Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Using Analytics and Predictive Modeling In Legal

By James L. Michalowicz and Dan Rabinowitz
October 31, 2025

For decades, in-house practitioners have chosen outside litigation counsel through instinct, personal networks and anecdotal experience, often defaulting to a familiar name, a trusted former colleague, or a firm remembered for a handful of “big wins.” More recently, some have attempted to bring data into the process, but the data most often used has been backward-looking: win–loss records, billing histories, or motion grant rates. While useful, those metrics rarely correlate with future performance in the unique circumstances of a new matter. Today, however, forward-looking general counsel are beginning to adopt the same kind of predictive analytics that have already reshaped other high-stakes industries.

Professional baseball and financial services may not appear to share obvious markers of success, yet in both, modern achievement hinges on the ability to detect patterns and correlations hidden within massive stores of data. Michael Lewis’ “Moneyball” popularized this idea more than 20 years ago, revealing how moving beyond surface-level statistics to predictive models of future performance gave early adopters a decisive competitive edge. What began in baseball as a fringe experiment is now firmly embedded in the front offices of every major professional team. Finance has undergone a similar transformation. For decades, portfolio managers relied on past returns, anecdotal signals, and accumulated experience — much as many lawyers still do today. Now, forward-looking forecasts built from thousands of variables consistently outperform traditional methods, uncovering risks and opportunities invisible to even the most seasoned professionals. The lesson across both industries is clear: Once predictive analytics demonstrate their value, they evolve quickly from disruptive innovation to indispensable infrastructure. Litigation now stands on the cusp of the same transformation.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment Image

On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.