Category: Community

Connect With Peers: New AI Peer Group and Onit User Groups

Join our new AI Peer Group and Onit User Groups to connect with peers.
We’re excited to introduce our Peer Groups and User Groups!

These recurring virtual meet-ups bring the community together to share experiences, discuss real-world challenges, and learn from one another.

What are Peer Groups and User Groups?

What is a Peer Group?
A Peer Group is a recurring, topic-focused virtual meeting where members help shape the agenda. In the AI Peer Group, we’ll dive into everything from new technology and adoption strategies to real-world use cases, training methods, and whatever else members want to explore.

What is a User Group?
A User Group is a recurring virtual meeting exclusively for Onit customers to discuss common challenges and how they are solving them with Onit solutions. We currently have two User Groups: 1) General, 2) App Developers.

How it works

How often will groups meet?
Right now, each group will meet quarterly. If there is strong engagement, we will adjust the cadence based on member needs.

How are topics chosen?
For the first few sessions, we will start with a quick poll or pulse check to see what is top of mind. From there, we will plan topics in advance and post upcoming agendas.

What is the format?
Formats vary and may include use case spotlights, short talks from experts, AMAs, panel discussions, or small-group breakouts.

Is this a webinar?
Not at all. This is an informal, interactive virtual meet-up. Come ready to share your perspective. If we have a bigger group, we’ll use breakout rooms to keep the conversation lively.

Joining and attending

How do I join these groups?
Visit the Groups page to register for an upcoming meeting. Register once to add the series to your calendar.

Can I join multiple groups?
Yes. Community members can join all Peer Groups. User Groups are limited to Onit customers.

What if I can’t attend a session?
When you register for a group, all upcoming sessions will be added to your calendar. Join whenever you’re able. Most meetings will not be recorded to encourage open dialogue, but key takeaways may be shared in the community for anyone who wasn’t able to attend.

When are the next meetings?
Check the Groups page anytime for upcoming dates.

Is there a cost to join?
No. There is no cost associated with community events or groups.

Get involved

Who leads the discussion?
A community moderator from Onit will help guide the session, but most conversations are member-driven. We also love empowering community members to host sessions. If you’re interested in taking on a leadership role, please reach out to [email protected].

I have a topic suggestion or want to request an additional group.
We’d love to hear it! Please email [email protected].

Join a group

Visit the groups page to learn more and sign up

November Newsletter

Legal Ops Community Newsletter

Welcome Message

This season is all about connection—whether with family, friends, or peers. With that spirit, we’re bringing you several ways to connect and celebrate the year:  AI Peer Group, User Groups, and Holiday Socials taking place across three cities next month. 

Come along, bring a friend, meet a new one, and navigate the changes in our industry together. We hope to see you there! 

Jean Yang                   
VP of AI Transformation & Community       


Events & Groups

In-person holiday socials
AI Peer Group

Join a virtual AMA with Nick Whitehouse, Chief AI Officer at Onit.

Peer groups are a candid, collaborative space to talk with peers about your AI challenges and learnings.
Nick Whitehouse, Onit’s Chief AI Officer and a former law firm Chief Digital Officer, will share an industry update and answer your AI questions.

Register →


Recent Resources

AI Literacy Course 
Learn the fundamentals of AI, with a focus on the legal industry. 
Read more 

Prompt Like a Pro
See how to craft clear, effective prompts for stronger AI results.
Read more →

Training Your LLM
How the source and training of your LLM impacts AI bias.
Read more →

Scorecarding for Legal Ops
Build a law firm scorecard to measure cost, quality, and speed.
Read more →


Onit Updates

User Groups

Onit and the Legal Ops Community are relaunching User Groups just for Onit customers. These member-led sessions are a way to connect with peers and share ideas with people who use the same tools you do. Join upcoming virtual sessions:

  • App Developer User Group: learn how others are innovating with new apps.
  • General User Group: explore solutions for billing, reporting, and more.

Learn more →

A Unified Home for Legal Operations at Onit.com

Onit has unified SimpleLegal, ContractWorks, SecureDocs, AXDRAFT, ReadySign, and BusyLamp at onit.com. The new single destination makes it easier to see how Onit’s AI-native tools work together for modern legal ops. Nothing changes in how customers use the products—they remain fully supported with the same logins. 

