How Legal Tech AI Enhances Traditional Legal Tech Solutions

There’s no doubt that the legal industry is eager to better understand the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the profession, particularly in the realm of legal service delivery. AI has been recently celebrated as a groundbreaking force that has the capacity to revolutionize and improve the way lawyers work. Nonetheless, as with every great innovation, it is crucial to delve deeper into the implications of AI adoption for legal teams to provide a realistic assessment of its impact on the industry.  

AI Alone Isn’t the Answer

While the enthusiasm for integrating AI into legal practices is well-founded, it is equally essential to acknowledge that AI as a functionality alone cannot completely transform the industry. When integrated with existing traditional legal tech solutions, AI represents a game-changing advancement. 

AI should be seen as a complementary tool that can enhance and augment the capabilities of traditional legal tech solutions rather than replace them. This coexistence between AI and established technologies is likely to yield the most effective results and innovations in the legal industry.

Why Legal Teams Must Evaluate AI in Context

Evaluating AI’s impact within your existing legal tech stack is crucial, as it can fundamentally transform how legal professionals operate. The job of AI in legal technology is not only to enhance the speed and accuracy of legal work, but also to amplify the lawyer expertise, experience and relationship with the business. 

As AI in legal tech grows, it necessitates a critical examination of data security, ethical implications and the need for transparent, accountable decision-making processes within the legal field. Balancing AI’s remarkable capabilities with these considerations will ensure that users can harness its full potential.

AI’s Complementary Role with Traditional Legal Tech

AI is often positioned as a game-changer poised to revolutionize the legal industry. Yet, amidst the AI excitement, it's crucial to distinguish between the hype and its practical applications. AI's real strength lies not in replacement but in complementing traditional legal tech solutions.  

AI has already begun to make its mark across various facets of the legal industry, taking on diverse responsibilities. However, its true value becomes evident when it's seen as a collaborative partner amongst other solutions. Rather than envisioning AI as a substitute, it should be welcomed to enhance legal services. Integrating AI into existing workflows empowers legal teams to achieve unparalleled levels of efficiency, precision, and productivity.

Amidst the AI craze, traditional solutions may seem less innovative compared to the allure of AI, it's important to acknowledge that it isn't a magic fix-all. Instead, it's a strategic tool designed to address specific challenges. Traditional legal tech solutions continue to hold their ground and significance in the legal industry, even as AI rapidly advances. It's the fusion of the two worlds that promises to redefine the future of legal practice.

‍The Enduring Value of Traditional Legal Tech

In the realm of legal tech market, the enduring relevance of traditional options remains undeniable. These tried-and-true solutions have built a strong reputation for reliability and familiarity. In-house legal software, including matter management systems, contract management software and workflow automation platforms, has undergone years of meticulous development and fine-tuning. Legal professionals are universally comfortable with these tools' functionalities, making them an indispensable part of their daily routines. These solutions offer a steadfast and dependable framework upon which legal practitioners can rely on.

Although AI has the remarkable ability to analyze vast datasets and discern patterns, it may encounter challenges when dealing with the nuanced complexities inherent in intricate legal matters, particularly those demanding emotional intelligence or human judgment. Legal professionals, unlike AI, have the ability to apply ethical reasoning and contemplate the broader implications of making complex legal decisions. In scenarios that necessitate critical thinking regarding legal intricacies, traditional tech solutions continue to prove their worth as essential support systems for legal teams.  

Combining AI & In-House Legal Software to Drive Efficiency

The marriage of AI and in-house legal software forms a harmonious partnership that has the potential to significantly enhance various facets of legal processes. AI, armed with its advanced analytical capabilities, seamlessly complements in-house legal software by taking on tasks that are traditionally time-consuming and prone to errors.

A largely influential area where AI and in-house legal software synergize is in the application of generative AI to streamline intake and triage, policies and workflows. When a business user submits a legal request, AI can not only intelligently interpret and respond, but also engage employees in a natural and friendly manner, using conversations and not just forms. 

Drawing from a source of knowledge unique to each organization, AI can also answer frequently asked questions (e.g., legal and company policies) and seamlessly link to automated workflows to collect approvals, submit disclosures and generate contracts.

Additionally, AI legal tech solutions can intelligently prioritize and route requests to the most suitable legal personnel based on the matter type, function, and urgency. This AI-guided intake and triage process ensures that the legal department is fulfilling its commitment to service excellence for the business while allowing lawyers to optimize their own workflow and allocate resources more strategically for higher-level tasks.

Checkbox, for example, enables legal teams to power their workflows and request management with AI by integrating and improving already existing processes within your legal department. The platform allows users to develop an effective legal service delivery model by meeting users where they are from anywhere in the business. 

Here are some use cases and examples of how AI legal tech solutions can be integrated into your existing legal tools:

• Automated Legal Advice: Provides preliminary legal guidance and advice based on users' inquiries.
• AI-Powered Legal Front Door: Serves as the initial point of contact for legal inquiries, guiding users through the appropriate channels.
• AI-Powered Legal Policy/ FAQ Triage: Provides an immediate and personalized experience for users to access policies and FAQ.
• AI-Powered Contract Analysis & Due Diligence: Collects information or connects with systems to automatically generate a contract ready for review & signing.
• 24/7 Support: Operates around the clock, providing users with continuous support, answering queries and offering assistance regardless of the time or day.

How AI & Traditional Legal Tech Solutions Work Together

By combining AI with traditional legal tech solutions, in-house legal teams can optimize their workflows, reduce manual tasks, enhance accuracy and ultimately deliver more efficient and valuable legal services. This harmonious integration allows legal departments to embrace the future of technology while building upon the solid foundations of their existing tools and processes. Here are some use cases for how different traditional legal tech solutions can pair together with AI:  

• Document Automation Software: Using natural language processing capabilities from AI, when combined with document automation software, can extract and analyze information from legal documents, contracts and other agreements. AI can scan and identify key clauses and terms that legal professionals can easily search, retrieve and categorize documents, saving valuable time and reducing the risk of missing critical details.  
• Matter Management Software: AI helps identify trends and patterns in matters from the legal department. This information is integrated into matter management software, enabling legal professionals to make more informed decisions, allocate resources effectively and strategize for future matters.
• Contract Lifecycle Management Software: AI-enhanced contract review tools streamline the contract management process. Once AI has been integrated with CLM, legal teams can easily track contract lifecycles, compliance and deadlines more efficiently.
• Legal Service Management Software: AI chatbots interact with business users, answering common legal inquiries and collecting initial information. This data is integrated into the legal service management system, streamlining communication and ensuring an immediate and personalized experience with immediate follow-ups for users.  
• E-Discovery Software: AI algorithms can sift through massive volumes of electronic data to identify relevant evidence and patterns. AI-enhanced e-discovery solutions process electronic documents and data sources. The insights and identified evidence are then integrated into e-discovery software, allowing legal teams to focus their efforts on the most relevant information during litigation.  

While the enthusiasm surrounding AI in legal tech is justified, it's crucial to maintain a well-balanced outlook. AI undeniably possesses transformative power, yet it seldom stands alone as a complete solution. Instead, it thrives when harmoniously integrated with traditional technology solutions, unlocking the full potential of legal teams. The merging of AI and in-house legal software signifies a pivotal moment in the legal field, poised to redefine and revolutionize legal processes.

Together, these complementary forces have the potential to usher in a future where legal operations achieve greater impact than ever before.

If you would like to learn more about how AI can work in your existing legal technology stack, book a call with one of our technology consultants.