Boring AI

In the evolving world of legal technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is often touted as a game-changer. While the future of AI holds enormous promise, we cannot overlook its power today in automating mundane, repetitive tasks that drain attorneys' time and reduce firm profitability. Boring AI that Saves Time and Money highlighted how firms are using AI to streamline daily operations, ultimately improving efficiency and increasing revenue.

The Power of Incremental AI Solutions

One of the core messages from the session was that AI doesn’t need to be flashy or overly complex to deliver real results. The most impactful AI applications in law firms are often the most “boring” ones. Do not overlook the tools that automate routine tasks, reduce errors, and save time on menial work.

Many large projects that promise dramatic changes require effort that may not ultimately justify their benefits. Instead, focusing on incremental improvements that can be implemented regularly is where firms see the most significant returns.

Real-World AI Use Cases in Law Firms

1. Streamlining Due Diligence with AI
One of the most significant pain points in law firms is due diligence, especially in real estate transactions. Reviewing documents like property titles, surveys, and liens can take hours to collect and review.

Christiane Matuch, Sr. Legal Innovation Manager of Applied AI at Greenberg Traurig, illustrated how her firm uses AI to automate the review process. By feeding documents into AI tools and prompting them to summarize findings in a familiar chart format, the firm reduced a five-hour process to just one hour. This is an example of "boring" AI that has a high impact, reducing repetitive work and allowing attorneys to focus on higher-value tasks.

2. Automating Billing Narratives
Billing is a task every attorney dreads, but it’s essential for keeping the firm’s revenue stream flowing. Some attorneys who spend hours crafting billing narratives that comply with client guidelines have turned to AI for a solution. Michael Ertel, Dir. ff Practice Innovation at Crowell, talked about how his firm developed an AI assistant that automatically generates billing narratives by simply inputting basic information, like the work done and the client’s requirements.

This “boring” application drastically reduced the time attorneys spent on billing. Instead of spending hours drafting and editing narratives, they could rely on AI to do the heavy lifting. The result? Fewer mistakes, faster submissions, and fewer rejected invoices, leading to faster payments and higher revenue for the firm.

3. Front Door AI for Client Interactions
Although AI can be transformative internally, law firms need to consider how AI impacts the client experience. Max Patterson, Managing Director of Bryter, spoke about providing a "front door" for clients with a way to upload documents and get automatic, first-pass feedback, as one example.

This solution creates immense value by allowing clients to interact directly with the firm’s AI-driven systems. Clients want to see the value of AI in their firms. According to Patterson, clients expect better and faster service with technology, and “giving them a tool along with your services helps show that value.”

Ensuring Trust and Oversight in AI Systems

AI is excellent at handling repetitive, data-driven tasks, but it still lacks the nuanced judgment of an experienced attorney. This is why the concept of "human in the loop" (HITL) remains crucial. A human must always review AI-generated outputs to ensure they meet legal standards and client expectations.

The key takeaway is “trust but verify.” This combination of AI efficiency with human verification builds trust both within the firm and with clients.

Actionable Lessons for Law Firms:

• Focus on Routine, High-Volume Tasks: Look for areas of business where repetitive tasks consume valuable time. These incremental changes can lead to tremendous efficiencies.
• Start Small and Scale: Don’t aim for a complete overhaul of your firm’s processes. Instead, identify small, manageable tasks that can be improved with AI.
• Integrate AI into Client-Facing Systems: Clients appreciate transparency and speed. Developing a simple, client-facing AI system can improve their experience and add value to your services.

Conclusion

AI in law doesn’t have to be complex to be effective. By focusing on these "boring" use cases, firms can achieve significant time savings and cost reductions. These incremental changes, compounded over time, create long-term value. When adopted thoughtfully and with appropriate oversight, AI becomes a tool that not only makes firms more efficient but also helps them remain competitive in an increasingly tech-driven legal landscape.