Learn more →

Navigating Change: Insights from State Street and MassMutual

Change management in legal operations

Change is one of the few constants in modern business. Whether it’s new technology, shifting workflows, or reimagining the way teams collaborate, change management in legal operations can make or break a transformation. 

At our October Third Thursday session, we explored this theme with two seasoned leaders:  

  • Kim Wolfe, Senior Managing Director, SVP, Chief Administrative Officer for Legal, Global Head of Contracts, State Street Corporation (formerly Wells Fargo)  
  • Anthony Curzio, Business Systems Consultant, MassMutual Financial Group  

Together, they shared lessons learned on how organizations can drive both implementation and adoption. Our speakers shared practical advice on how to guide teams through change management in legal operations. 

October 16, 2025
Click the video player above to view. Third Thursday recordings are only available to Onit customers.

MassMutual’s Continuous Transformation Journey 

Tony Curzio walked us through MassMutual’s long-term transformation journey, which began in 2015 with a Lean Transformation initiative. The company’s goal was to understand its “voice of the customer” and build a culture of continuous improvement. 

The Focus 

Rather than starting with technology, MassMutual focused on: 

  • Mindset and behavior: Encouraging teams to think and act differently 
  • Process efficiency: Streamlining how work gets done 
  • Performance practices: Embedding accountability and measurement 
  • Organizational skills: Building capabilities that sustain change 

Technology was intentionally left out of the early stages. “We wanted to understand our processes and people first,” Tony explained. Once the foundation was solid, new tools could be introduced thoughtfully. 

The Roadmap to Change 

MassMutual built a clear roadmap to help guide transformation: 

  1. Provide clear direction so stakeholders know what’s coming and why
  1. Win hearts and minds to motivate and energize teams
  1. Shape the path by helping people understand how to operate in the new world
Guiding Principles 

Their approach was grounded in five principles: 

  • Simple: Keep communication concise
  • Iterative: Deliver updates gradually and repeatedly
  • Targeted: Tailor messages to each audience
  • Lean: Create short, digestible content
  • Consistent: Maintain a unified look, feel, and language
Training for Real Change 

To make change stick, MassMutual emphasized: 

  • Transparent planning and communication 
  • Identifying everyone impacted including indirect users 
  • Creating awareness that pulls people in rather than pushes information out 
  • Facilitating “just-in-time” learning 
  • Measuring progress and evolving along the way 

Wells Fargo’s Perspective: Turning Decisions into Engagement 

Kim Wolfe shared a story from her time at Wells Fargo as their Managing Director and Head of Legal Business Solutions. Her team faced a critical decision point: their legacy platform was nearing renewal, but their version was so outdated it would soon lose support. 

Rather than rushing to upgrade, they paused to ask a key question: “How and why are people using this technology?” 

Their Approach 
  • Identify champions within each legal team to ensure everyone had a voice
  • Use a “drip” approach to communication—sharing updates early and often
  • Practice empathy by putting themselves in the users’ shoes

As Kim noted, what makes sense to the administrator can feel redundant or confusing to an end user. Empathy bridges that gap and builds trust during transition.


The Gist of It 

Both Kim and Tony highlighted that navigating change management in legal operations is about more than technology or process. It’s about people and helping them move through uncertainty with clarity, support, and consistency. 

Looking Ahead to November 20 

For this month’s Third Thursday, Harbor will show an exclusive preview of the Harbor Law Department Survey, the industry’s leading benchmarking study for legal departments:   

  • 65% of participants from the Fortune 500 
  • 400+ metrics 
  • 20+ years of data 
  • 200 companies participating annually 

This survey offers unmatched insights into how leading law departments operate. The results are not yet public, making this a rare opportunity to gain an early look at the data shaping the industry. 

We invite you to join us on November 20 to see how your organization compares and to learn from the best in the business. Email [email protected] for the invite.

Modern Legal Ops Software vs. Legacy ELM: One Drives Legal Forward, the Other Holds You Back 

Modern Legal Ops Software vs. Legacy ELM: One Drives Legal Forward, the Other Holds You Back

Modern legal ops software isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s the difference between keeping pace and falling behind. Legal teams today are buried under increasing demands to move faster, control spend, reduce risk, and deliver measurable value to the business. But too many are still stuck using outdated dinosaur systems that are molasses-slow and create more work than they solve.  

