“Vibe Coding” Is Changing the Legal Field

by Danielle Tong, VPG Project Intern

(Danielle will be filling in as columnist for the next 2 months while Brenna Holland is out.)

What if building an app no longer required coding knowledge? This is the idea behind “vibe coding,” the emerging approach to software development using generative AI. Instead of writing every line of code, users explain an application idea much like they would to a coworker, including the functionality, design, vision, and desired outcome. Users input plain, natural language to prompt the AI assistant to “code” the software for them, which essentially eliminates the need for extensive training and coding expertise. The workplace increasingly values these skills.

The rise of vibe coding has become especially apparent in the legal field. Vibe coding allows firms and businesses to develop internal software without hiring outside experts. This means many entry-level jobs for young legal professionals are shifting away from traditional document writing toward knowing how to vibe-code tools or software that make the company more efficient.

I recently tried to vibe code myself, using Claude to build a web application designed to make tracking California legislation, changes in the law, and filing more efficient. I communicated what I wanted the app to do through prompting and utilized the Claude Design feature to create the website UI. However, I found that this accessibility comes with a trade-off. All prompts contain characters, words, and punctuation marks that the large language model reads individually, called “tokens.” These tokens are limited, even with premium plans, making it important for me to develop skills in prompting productively and concisely. Once I honed these skills, vibe coding made software development more attainable for someone without a programming background, allowing me to focus more on application function and design.

Vibe coding allows professionals to concentrate on other skills. It turns the legal profession into less of a series of routine tasks, such as writing documents, contracts, letters, or conducting lengthy legal research. Instead, it streamlines the process, freeing up time to focus on the interpersonal communication and critical thinking required to craft strong legal arguments— which AI can't replace.