurdles is as important as recognizing the opportunities. One of the most immediate impacts is on talent and skills. Dr. Simmonds predicts that AI literacy, including prompt engineering, will soon become a standard requirement for any new attorney. Law firms are already having trouble finding trainees with even basic AI knowledge, signaling a skills gap that educational institutions and businesses must address.

Another significant hurdle is the legal industry’s inherent caution. In these highly risk-averse environments, the fear of AI “hallucinations”—where the model generates false information, like a fake case law—is a major barrier to adoption.

We know there’s errors, there’s hallucinations, there’s all these things, and thus, law firms tend to shy away from it, even though they could reduce their time by 80%. And the reason is they’re afraid.

This fear, while understandable, can prevent firms from realizing the immense efficiency gains that AI offers. Effective leadership will involve implementing guardrails and verification processes to build trust and safely integrate these powerful tools. Perhaps the most complex issue revolves around ownership. Who owns an image created by Midjourney or a piece of text drafted by ChatGPT? The current legal standing, at least in the U.S., suggests that a creation can be attributed to the person who created the AI, provided they had “enough” input or influence in the process. However, the definition of “enough” remains a gray area that the courts will have to clarify over many years. This ambiguity creates uncertainty for creators and businesses alike, and navigating it will be a central challenge of IP law in the coming decade.

Practical Advice for Content Creators in the AI Era

Given the legal gray areas surrounding AI-generated content, how can creators and businesses protect themselves? Dr. Simmonds offers clear, practical advice that serves as a valuable guideline for anyone using these tools. The core principle is to establish a clear record of human involvement in the creative process. This focus on documentation is a cornerstone of a robust, human-centered AI strategy.

First and foremost, when using an AI tool, provide as much unique and specific input as possible. Instead of a simple prompt like “create a picture of a car,” a more detailed prompt describing the style, color, background, lighting, and composition demonstrates a higher degree of human creativity and direction. This level of detail can be crucial in asserting ownership.

Second, and most importantly, document everything. Keep a log of the prompts you use, the iterations you go through, and the specific contributions you make to the final product. This documentation isn’t for public disclosure or official filing; it’s your private evidence. In the event of an IP dispute—for instance, if another party uses your AI-assisted creation without permission—this record becomes your proof. You can use it to demonstrate that you were not a passive user but an active creator who guided the AI. This proactive approach to documentation is a simple but powerful way to navigate the current uncertainty and strengthen your claim to the work you create through human-AI collaboration.

Final Thoughts on the Future of Work and AI

The impact of AI extends far beyond any single profession. A recurring theme in the conversation around digital transformation is the disruption of traditional job roles and business models. Dr. Simmonds believes that in the near future, having some level of AI knowledge will be a non-negotiable hiring requirement across many industries. Interestingly, he suggests that the most sought-after skills may not be purely technical. As interacting with AI becomes more conversational, proficiency in language and communication will be paramount. English majors, he posits, may become the new power users, capable of crafting nuanced prompts that unlock the full potential of these systems.

He shared a powerful anecdote to illustrate this point: he and his seven-year-old son built a fully functional trivia app using a tool called Cursor, simply by “talking” to the computer and outlining what they wanted. The app, now available online, was born out of a desire to have a fun, ad-free experience they could share. This story is a striking example of how accessible AI and low-code tools have become, empowering virtually anyone to become a creator. It also serves as a warning for established businesses: your next major competitor could be a kid in their bedroom with a great idea.

However, despite this rapid technological change, some things will remain constant. Dr. Simmonds is firm in his belief that jobs requiring professional licensure and accountability—like lawyers, doctors, and engineers—will not be replaced by AI. The reason is simple: liability.

Nobody’s replacing law attorneys. You hear this a lot. That is never gonna happen because a person has to be liable for the decisions and advice that is given.

A human professional can be held accountable for bad advice or mistakes. An AI cannot be sued or disbarred. This fundamental need for human accountability ensures that while the tools may change, the role of the expert, the one who takes ultimate responsibility, will endure. This principle of trust and responsibility will remain a pillar of professional services, even as human-AI collaboration becomes the new standard.

From Insight to Impact: Your Turn to Innovate

Dr. Don Simmonds’ journey from an overworked attorney to an AI innovator is a powerful testament to the potential of human-centered automation. By leveraging low-code platforms to solve a tangible business problem, he not only reclaimed his time but also built a new revenue-generating venture. His story demystifies AI, showing that impactful digital transformation isn’t reserved for coders but is accessible to any leader with a clear vision. It underscores a key lesson: the most successful innovations are born from a genuine need and a willingness to embrace new ways of working, proving that technology’s true power lies in its ability to solve human challenges.

Inspired by Dr. Simmonds’ story? He’s generously offered to share his expertise. You can connect with him directly on LinkedIn for a complimentary one-on-one consultation on navigating the worlds of AI and IP law.

Dr. Simmonds’ story shows the power of citizen-led innovation. What steps is your organization taking to empower non-technical team members to build solutions with AI and low-code tools? Share your thoughts and experiences with other leaders on the Innovation Tales LinkedIn page.

Mentioned Resources

• BRON AI: Discover the platform where traditional legal services meet artificial intelligence, designed to provide personalized legal support tailored to your needs.