But the world has changed. And your software should too. 

The Evolution of Legal Ops Software 

Legal operations has matured into a critical function that supports everything from risk management to vendor oversight to spend optimization. What once required spreadsheets and emails is now managed through dedicated platforms. 

But not all platforms are created equal. Older tools often fall short in key areas: 

  • Limited connectivity across departments and enterprise systems 
  • Rigid workflows that cannot adapt to evolving legal processes 
  • Outdated interfaces that hinder adoption and user engagement 
  • Minimal automation and little embedded intelligence 
  • Siloed functionality due to years of bolt-on acquisitions 

For years, enterprise legal teams relied on traditional ELM tools. But those systems are showing their age, and Onit is changing the game.  

This shift has made the case for modern legal ops software stronger than ever. Additionally, as some mid-market platforms get absorbed into legacy stacks, their innovation slows, roadmaps stall, and legal teams are left waiting.  

If your software only documents legal work, it’s already behind. Forward-thinking teams demand more. They expect speed, clarity, and real impact. 

Whether you’re a three-person team or a global legal department, the right legal ops software grows with you and adapts to whatever comes next. 

Legacy ELM: Familiar Foundations, But Growing Friction 

We’ll be honest, legacy legal ops software had its moment. It brought order to chaos when spreadsheets ruled legal ops. But those wins? They’ve become friction. The platforms are rigid and outdated. And dressed-up design doesn’t fix what’s broken underneath. 

Most legacy legal ops tools were never designed for AI, automation, or real-time data. They create silos instead of streamlining collaboration. 

The interfaces are antiquated and clunky. Instead of helping teams move faster, these platforms slow everything down. 

And as demands on legal teams grow, that friction only increases. If your team is spending more time managing the system than getting work done, then it’s not a platform, it’s a problem.  

AI-powered solutions for legal ops exist for a reason. They’re built to replace all of this. 

How Legacy Systems Stall Legal Operations 

Legacy legal ops systems were built to bring order to legal work, but today they often create bottlenecks that slow progress. Whether it’s processing invoices, pulling reports, or updating workflows, tasks that should take minutes often take days (or weeks!). 

Here’s how legacy systems typically hold teams back: 

  • Data is fragmented. Teams must dig through disconnected systems to get a full picture of legal spend or matter status 
  • Workflows are rigid. Making process changes requires technical resources, vendor support, or both 
  • Reporting is slow and disconnected. Teams still export spreadsheets and cobble together outdated views instead of acting on live data. 
  • Collaboration is difficult. Finance, procurement, and legal often work in silos, leading to misalignment and duplicated effort 

An AI-powered legal ops solution eliminates these issues by unifying data, streamlining collaboration, and making critical processes faster and easier to manage. It removes friction from day-to-day operations so legal teams can focus on delivering business value, not managing tools. 

Modern Legal Ops Software: Built for Today’s Teams 

Modern legal ops software isn’t just easier to use. It’s built to help legal teams lead. No more clunky interfaces, no more waiting on IT, and no more systems that slow you down when everything around you is speeding up. 

The best platforms feel intuitive from day one. They don’t just digitize your workflow. They improve it. AI handles the busywork like invoice review and guideline compliance so your team can stay focused on higher-impact work. Updates are fast. Reporting is real time. The software fits how your team works, not the other way around. 

And when it’s time to scale, you won’t outgrow it. Whether you’re a three-person team or a global legal department, the right legal ops software grows with you and adapts to whatever comes next. 

This goes beyond better software. It’s a better way to run legal. 

Image representing a legal team considering modern legal ops software

What Legal Teams Need Today

Companies now hold legal teams to the same standards as departments like finance and sales, but legal often lacks the automation, analytics, and infrastructure to keep up.

AI-native legal software changes that. It transforms legal from a reactive cost center into a proactive business driver.  

