A recent article by Legal Dive highlights how legal departments across industries have been exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, to enhance their work. Lyle Moran says that industry leaders consider the rapid pace of technological advancements as a significant opportunity for the legal operations profession to demonstrate its worth. 

AI has the potential to streamline workflows, cut down costs, and propel business growth in the legal industry, according to Tom Stephenson, Legal.io's Vice President of Community & Legal Operations. Legal ops teams often implement process improvements within legal departments using automation. Some AI tools targeted towards in-house legal users can automate workflows such as request intakes for legal assistance or the generation of non-disclosure agreements and vendor purchasing contracts.¹

Contracting is a crucial area of focus for legal operations, allowing AI to aid with contract review and redlining. A recent survey of legal professionals found that more than 80% agree generative AI will create "transformative efficiencies" for research and routine tasks². Enhancing speed can help legal teams reduce costs, including decreasing outside counsel spend on certain matters.

By introducing AI that handles mundane work, in-house professionals can save time and focus on more strategic work, says Mary O'Carroll, Chief Community Officer at Ironclad. Legal operations are considered central in helping in-house teams utilize AI for review of use cases and the creation of implementation plans³. At the same time, legal ops teams play a vital educational role in ensuring legal departments understand AI tools' limitations and the risks associated with using different technologies⁴.

The rapid pace of change brought about by AI emphasizes the need for legal ops leaders to encourage their law departments to explore the potential of technology in improving their performance. As AI technologies continue to evolve, O'Carroll encourages legal teams to embrace AI's potential in the future. 

Legal.io AI Webinar Series: Ford Motor's AI-Fueled Evolution

Join us on August 3, 2023 for the first of Legal.io's 4-part AI Webinar Series: Ford Motor's AI-Fueled Evolution. 

The webinar will feature a dynamic pair of Fortune 10 legal ops leaders:

• Darth Vaughn, Litigation Counsel & Lead, Legal Ops+ at Ford Motor Company
• Whitney Stefko Dover, Seconded Counsel, Legal Ops+ at Ford Motor Company

Register for our webinar with Ford Motor here, with a live Q&A with our panelists at the end!