The how and why behind Barney, the End of Lawyers
New Beyond Billable podcast episode with Douwe Groenevelt
On the surface, Douwe Groenevelt, former head of legal at ASML, might look like the archetypal legal-tech evangelist. But my conversation with him revealed a more complex truth.
Douwe created Barney, the end of lawyers with AI. It’s a humorous but also dystopian movie about the future of the legal sector. He didn’t just make the movie to show off his technical skills or to simply celebrate technological progress. He made it out of urgency and, in his own words, even fear.
He talks candidly about the accelerating advance of AI and how most of the legal sector remains worryingly complacent. For Douwe, adopting AI isn’t about hype or optional innovation; it’s a survival strategy. He warns that unless lawyers start using and truly understanding these tools now, they risk being left behind entirely.
We also talked about his creative process: how legal drafting skills surprisingly translated into writing AI prompts for film, and why learning to prompt effectively might be one of the most valuable skills any lawyer can develop today.
Douwe's message is clear, if a bit unsettling: confront this change head-on because there is no alternative. Here are some interesting highlights.
The boat is here
In this first clip, Douwe explains why he made the film. In his own words: “The boat is here. I can’t promise it’s heading somewhere better, but I know staying here is worse. Please, get on board. Let’s face the future together—even if it’s uncertain.”
Breaking down barriers with AI
Douwe didn’t go to film school. He didn’t need to. AI gave him the tools to make a movie entirely on his own. In this clip, he describes AI as a toolbox that unlocks industries that used to be out of reach. What craft would you want to master with AI? The world is your oyster.
“Good is good enough”
This one might ruffle a few feathers in the legal sector. In the previous clip Douwe described AI as a toolbox that allows non-lawyers to create legal documents. I asked him about the risks when those documents contain errors. His response? “Good is good enough.” A brave statement many legal professionals will disagree with.
Make it mandatory
In this last clip, Douwe Groenevelt makes a direct appeal to firm leaders: embrace AI now, or risk being left behind entirely.
He doesn’t sugarcoat it. Yes, adopting AI will be disruptive. Yes, margins may shrink. But refusing to adapt isn’t a safe strategy—it’s an exit plan.
His advice? Make AI part of every facet of your firm’s operations. Lead from the front. Like Ryan Holiday beautifully put it: The obstacle is the way.
Listen to the full episode here in English or in Dutch: https://lnk.bio/PimBetist
If you have any questions regarding this episode, this newsletter or anything legal AI, feel free to reach out to me via hello@clayrichard.eu.