Here’s what legal teams can (and should) expect when they make the switch: 

  • Answers in seconds, not hours. Built-in AI surfaces key insights instantly without digging through spreadsheets or waiting on IT 
  • Smart workflows that reduce manual effort. Configurable logic automates routing, triage, and task assignments
  • Invoice review that enforces your policies. AI catches billing violations before they hit your team, removing manual review queues and human error 
  • A platform that gets smarter over time. AI continuously analyzes how your team works and fine-tunes processes for greater speed and efficiency. 
  • Scales with intelligence, not added headcount. AI-native solutions grow with your team by automating what legacy tools outsource, without inflated service costs or slow timelines 

This is not traditional automation dressed up with buzzwords. Legal ops software designed from the ground up ultimately deliver speeds, accuracy, and strategic impact. And that’s what legal teams want and need.

Legacy ELM vs. Today’s Legal Ops Tech Choice 

Legacy ELM Smarter Legal Tech 
Outdated user interfaces that slow teams down Clean, intuitive design that legal teams actually use 
Long, complex implementation timelines Quick deployment with minimal lift from IT 
Disconnected tools that don’t speak to each other A simplified experience for managing spend, matters, contracts, and vendors 
Basic automation that still requires manual cleanup AI-powered automation that handles the heavy lifting 
Configuration changes that depend on IT or consultants Easily configurable workflows with no code required 
Unclear or stagnant product roadmaps Transparent, customer-informed product development 

Making the Case for Change 

Switching from a legacy tool to modern legal ops software is a strategic decision. Many teams hesitate due to long-standing contracts or internal dependencies. But increasingly, the costs of standing still — inefficiency, missed insights, and user frustration — outweigh the challenges of change. The longer teams delay, the more money slips through the cracks. 

Legal teams are choosing to move forward for a reason. They want to operate as strategic partners to the business. They need data to drive faster, smarter decisions. They’re done with bottlenecks and overhead. And they want tools that actually scale with them, not against them. 

Next-generation legal operations tools are not just replacements. They’re accelerators. 

A laptop with a sprout, representing growth and change for legal teams

Implementing Scalable Legal Tech Solutions Without the Headaches 

Modern legal ops software is designed for quick, low-stress implementation. Cloud-based delivery removes installation barriers, and configuration happens through intuitive tools rather than complex code. 

Legal teams can customize workflows to match their processes without relying on IT. Onboarding is guided and streamlined, helping teams see value faster. 

With clean interfaces and simplified workflows, adoption feels natural. The transition is not disruptive. It’s a faster path to better operations. 

The Bottom Line on Legal Ops Software

It’s true: Legacy systems helped legal departments digitize. But modern legal ops software helps them optimize. 

This shift is not about chasing trends. But it is about enabling your team to do its best work with tools that meet you where you are and grow with you.  

If your platform is slowing you down, it’s time to consider one designed for the pace and precision your legal team needs.  

Book a demo to see how Onit empowers legal teams with AI-native software, so you can stop settling and start scaling on your terms. 

Want a quick gut check on where your legal ops stack stands? Download our Legal Ops Checklist to find out if your tech is keeping up or holding you back.

Agentic AI in Legal Operations: What It Is and Why It Matters 

Agentic AI in Legal Operations: What It Is and Why It Matters

The legal tech world has no shortage of buzzwords, but every once in a while, one sticks for good reason. Agentic AI is one of them. Agentic AI in legal operations is stepping into the spotlight as legal departments continue to look for ways to streamline operations, manage risk, and do more with less. Unlike traditional AI tools that wait for instructions, agentic AI can make decisions, take action, and complete complex legal workflows autonomously. 

Let’s break down what agentic AI is, how it works, and why it’s becoming an essential part of legal operations strategy

What Is Agentic AI? 

Agentic AI refers to a new class of AI tools designed to plan, execute, and adapt multi-step tasks on their own, with minimal human input. These “AI agents” don’t just answer prompts — they take goals and run with them. 

For example, instead of asking an AI to redline a single clause, a legal operations team could give an agentic AI a broader task: review this contract, identify risky clauses, suggest edits, and generate a final version based on company policy. And it would do it — autonomously. 

The key difference between agentic AI and standard generative AI is agency: the ability to make decisions, use tools, and iterate toward a goal. 

