Partnerblog
Artificial intelligence is transforming organizations, and legal departments are no exception. While many teams have started exploring AI, a large number still struggle to fully integrate it into their day-to-day operations. This article reviews the current state of AI adoption, the main barriers, the value it delivers – especially in contract management – and the key steps to move forward.
1. AI adoption in legal departments*
AI is gaining ground in legal teams, but adoption remains uneven:
- 56% of legal departments already use general-purpose generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Claude) for everyday tasks.
- However, only 14% of departments have implemented AI solutions specifically designed for legal use cases.
- 40% are not using AI at all yet, highlighting significant room for growth and transformation.
This shows strong interest in AI, but also hesitation when it comes to structured, strategic deployment.
2. Key barriers hindering AI adoption*
Several obstacles continue to slow AI integration in legal departments:
- Technology integration: 42% of legal teams report difficulties connecting AI tools with existing systems.
- Trust and reliability: Nearly 37% express concerns about the accuracy of AI-generated outputs.
- Ethics and confidentiality: The sensitive nature of legal data raises major security and compliance concerns.
- Lack of training: Around 30% of departments do not provide sufficient training on AI tools, limiting effective adoption and usage.
Overcoming these barriers requires a structured approach, combining secure integration, proven use cases, and proper team enablement.
3. The value of AI in contract management
Contract management is a critical area for legal departments and one where AI can deliver significant impact:
Improving contract management is considered a priority by 54% of departments, yet only 33% have made AI a priority investment to optimize these processes.
AI tools can help to:
- Automate data extraction and analysis across thousands of contracts, freeing up time for higher-value work.
- Strengthen the monitoring of contractual obligations across large portfolios, reducing compliance risks.
- Improve collaboration between legal and other departments through smoother workflows and centralized data.
By automating repetitive tasks and delivering deeper insights, AI enables legal teams to focus more on strategic responsibilities
4. Defining the path forward
The future of legal departments is increasingly tied to AI. According to the report Future Ready Lawyer, 73% of legal departments plan to significantly increase their AI investments over the next three years.
Key first steps include:
- Assess your digital maturity: Map current capabilities to identify priority needs.
- Centralize your data: Well-organized and accessible contracts and documents are essential for effective AI use.
- Select integrated solutions such as Legisway: Favor tools that automate tasks while fitting smoothly into existing systems.
A thoughtful AI adoption strategy can not only improve legal operations but also strengthen the legal department’s strategic role within the organization.
To learn more, discover Legisway.
