Law firms are moving beyond experimentation and rapidly integrating artificial intelligence into core legal workflows, according to a new analysis released by Law.co. The benchmark data shows that firms deploying AI across routine legal tasks are completing work 2× to 6× faster, while simultaneously improving accuracy and consistency in areas such as contract review, legal research, and AI document drafting.
The analysis draws on usage patterns across law firms and in-house legal teams that have adopted AI for recurring, high-volume legal work. Rather than serving as a general productivity aid, AI is increasingly being used to own discrete tasks within legal workflows, fundamentally changing how legal work is produced and reviewed.
“What we’re seeing is a clear shift from curiosity to operational dependence,” said Timothy Carter, Chief Revenue Officer at Law.co. “Firms aren’t asking whether AI belongs in legal work anymore. They’re asking how quickly they can deploy it without sacrificing quality, confidentiality, or client trust.”
AI Adoption in Legal Operations Reaches a Tipping Point
According to the analysis, more than 70% of firms surveyed now use AI in at least one core legal workflow, with daily usage increasing sharply over the past year. Tasks that were once handled manually or delegated to junior staff are now routinely completed by AI systems before human review.
Key findings include:
- A significant rise in daily AI usage for contract review and research tasks
- A shift away from public, general-purpose AI tools toward private, firm-specific AI systems
- Increased reliance on AI for first-pass work across matters, not just pilot projects
Measurable Productivity Gains Across Core Legal Tasks
The Law.co analysis identified substantial time savings across several high-volume legal activities:
Contract Review
AI-assisted contract review reduced average first-pass review time by 55%–65%, while improving consistency in clause identification and risk flagging. Firms reported fewer missed indemnification, termination, and liability clauses compared to manual review alone.
Legal Research
Case law analysis and jurisdictional research tasks that previously required multiple hours were completed in minutes rather than hours, with AI enabling attorneys to review a broader set of citations without increasing time spent per matter.
Drafting and Document Preparation
First-draft generation for standard agreements, internal memoranda, and compliance documents saw time reductions of 40%–60%, cutting down on revision cycles and accelerating matter turnaround.
“Firms aren’t using AI to replace legal judgment,” said Eric Lamanna, Vice President of Sales at Law.co. “They’re using it to eliminate repetitive, low-leverage work so attorneys can focus on strategy, negotiation, and client advisory. The result is faster delivery without compromising quality.”
Reallocating Legal Work — Not Replacing Lawyers
Rather than reducing headcount, firms using AI are reallocating attorney time toward higher-value work. The analysis shows that AI is increasingly handling first-pass drafting, issue spotting, and document comparison, allowing junior associates and paralegals to move up the value chain more quickly.
This shift has led to:
- Reduced non-billable preparation time
- Faster partner review cycles
- Improved utilization rates across teams
Accuracy, Consistency, and Risk Reduction Improve Alongside Speed
Beyond time savings, firms reported measurable improvements in review consistency and risk detection. AI-driven workflows reduced variability between reviewers and improved adherence to internal playbooks and standards.
In routine contract reviews, firms observed:
- Fewer overlooked risk provisions
- Greater consistency across similar matters
- Improved documentation of review rationale
Why Firms Are Moving Away from Public AI Tools
As AI adoption increases, firms are becoming more selective about the systems they trust with sensitive legal data. The analysis found a growing preference for private legal AI platforms over public chatbots, driven by concerns around confidentiality, data retention, and auditability.
“Legal AI adoption only works if firms can trust the infrastructure behind it,” said Samuel Edwards, Chief Marketing Officer at Law.co. “Private AI systems that are purpose-built for legal workflows are becoming the standard, not the exception, because firms need performance without data risk.”
What This Means for Law Firms Going Forward
The findings suggest that AI-enabled firms are developing a structural advantage in speed, capacity, and cost efficiency. As clients increasingly expect faster turnaround and more predictable pricing, firms that fail to integrate AI into their workflows may find it harder to compete.
Law.co expects AI adoption in legal operations to continue accelerating as firms move from isolated use cases to fully integrated, AI-driven workflows.
About Law.co
Law.co is an AI-powered legal workflow platform designed to help law firms and legal teams streamline contract review, legal research, drafting, and compliance through secure, private AI systems. Law.co enables firms to deploy AI across their operations while maintaining control over data, standards, and client confidentiality.