Representation of Agentic AI for legal ops, with person holding cell phone and using AI

How Agentic AI Powers Legal Workflow Automation 

In legal operations, time is money — and repetitive tasks are the bottlenecks. Agentic AI in legal operations can help automate end-to-end legal processes such as: 

  • Reviewing and redlining contracts based on predefined rules 
  • Extracting data from legal documents and routing it to the right systems 
  • Managing intake and triage for legal service requests 
  • Drafting reports, summaries, and status updates across departments 

By enabling AI agents to interact with tools (like databases, document editors, and workflows), Agentic AI in legal operations creates a smarter, self-sufficient layer of automation that reduces manual effort while increasing speed and consistency. 

How Does Agentic AI Work: A Brief Explanation

At its core, Agentic AI blends a powerful language model with access to tools, data, and logic, giving it the ability to not just respond but act.  
 
Think of it this way: traditional AI tools wait for you to tell them what to do, step-by-step. Agentic AI starts with a goal and figures out how to get there. It doesn’t just generate an answer, it drafts the document, finds the data, reviews the terms, and refines the output until the task is done.  
 
These tools are often built by connecting a language model with software tools, business rules, and datasets the designated agent can access and use. Depending on the complexity of the workflow, this setup can be customized to suit specific tasks — whether that’s redlining contracts, generating reports, or routing approvals.  

Benefits of Legal AI Automation for In-House Teams and Law Firms 

Some teams opt for pre-configured setups with broader capabilities, while others tailor their systems for more focused use cases.  

The choice comes down to speed vs. precision — some teams need flexibility, while others prioritize control and simplicity. 

Benefits of Agentic AI in legal ops

The result? Faster legal service delivery, better alignment with business goals, and a more modern, resilient legal ops function. That’s exactly the kind of impact Agentic AI in legal operations is designed to deliver. 

What to Know Before Implementing Agentic AI in Legal Operations 

Of course, agentic AI isn’t magic. There are tradeoffs: 

  • Cost and complexity: Building agentic systems — especially at enterprise scale — can require time, money, and technical expertise. 
  • Testing and trust: Because agentic systems can produce a range of outputs, validating their performance and accuracy takes careful design. 
  • Overengineering risk: Sometimes a simple rule-based automation is enough. Not every task requires a multi-agent system. 

The key is finding use cases where autonomy pays off and implementing right-sized solutions. 

Why Agentic AI Is the Future of Legal Tech 

The shift toward agentic AI reflects a broader movement in legal operations: from reactive support to proactive enablement. Legal teams are no longer just processing work — they’re driving innovation, shaping policy, and delivering business value. 

The future is PEOPLE PLUS AI. We're going to be completing tasks 25% faster and to a higher quality. - Jean Yang, VP of AI Transformation

Agentic AI isn’t just another tool in the tech stack. It’s a teammate.  

And in some cases, it’s doing the work 70x to 270x faster. In our recent Better Call GPT research from the Onit AI Center of Excellence, we found that AI-powered contract review using Large Language Models (LLMs) can dramatically outperform human reviewers. This isn’t just about speed — it’s about freeing legal teams to shift their focus from manual review to high-impact strategic work. When AI agents handle the grunt work, legal becomes a driver of business velocity.

How Onit Is Supporting Legal AI Automation 

At Onit, we’re focused on helping legal teams evolve through automation, innovation, and intelligence. Whether you’re exploring your first AI use case or scaling your legal ops ecosystem, our platform is built to support modern workflows — including emerging agentic AI capabilities. 

Want to see how legal AI automation can transform your team’s impact?

Explore our solutions to discover how Onit is helping legal departments streamline workflows, accelerate service delivery, and embrace the future of legal tech with confidence.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If your team is ready to move from experimentation to execution — and you want a smarter, faster way to operate — we’re here to help. Book a demo and see agentic AI in action.

Top 5 Takeaways from CLOC 2025: AI Agents, Real Conversations & Legal Ops in Its Prime

CLOC 2025 was more than just another industry event. It was a reunion, a reality check, and a roadmap for where legal operations is heading. From agentic AI hype to real-world results, the energy was high, the demos were packed, and the conversations were refreshingly honest.

Here are five key takeaways that stood out from the Onit team and beyond.

1. AI Isn’t Just a Buzzword. It’s an Agent Now.

This year wasn’t about theoretical AI. It was about AI agents, intelligent, task-executing, purpose-built digital workers designed to streamline legal workflows in real time.

Everyone was talking about agentic design, native AI platforms, and how these new agents can do more than analyze—they can act. From invoice approvals to contract data extraction, the future of legal ops looks less like dashboards and more like delegation.

