How Automation and AI Are Changing Law Firms

Let Go, Boss: How Automation and AI Are Transforming Law Firms

Running a law firm isn’t just about practicing law—it’s about managing the business of law. And let’s face it, that can be overwhelming. From client intake and billing to engagement letters and routine follow-ups, the repetitive tasks pile up, creating friction in workflows, slowing down operations, and eating away at valuable time that could be spent on case strategy and client advocacy.

In my recent presentation at the IIPLA Conference in Palo Alto, I addressed these pain points and shared how automation and AI can empower law firms to overcome these challenges, scale more efficiently, and improve client satisfaction. The message was simple: “Let Go, Boss.”

Here’s how law firms can embrace this approach to unlock new potential.

The Business of Law: It’s Not Just Legal Work

When you talk to law firm leaders, the conversation often shifts from legal expertise to business management. There’s a lot to navigate:

• How to make workflows smoother

• Where to eliminate friction in the client experience

• How to focus on the high-value tasks that actually require human expertise

We’ve all heard about AI—maybe a hundred times at this point—but the hidden secret is automation. Automation is the foundation. It’s what allows you to handle more clients, process data faster, and operate at scale—without adding to your headcount.

Start with Automation, Then Fly with AI

The approach I recommend is what I call the “Walk, Run, Fly” strategy:

1. Walk: Standardize your processes first. From client intake to billing, ensure your workflows are consistent, reliable, and repeatable. Garbage in, garbage out. AI can’t help you if your foundation isn’t solid.

2. Run: Automate the repetitive tasks. Focus on those mundane, lower-level tasks that bog your team down—like generating engagement letters, following up with leads, and invoicing. These are tasks that don’t require legal expertise but take up valuable time.

3. Fly: Once your processes are standardized and automated, bring in AI to augment your workflows. This is where you unlock deeper insights, predictive analytics, and advanced capabilities, all while freeing up time for your team to focus on what really matters.

A Real Case Study: L&M Law Firm

Take L&M Law Firm, a San Francisco-based firm specializing in intellectual property. They were struggling with scattered data, slow onboarding processes, and inefficiencies in client engagement. Here’s what we did with the help of automation:

• Automated their entire intake process, reducing the time to onboard new clients by 50%

• Centralized their data for better client insights

• Implemented engagement letter automation to eliminate manual back-and-forth

• Integrated text message follow-ups for a personal touch at scale

The result? Faster onboarding, reduced operational costs, and increased client satisfaction.

Why Let Go?

When law firm leaders try to do it all—micromanaging workflows and staying involved in every step—they not only burn out but also stifle their firm’s potential. Letting go doesn’t mean giving up control; it means trusting technology to handle the repetitive, time-consuming tasks so you can focus on higher-value work.

For example, imagine this:

• Your client intake is automated, so leads are booked into your calendar without manual intervention.

• Engagement letters are automatically generated, signed digitally, and securely stored.

• Payment reminders and invoicing happen without you lifting a finger.

• Follow-ups are personalized yet automated, ensuring no lead slips through the cracks.

With these tools in place, you wake up to a day filled with meaningful work—handling cases, building relationships, and growing your firm—rather than dealing with paperwork and inefficiencies.

Why Now Is the Time

According to the 2024 Clio Report, AI is expected to automate 44% of legal tasks. This isn’t the future—it’s happening now. Law firms that embrace automation and AI are already reaping the benefits, from faster client onboarding to higher retention rates.

But here’s the key: It starts with automation. AI gets all the buzz, but automation is the practical, tangible step you can take today to see immediate results.

Let’s Talk About Your Firm

Where do you experience the most friction in your workflows? Is it client intake? Billing? Document management? Whatever the case, there’s a solution—and it starts with a mindset shift: Let go, boss.

📍 Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how Legal Follow Up can help you reduce friction, save time, and focus on what matters most. Let’s reimagine what your law firm can do with automation and AI.

Ready to get started? Comment below or visit www.legalfollowup.com.

It’s time to let go—and grow.