How to Evaluate AI Law Firm Tools Before You Buy 

 
The AI revolution is transforming how many businesses operate and get work done. Law firms included. And the pressure is on for legal professionals to operationalize artificial intelligence tools to save time and improve outcomes.  

To better handle workloads and support their organization or clients, busy legal teams are harnessing generative AI for everything from expediting research and streamlining contract drafting to responding to briefs and managing the overall practice. But with no shortage of AI-powered legal solutions, and new entrants increasingly coming into the market, how do you find the right solution for your firm? 

In this guide, we’ll help you explore and evaluate what’s available — so you can invest in the technology with confidence.

Understand That All AI Solutions are Not Equal 

Before you start shopping for AI tools, it’s worth knowing what you’re dealing with. Artificial intelligence isn’t just about doing things faster; it’s about doing things better. Trustworthiness and applicability are paramount in the legal profession. That means tools designed for general audiences, like ChatGPT and Copilot, aren’t recommended for legal professionals, according to Bloomberg Law. These general-purpose tools may be trained using unverified and untraceable data sources that compromise privacy and credibility.  

You have an ethical duty to safeguard client information and maintain competence with the technology you use, so selecting an AI vendor becomes much more than just an IT decision. It’s a professional responsibility. When you’re vetting AI tools, it’s important to properly assess the background, usage, support, and other factors to consider how the tool will balance innovation with your confidentiality and reliability needs.  

The best AI tools for law firms are those designed specifically for the legal field and built on transparent legal data that pulls from comprehensive and authoritative sources, in-depth news, and expert attorney-written analyses. 

6 Steps to Choosing the Right Technology + Partner 

1. Identify Where AI Tools Could Improve Outcomes or Processes 

Are you struggling to keep up with billing and time tracking? Or maybe you’re knee-deep in document reviews for due diligence? Take a moment to think about your top pain points. You’ll help identify what eats up the majority of your time and where you feel you could be more efficient. Then, you can research solutions that resolve your identified needs.   

• Read vendor websites to learn more about their features, pricing models, and customer success stories.
• Ask your fellow in-house counsel peers for insights, advice, and references.  

2. Consider Integration + Compatibility 

Adopting a new tool should enhance your operations, not disrupt them. Look for AI tools that will integrate directly with existing systems your firm already uses as well as workflows. Billables AI is one tool for law firms that integrates well with Outlook, Google Drive, Microsoft Office, Clio, and other everyday work software.  

If the vendor allows some level of tool customization that enables you to adjust its parameters to better fit your specific needs, that’s a real value add.  

3. Assess Availability of Support + Training 

Since AI is rapidly evolving and can be challenging to grasp, it’s important for the vendor to offer training, support, and onboarding to their platform. Ask if there is clear documentation as well as help centers or dedicated support teams who will focus on ensuring your good user experience with the tool.  

4. Review Pricing + Pricing Structure 

Some AI tools offer prices based on user, per seat, or per document, while others offer different package options for varying features. It’s important to select the pricing structure that best supports the size and capabilities of your firm to ensure a good investment. Plus, there may be cost-saving opportunities if you are able to implement an AI tool that integrates into your existing legal technology stack. 

5. Look for Adherence to Your Firm’s Privacy + Security Standards 

Before making a purchase, ask the vendor how they will handle sensitive information and ensure your firm has sufficient control over its data. Consider inquiring about threat monitoring, encryption, and other measures the vendor will take to keep your data out of the wrong hands. 

6. Request a Free Trial/Pilot 

Many legal tech vendors accommodate “trial runs” to help introduce firms to their product. During the pilot phase, use realistic scenarios to help assess the capabilities and limitations of the AI tool. This is your chance to resolve any lingering questions and envision how the product would function in the day-to-day setting of your firm. 

This is your time to gather feedback and make your final evaluation. Look at how well the AI tool performed a certain task in comparison to an actual human. AI can make mistakes and it’s important to determine the reliability of the tool you are considering. Using both qualitative and quantitative analysis will help you make your final call in the purchase decision-making process. 

Learn more about the impact of AI on the legal market.