There’s a growing myth in legal: that AI will solve inefficiency, cut costs, and make everyone smarter overnight.

It won’t.

In fact, for many firms, AI is becoming another operational headache, one that exposes risk, increases complexity, and diverts attention from real strategic work.

Let’s get specific.

Many AI tools weren’t built with legal ethics in mind. Feeding them client data? That can risk privilege, breach confidentiality agreements, or violate internal security policies. Most firms aren’t even clear on what data is being stored or where.

​If your associates are pasting sensitive client info into ChatGPT or a shiny AI add-on from a document platform… you’ve already lost control.

AI tools promise automation. But in most firms, they just create more swivel-chair work.

A new tool might generate a decent draft, but then it has to be manually moved into Word, saved to iManage, logged in Clio, and shared via Outlook. Multiply that across hundreds of matters, and your “AI investment” is just creating a new pile of admin.

​Integration isn’t a feature. It’s a strategy.

Here’s the quiet part no one’s saying out loud: junior staff are already using AI, and mostly without guidance.

That means reliance on AI-drafted contracts with no real review. Missed nuance in summaries. Shaky logic in client updates.

​It’s not their fault, it’s a training and governance gap. But left unchecked, it erodes quality and client trust.

Vendors are selling silver bullets. But most AI tools don’t deliver transformational value, especially not out of the box. And definitely not without serious implementation effort.

Firms burn through budget and internal goodwill chasing tools that sound impressive but fall flat.

Here’s the test: if a tool doesn’t meaningfully reduce effort, risk, or rework, it’s just noise.

Before layering on AI, get your data in order. Build strong workflows. Create clear policies. Train your team.

AI works best when it’s built on operational discipline, not as a substitute for it.

Thinking about this? Let’s talk. I help firms build systems that actually support AI, not the other way around.