The rise of artificial intelligence is prompting a fundamental shift in how lawyers approach their work. We recently hosted an exclusive AI masterclass for our global consultant panel in collaboration with our A&O Shearman colleagues. The session brought together legal consultants from around the world for a fast-paced, practical exploration of how AI is transforming legal work and how lawyers can harness it with confidence.
Here are our key themes and takeaways from the session.
Curiosity is high and so is momentum
We kicked off with live polling, and the results painted a clear picture: our community is engaged with AI and eager to learn more. When asked to describe their feelings about AI in a single word, the top responses were excited, curious and overwhelmed. Most attendees rated their confidence at a 3 out of 5, suggesting a profession that is actively building capability. The data backed this up: 93% of our participants said they use generative AI tools.
From deployment to adoption: the real challenge ahead
One of the key themes we explored was the shift from simply purchasing and deploying AI tools to genuinely adopting embedding them into our day-to-day workflows and maximizing return on investment. This is now the critical conversation for in-house legal teams and the organizations they support.
The message was clear: AI and lawyers must work together. As John Labarre, General Counsel of Harvey, has previously said: "We have to learn that it really, now truly, needs to be a symbiotic relationship." Lawyers remain the subject matter experts. They bring context, professional judgement and accountability. AI augments and accelerates that work, but it does not replace it.
What makes a task right for AI?
Not every legal task is suited to AI, at least not yet. During the session, we outlined a practical framework for identifying where AI adds the most value. A task is well-suited to AI when it:
- Can be described as routine, low complexity and requiring minimal legal judgement.
- Relies on data and inputs that are readily available.
- Carries a manageable risk of error, with outputs that can be reviewed by a human.
- Involves summarising, extracting or categorizing information.
Our overarching advice? Start simple, stay curious and remember, innovation is not a spectator sport. As one of our speakers noted, "You don't get fit by watching other people exercise."
How to prompt like a pro
Effective prompting is one of the most immediately useful skills lawyers can develop. During our session, we introduced a clear framework built around four elements:
- Context: provide the AI with relevant background information.
- Task: define the specific action using clear verbs. Think of it as instructing a junior lawyer.
- Format: specify the structure or style you want in the response.
- Input data (optional): supply reference text or examples of the desired output.
The practical guidance was refreshingly straightforward: keep it simple and conversational, be specific and actionable, don't overcomplicate, and always understand the tool's limitations.
The opportunities for legal teams
For legal teams willing to engage, the benefits are significant. AI can enable a more strategic focus by handling routine tasks faster, improve productivity and open the door to delivering legal services differently. It can enhance risk management, surface predictive insights that help refocus legal and business priorities, and importantly, it learns and improves over time.
Governance matters: building your AI policy framework
With opportunity comes responsibility. We dedicated time during the session to the rules of the road: the governance and policy frameworks every organisation needs in place before adopting AI tools. Here are our key practical takeaways:
- Check your organisation's rules first. Understand what enterprise tools are available and what policies govern their use, including intellectual property considerations.
- People are the first and last line of defence. Individuals across an organisation will interact with AI in different ways, and policy frameworks must be flexible, pragmatic and memorable to be effective.
- Always keep a human in the loop. Review AI outputs carefully as professional accountability remains with the lawyer.
ContractMatrix: AI in action
We wrapped up the session with a live demonstration of A&O Shearman's ContractMatrix tool, showcasing its features and walking our attendees through real use cases. It was a tangible example of how purpose-built legal AI tools are already delivering value.
What's next?
This masterclass was the first in a planned series designed to keep our global consultant community at the forefront of AI in legal practice. The pace of change is fast, and staying curious is not optional; it’s a professional imperative. For our consultants, the message is to lean in: experiment and bring your expertise to the conversation. We believe the future of legal AI is a collaborative one and we’re excited to navigate it together.
