Getting AI into a law firm is rarely the challenge anymore. Getting value out of it is.

AI adoption across the legal industry has moved quickly, with lawyers and business professionals increasingly using AI across legal research, marketing, finance, intake, and operations.

But using AI and using it well are two very different things.

The firms turning AI adoption into a competitive advantage aren't necessarily the largest firms with the most tools. They're the ones with the right people who understand how to put tools to work as AI becomes more accessible. 

Here are a few thoughts on why hiring the right business professional can have an outsized impact:

• See the workflow, not just the tool. Strong business professionals understand how work moves through a firm. They can identify where AI eliminates friction, improves efficiency, and creates capacity because they understand the process from beginning to end. 
• Connect technology to business results. AI shouldn't be implemented simply because it's new. The right business professional asks if a tool improves the client experience, saves time, reduces costs and increases profitability. That's the difference between adopting AI and creating value from it.
• Turn experimentation into implementation. It's one thing to experiment with AI. It's another to figure out what works, build it into a process, train people to use it, and measure the results. Business professionals can move AI from being an interesting tool to an effective part of firm operations.
• Know the business. Business professionals with a front-row view of the challenges slowing down their firm (from repetitive administrative work to inconsistent processes, reporting challenges, and communication gaps) are in a strong position to identify where AI can make a meaningful difference.

One great hire can have a significant impact, especially for smaller firms. 

A strong business professional with strategic judgment and an understanding of AI can see how the pieces fit together, identify opportunities and improvements, and turn technology into results. The advantage won’t come from technology alone. It comes from having the right person who knows how to make it work for the firm.

Join in on the conversation with Jason Caramanico.