If your AI can’t do the work? It’s already behind. Onit is proud to be bringing its own suite of AI agents to market this summer. Stay tuned! 

2. Relationships Still Rule in the Age of AI

While automation dominated the tech talk, the human connection was just as powerful. Onit’s customer happy hour at Zuma and CAB brunch brought together clients, partners, and team members in all the right ways.

The best conversations didn’t just happen at the booth—they happened over sashimi and strong coffee. Legal ops is still, at its core, a relationship-driven business and it showed.

3. Onit’s CounselMatch Reveal Was a Crowd Magnet

On day one at the Exchange Stage, Onit unveiled CounselMatch, a powerful new solution developed in partnership with SharePoint Leopard Solutions. Think of it as a next-gen Rolodex for law firm intelligence.

CounselMatch gives legal teams instant access to a rich database of law firm data, enabling faster, smarter decisions when sourcing outside counsel. The reaction? Immediate interest.

📰 Read the full announcement here

4. Real AI in Action: Corteva’s ReviewAI Story

Forget the fluff. Corteva’s breakout session showed what happens when AI agents go from concept to execution.

Michele Compasso, Global Deployment & Analytics Leader of Legal Operations at Corteva, shared how her team tackled a mountain of legacy contracts using Onit’s AI-first ReviewAI.

“We had 4,000 contracts that needed to be input into our CLM system. A task like that would’ve taken a lawyer two to three hours per contract—and I don’t speak Portuguese and I’m not a lawyer,” said Compasso.

“Instead, we used digital workers to read, extract, and enter the necessary data. What would’ve been impossible manually was done in minutes per contract.”

The session ended with a two-and-a-half-minute demo video showing the full end-to-end process. The room was hooked and the follow-up conversations proved it.

5. Change Champions Are the Secret to Legal Ops Scale

One of the most insightful sessions at CLOC 2025 wasn’t about tech, it was about people. In a standing-room-only “fishbowl” discussion, legal ops leaders opened up about what really moves transformation forward: cultural buy-in.

The lesson? Start with the team that’s ready. One company shared how they consolidated 29 templates into 8, cutting contract turnaround from a month to 1–2 weeks—not with fancy tools, but by piloting change with a group open to new ways of working.

That small success became a case study. That team became internal champions. And that momentum earned executive buy-in.

If legal ops wants to scale AI, ELM, CLM, or any major shift, the strategy is clear: start small, prove impact, and build an army of change ambassadors.

Wrapping It Up

From AI agents to relationship building, CLOC 2025 proved one thing: legal operations isn’t just evolving—it’s leading. And Onit is proud to be right in the middle of that momentum.

How Generative AI is Elevating Legal Operations Efficiency

In-house legal teams today face increasing pressure to deliver more value while managing leaner resources. According to the Blickstein Group’s 13th Annual Law Department Operations Survey, funding for personnel, technology, and talent retention ranked as one of the top challenges for legal departments in recent years. To address these challenges, legal teams are increasingly leveraging generative AI to streamline workflows, reduce repetitive tasks, and focus on strategic initiatives.

Generative AI—AI that creates text, content, and insights based on vast data inputs—has emerged as a transformative tool for legal operations. Unlike traditional AI systems that rely solely on rules-based processing, generative AI can analyze patterns, produce human-like outputs, and enhance operational efficiency across various legal functions. Let’s explore how generative AI specifically impacts legal operations and delivers measurable results.

1. Revolutionizing Contract Management

Contract management has long been a bottleneck for legal teams, particularly when reviewing high volumes of routine agreements like NDAs, vendor contracts, and service agreements. Generative AI simplifies and accelerates these processes in several ways:

  • Automated Drafting and Review: Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and others can draft contracts based on predefined templates and guidelines. For example, a legal team can input core contract elements, and the AI generates a draft tailored to specific business terms, reducing manual workload.
  • Risk Detection and Clause Standardization: Generative AI can flag missing or non-compliant clauses, propose alternative wording, and ensure contracts meet regulatory and organizational standards.
  • Faster Turnaround Times: By automating low-complexity tasks, generative AI reduces the time needed for contract approvals, accelerating workflows by up to 70%.

