Steps and Considerations for Implementing AI Into Your Law Firm

When used effectively, artificial intelligence and machine learning tools can simplify and streamline numerous aspects of your law firm’s case-building process. However, improper use of AI can significantly complicate this process and potentially raise serious legal and ethical concerns, especially if you try to browbeat an AI platform into performing tasks it is not particularly well-suited for.

With that in mind, there are many different factors you should consider and plan for before integrating AI into your legal practice, whether you need a little help managing a few minor tasks or want to completely overhaul how you fight for justice on behalf of your clients. AI is here to stay, and for the firms yet to embrace the technology, we have some helpful tips to help you evaluate the AI technologies available, some useful steps to take for implementing these technologies into your practice, and some risks and pitfalls to avoid in the process.

Why AI in Law Firms?

• Ability to uncover case critical insights to win your case, without having to go through hundreds or thousands of records or documents.
• Increased efficiencies and reduction in time spent on routine tasks like analyzing medical documents and generating legal documents like demand letters, summaries, or fact sheets
• Higher accuracy and consistency – Uncover insights critical to case success within seconds (possibly insights previously missed by the human eye)
• Cost savings without having to outsource services, including savings from legal team/hours saved
• Higher revenue with the ability to find more value in your cases

Choosing the Right AI Tool to Suit Your Needs

No two AI tools are exactly alike, and famous ones like ChatGPT are not appropriate for every type of work or business—especially in the legal field, where privacy and accuracy are both essential. If you are going to make use of AI in your legal practice, you will want an AI platform that is purpose-built to understand unstructured and complex data in legal cases. Here are some questions you should ask when evaluating different AI technologies.

Data Protection & Privacy

How does the AI ensure data protection and privacy? The right AI will understand the requirements in legal and the measures in place to protect data at rest and in transit. Is the data encrypted? The right AI will ensure that any data uploaded is encrypted using strong encryption standards. What is the AI’s compliance with relevant privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, etc.)? It’s important that the AI complies with laws applicable to your jurisdiction and your clients’ personal and private data.

Data Processing & Storage

Where is the data processed and stored? When evaluating AI solutions you will need to understand if the data is stored locally (ask where their data centers are…are they in the US or somewhere in a foreign country with less controls?) Who has access to the data? Inquire about the personnel or third parties who might have access to your data and under what circumstances. Have they gone through background checks and are they HIPAA certified to securely handle private data like medical records?

Compliance

How does the technology ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations? (e.g., Do they have data security processes and controls to protect your data? For example, Supio uses Vanta, a certified security compliance company that monitors data, processes, and controls  24/7 so their customers’ client data is 100% secure.)

AI / LLM (Large Language Models)

How is the AI trained, and on what data? Understanding the data used for training can shed light on potential biases and privacy concerns. You want to ensure that the company you work with complies with legal standards, medical requirements, and security standards so you know that your and your client’s data is safe. More importantly, the right AI or LLM will be properly trained to understand the complex data you need for your personal injury cases.

Assessing AI Product Offerings

• Free Trial: You want a free trial to pressure test and truly determine if this technology is right for your firm. Get multiple users within your firm on board for the trial period.
• Accuracy: When you trial a solution, make sure the technology and services meet your needs and, most importantly, are accurate.
• Social Proof: Do they have social proof? Do they have customers who rave about their technology and services? Look at their reputation around customer support and ask your community for feedback.
• User Experience: Is their UX clunky? How many clicks does it take to upload or retrieve documents? Does it integrate with your practice management system? What happens when they integrate?
• Implementation: Is there software that requires implementation? If you are implementing software, make sure it integrates with the tools you are using. Ideally, you don’t have to implement any new software; the AI technology automatically integrates with your tools, or you can easily “drag and drop” your case records or provide a case ID to get the documents automatically from your case management system.
• Customer Experience: Can you easily answer questions or get support when you need it? You want to make sure you work with a company that offers both technology and service. Does the AI technology do what you need it to, and will your vendor provide further innovative solutions to meet your needs? The right AI company will continue to innovate and meet the needs you need to win more cases.
• Pricing Model: Do they have a per-page cost? Do they charge for AI chatbot inquiries? Do they charge for additional users? Those hidden costs can add up and can hinder using AI at all. Are there page maximums for uploading records? Read the fine print.
• Scalability: Will the technology grow with your needs? Does it offer support with feature updates?
• Compatibility: Does it work with your current systems and maintain data security?
• Product Roadmap: AI is continuing to evolve. Find vendors who have their pulse on the market and regularly assess the effectiveness and efficiency of their AI technologies.

Enhance Existing Workflows Rather Than Replacing Them

Another point worth considering when implementing AI in a law firm is that for the foreseeable future, AI will not be able to completely replace the vital research and analysis that partners, attorneys, and employees of a law firm perform for each client. What AI can do very well, though, is automate many of the slow organizational tasks that help keep important information accessible. That includes document summarization, medical chronologies, document analysis, and tasks like pulling key points out of evidence.

Reach Out to Supio for Dedicated Support With Legal AI

Incorporating AI into your law firm can enhance efficiency, accuracy, and overall productivity. Successful implementation hinges on thoughtful consideration of various factors, including a careful evaluation to ensure alignment with your firm’s specific needs and ethical standards. Supio’s legal AI platform offers unique tools in one convenient system that is reliable, accurate, and trusted by lawyers.

Now is the time to act. Embrace AI to streamline your operations and stay competitive in an evolving legal landscape. Contact our team today for personalized guidance on implementing AI effectively in your law firm. Together, we can ensure a smooth transition and maximize AI’s potential for your legal practice.