The Reality
Associates billing $400-600/hour are spending significant time on document review that AI can handle in minutes. The firms that figure this out first will have structural advantages in efficiency, capacity, and—eventually—pricing.
This guide covers the five workflows that forward-thinking firms are implementing right now, along with the considerations that matter for legal work.
Workflow 1: First-Pass Contract Review
70-80% time savingsAI excels at identifying non-standard terms, missing clauses, and risk areas. The attorney still exercises judgment—AI just surfaces what needs attention.
Sample Prompt
"Review this agreement against standard market terms for [agreement type]. Flag: (1) Non-standard provisions that deviate from market, (2) Missing standard protections, (3) Unusual obligations or restrictions, (4) Risk areas requiring partner attention. For each flag, quote the relevant language and explain the concern."
Workflow 2: Document Comparison & Redlining
60-70% time savingsCompare contract versions, identify changes, and get plain-English explanations of each modification's legal and commercial impact.
How It Works
- Upload both versions of the document
- AI identifies every material change, not just word-level differences
- Get explanations of why each change matters
- Generate summary for client communication
Workflow 3: Due Diligence Document Analysis
50-70% time savingsCreate extraction templates for each document type. AI populates your DD tracker while associates verify and investigate flagged items.
Implementation
- Define extraction fields for each document category
- Run AI extraction across document sets
- AI flags items requiring human review
- Associates verify, investigate, and escalate
Workflow 4: Legal Research Assistance
40-60% time savingsAI can outline relevant law, identify key cases, and draft initial analysis. Use it to accelerate research, not replace it.
Critical Warning
Always verify citations manually. AI can hallucinate case names, misstate holdings, or cite non-existent authorities. Use AI to find directions to explore, then verify everything through Westlaw/Lexis.
Workflow 5: Client Communications
50-70% time savingsDraft engagement letters, status updates, and routine correspondence. Build a prompt library with examples that match your firm's voice.
Best Practices
- Provide examples of prior communications in desired style
- Specify tone, length, and key points to cover
- Always review for accuracy and appropriateness
- Build firm-specific prompt templates over time
Confidentiality & Ethics Considerations
Key Considerations
AI implementation in legal contexts requires careful attention to confidentiality, privilege, and professional responsibility. These considerations shouldn't stop adoption—they should guide it.
- Enterprise tools: Use Claude for Work, ChatGPT Enterprise, or equivalent with appropriate security certifications and data handling agreements
- Data handling: Understand where data is processed, stored, and whether it's used for training
- Matter protocols: Establish clear guidelines for which matters can use AI tools
- Client transparency: Consider disclosure obligations and client preferences
- Quality control: Maintain appropriate review processes for AI-assisted work
Ready to Implement AI at Your Firm?
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