This allows legal teams to redirect their efforts from routine contract tasks to high-value activities like negotiating key terms or managing strategic relationships.

2. Smarter Spend Management with AI-Driven Invoice Review

Legal departments often struggle to manage outside counsel spending while enforcing billing guidelines effectively. Generative AI transforms invoice review by using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to identify billing anomalies and enforce compliance:

  • Automated Line-Item Audits: Generative AI reviews invoices against billing guidelines, flagging issues like overstaffing, incorrect rates, or unauthorized expenses.
  • Pattern Recognition: The system learns from historical billing data, identifying trends and proactively suggesting cost-saving opportunities.
  • Scalable Review Processes: Whether reviewing a single invoice or thousands, generative AI significantly reduces manual effort while maintaining accuracy.

By automating invoice review, legal departments not only reduce time spent on tedious audits but also achieve cost savings by catching billing errors early.

3. Generating Legal Documents with Supervised Learning

Document generation is a critical yet time-intensive task for legal teams, especially when accuracy and consistency are paramount. Generative AI leverages supervised machine learning to assist in this area:

  • Template-Based Creation: AI-powered tools can generate matter-related documents, including contracts, summaries, and client correspondence, by auto-populating key fields such as dates, costs, or parties.
  • Consistency Across Outputs: Generative AI ensures that documents adhere to organizational standards, reducing errors and maintaining uniformity.
  • Enhanced Productivity: Pretrained algorithms allow teams to produce complex legal documents in a fraction of the time, freeing up resources for higher-value work.

This ensures that legal operations run smoothly while maintaining the quality and consistency expected in enterprise-level environments.

4. AI-Driven Research for Strategic Insights

Legal research is another area where generative AI delivers transformative benefits. Traditional research methods often require extensive time spent combing through case law, regulatory updates, and precedents. Generative AI enhances this process through:

  • Rapid Data Analysis: AI systems process vast amounts of legal data in seconds, summarizing relevant cases, statutes, or precedents tailored to specific queries.
  • Enhanced Accuracy: Unlike manual research, generative AI scans every line of text, ensuring no critical detail is missed.
  • Data Visualization and Forecasting: Some tools integrate research insights into dashboards, allowing teams to visualize trends in litigation outcomes, contract performance, or compliance risks.

This not only reduces the time spent on research but also equips legal teams with actionable insights for strategic decision-making.

5. Strengthening Compliance and Risk Management

Compliance and risk management are critical areas for large legal departments, especially in heavily regulated industries. Generative AI enhances compliance efforts by monitoring regulatory updates and identifying areas of concern:

  • Regulatory Tracking: AI tools can monitor changes in laws and regulations across jurisdictions, providing timely alerts and tailored recommendations.
  • Automated Risk Assessment: Generative AI reviews policies, contracts, and internal practices, flagging potential risks before they escalate into issues.
  • Proactive Reporting: AI-generated summaries of compliance metrics or risk exposures allow teams to stay ahead of regulatory challenges.

By leveraging generative AI, legal departments can reduce the risk of fines or litigation, ensuring smoother operations and adherence to standards.

6. Unlocking Predictive Insights for Better Decision-Making

Generative AI not only handles repetitive tasks but also provides predictive insights that inform strategic planning. By analyzing historical data, AI tools can forecast trends in:

  • Litigation Outcomes: Predictive models assess the likelihood of success in specific cases based on similar past matters.
  • Budgeting and Resource Allocation: Generative AI helps legal teams predict matter-related expenses, enabling more accurate financial planning.
  • Contract Performance: AI tools can assess contract compliance and performance, identifying potential areas for renegotiation or improvement.

These predictive capabilities allow legal leaders to make data-driven decisions, ensuring their departments remain aligned with broader business goals.

Next Steps: Leveraging Generative AI in Your Legal Department

For legal teams looking to integrate generative AI, the key is to start with scalable, high-impact use cases like contract management, invoice review, or compliance monitoring. Tools like Onit’s family of enterprise workflow solutions offer tailored AI-driven platforms to optimize legal operations.

Generative AI is no longer a distant possibility—it’s a reality reshaping how legal departments work. By embracing these tools, legal teams can enhance their value to the organization, reduce costs, and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive business landscape.

Learn more about how Onit’s AI-enabled products digitally transform the contract lifecycle.