Infinite Counsel
A Lawyer’s Guide to Understanding Artificial Intelligence and the New Economics of Practice
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Infinite Counsel: A Lawyer's Guide to Understanding Artificial Intelligence and the New Economics of Practice helps lawyers, firm leaders, and legal professionals make sense of generative AI and the economic disruption it brings to law. Trial attorney and legal futurist Jonathan T. Nessler explains AI in plain language, then connects it to the realities of practice: why the billable hour became dominant, how alternative fee arrangements shift incentives, how staffing and leverage drive profitability, and how client demands and access-to-justice pressures are accelerating change. He then demystifies large language models, including how they generate answers, where they can fail, how context and "memory" limits affect outputs, and how to craft better prompts for legal research, drafting, analysis, and revision (with examples of weak versus strong instructions). The book surveys real-world uses of frontier models and specialized legal-AI tools for discovery, document review, writing, and workflow automation, while addressing confidentiality and data-security considerations for responsible adoption. Finally, it looks ahead to AI agents and the "infinite counsel" horizon - competent legal advice replicated at scale - and what it means for pricing, competition, regulation, and the evolving role of the lawyer in an era moving toward AGI and ASI.
About the Author: Jonathan T. Nessler is an accomplished trial attorney, legal futurist, and recognized authority on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the practice of law. He is based in Springfield, Illinois, where he has represented individuals and families in complex personal injury and wrongful death litigation since 2007. His work as an advocate has earned recognition from leading legal organizations, including The National Trial Lawyers, The Law Bulletin Publishing Company, and the American Society of Legal Advocates.
In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Nessler is the founder of Integrated Cognition, LLC, a company focused on helping law firms, courts, and professional organizations integrate artificial intelligence in a manner that enhances human judgment while maintaining ethical, professional, and regulatory compliance. His work emphasizes practical and responsible AI adoption that improves efficiency and quality without compromising confidentiality or professional standards.
Mr. Nessler was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve on the Illinois Judicial Conference Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, where he helped develop statewide guidance and policy on the ethical use of AI within the judiciary and broader legal profession. He is also actively involved with the Illinois State Bar Association, where he has written and spoken extensively on artificial intelligence, legal ethics, and technology-driven practice management. His ISBA work has contributed to broader conversations on how AI should be governed and deployed within the legal profession.
A frequent speaker and educator, Mr. Nessler presents continuing legal education programs on generative AI, professional responsibility, and the future of legal practice. He is known for translating complex technical concepts into practical guidance for lawyers, judges, and legal organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois and is admitted to practice in state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.
Through his combined experience as a trial lawyer, advisor, and policy contributor, Jonathan T. Nessler brings a unique and authoritative perspective on how artificial intelligence can be responsibly integrated into professional practice while preserving the core values of competence, judgment, and client service.