Last reviewed on October 3, 2026.
Updated October 2026. We rewrote this article and removed survey figures, success-story statistics and a quote that we could not source.
Legal research
What works: asking questions in plain language and getting an answer with links to authorities; summarising cases; finding analogous fact patterns. What to watch: answers can be wrong or cite authorities that do not support the point. Always open and check the sources, and run them through a citator. Tools: Westlaw with CoCounsel, Lexis+ AI, vLex Vincent AI, Bloomberg Law.
Document review and eDiscovery
What works: technology-assisted review has been accepted by courts for over a decade; generative-AI review now adds explanations and privilege suggestions. What to watch: defensibility depends on validation (recall, elusion testing) and documentation. See AI document review explained. Tools: Relativity, Everlaw, DISCO.
Contracts
What works: first-pass review against a playbook, data extraction from legacy contracts, self-service templates. What to watch: AI is only as good as your playbook; non-standard deals still need a lawyer. See the contract automation guide and CLM tools.
Drafting and summarising
What works: first drafts of letters, memos and clauses from your own notes; summaries of transcripts and long documents. What to watch: confidentiality settings and accuracy. See ChatGPT vs Claude vs Copilot for lawyers.
Intake and client service
What works: structured online intake, summarising what a prospect uploads, routing enquiries. What to watch: conflicts checks and engagement decisions need a lawyer. See legal intake software.
Time capture and billing
What works: suggested time entries from calendar, email and document activity; drafting invoice narratives. What to watch: billing for time AI saved raises fee questions under ABA Formal Opinion 512. See legal billing software.
What has not changed
- The lawyer is responsible for the work product.
- Client confidentiality rules apply to every tool.
- Results need to be measured, not assumed (ROI framework).
For a structured plan, start with the AI implementation roadmap.