Embracing Generative AI for In-House Legal Teams

By: Sam Moore, Director of Innovation

Generative AI (“gen AI”) dominated public discourse in 2023, and so far, 2024 is little different. Public-facing tools such as ChatGPT have captured imaginations and headlines around the world, and while much attention in the legal world has been focused on large law firms and their pioneering efforts, tremendous potential for change lies within in-house legal teams as well.

Recently, Legal Technology Hub (LTH), hosted by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in San Francisco, convened a dedicated session for the in-house community to delve into the implications of this technology. As a panelist at this event, I joined robust conversations that emerged throughout the day discussing the complex challenges and promising opportunities of generative AI.

Here are some of the key takeaways from those conversations:

1. Anticipating Change: There was palpable excitement among in-house professionals about the transformative potential of generative AI. The prospect of streamlining routine tasks, fostering innovation, and shifting away from a reputation as the "department of no" is energizing the community.
   

2. Embracing the Learning Curve: It was evident that most in-house professionals are still in the initial stages of understanding and adopting generative AI. There was consensus that the in-house community is currently in an "education" phase more than an "experimentation" phase. Providers of accessible learning like SkillBurst have a crucial role to play in addressing this area of need.
   

3. Building Trust: A major obstacle identified was the lack of trust in generative AI technology, particularly concerning issues like bias and reliability. While awareness of these concerns is growing, there remains uncertainty about how to address them effectively. Many in-house teams expressed hesitancy to invest time in adopting a technology that still requires extensive manual oversight.
   

4. External Guidance: In-house teams are looking to external law firms as trailblazers in the adoption of generative AI. The confidence and credibility demonstrated by leading law firms in utilizing this technology will serve as a catalyst for broader adoption among clients. The sentiment echoed was, "When they trust it, we'll trust it." This is why we developed our Generative AI Fundamentals training series in collaboration with some of the world’s leading law firms.

During the panel session, “Key Use Cases for Generative AI in Corporate Legal,” I spoke on actionable steps in-house teams can take now to be best positioned to adopt gen AI safely, confidently, and competently. My primary suggestions were: 

1. Educate: Developing a fundamental understanding of generative AI technology is paramount. Familiarizing oneself with the basic concepts, including how large language models operate, their training processes, and the challenges of bias, lays a solid foundation for meaningful and successful adoption. 
   

2. Experiment: Beginning with small-scale, low-risk experiments allows teams to gain hands-on experience and build confidence in the technology. Some examples discussed included: 

   • Editing text to suit various levels of audience reading comprehension; 

   • Summarizing meeting notes into concise accounts; and 

   • Using role-play exercises with a chatbot to practice negotiation skills. 
     

3. Strategize: Formulating a strategic vision for integrating generative AI into legal workflows is essential. Identifying areas where AI can deliver the most significant impact ensures a targeted approach when readiness is achieved. 

As I reflect on the discussions from this event, it is clearer than ever that generative AI is already changing the legal industry in exciting and irreversible ways. While our profession may traditionally lag others in embracing change, the inevitability of AI's broad impact cannot be ignored. I remain optimistic that the in-house legal community will proactively embrace this transformation, shaping its future rather than merely reacting to it. 

As one attendee put it, we are in the ‘90s internet era’ of what this technology can do, with all the opportunities and challenges such a comparison invites. Leading law firms around the world trust SkillBurst to prepare them for this technology revolution by subscribing to our ‘Gen AI Fundamentals for Law Firms’ digital learning series. If you would like to know more or hear how others are adopting this preeminent technology, please visit our Gen AI webpage and contact us at any time.