Understanding the Legal AI Landscape: Trends & Tools

AI tools in the legal industry have quickly become mainstream. According to Clio’s latest Legal Trends Report, 79% of legal professionals use AI, and 84% expect adoption to grow.

As AI advances, more solutions assist with tasks like automating workflows, drafting legal documents, and e-discovery. While these tools are increasingly accessible and efficient, the sheer number of options can make it challenging for firms to decide which ones to adopt.

Here, we break down the legal AI landscape—exploring available tools, their benefits, and how firms can leverage them effectively.

The legal AI landscape: Where does your firm stand?

With AI options rapidly increasing, the legal AI landscape is becoming more complex. Many firms make the mistake of trying to implement too many tools at once, which can create more problems than solutions.

Before adopting AI, firms must consider ethical risks like bias, hallucinations, and data privacy. Instead of rushing in, it’s best to start with AI tools that address specific challenges and gradually expand adoption.

Firms can assess their AI readiness using these levels:

• Level 1: No AI tools, relying on server-based software.
• Level 2: Basic cloud-based tools with limited integration.
• Level 3: Fully cloud-based with a centralized legal practice management system.
• Level 4: Some automation, but still requires significant human input.
• Level 5: AI-driven automation enhances decision-making within a centralized system.

To get started, determine your firm’s current AI level and adopt tools strategically as you build AI expertise.

A guide to legal AI tools: Types, benefits, and use cases

Law firm operations

AI can automate repetitive law firm processes, saving time and boosting efficiency. Security is crucial when handling client data, making Clio Duo a smart choice. Built within Clio’s secure environment, Clio Duo streamlines case management by automating tasks like client communication, time tracking, and calendaring—all without switching tabs. Unlike third-party AI tools, Clio Duo keeps your data protected and never uses it to train AI models.

Legal research

Legal research is time-consuming and prone to human error. AI-powered legal research tools like Lexis+ AI, Westlaw Precision, and Harvey help firms quickly find case law, statutes, and precedents with greater accuracy. Unlike generic AI tools, these solutions minimize the risk of AI hallucinations and ensure reliable legal research.

E-discovery

Manually reviewing large digital files for discovery is labor-intensive. AI-powered tools like Logikcull automate document categorization and review, improving search accuracy and efficiency. Logikcull integrates with Clio, allowing seamless import of discovery documents from cases within Clio Manage in seconds.

Client service AI

AI chatbots and virtual receptionists enhance client service without adding to staff workload. Tools like Smith.ai handle client intake, answer common questions, and filter calls using AI-enabled voice receptionists.

Document drafting, analysis, and review

AI streamlines legal document tasks like drafting, summarization, and analysis. Clio Duo summarizes documents and extracts key details, while tools like Genie AI and CoCounsel Core assist with document drafting and review. Harvey AI supports document comparison and translation, and NetDocuments’ ndMAX Legal AI Assistant allows conversational document querying. AI-powered contract review tools include Diligen, Luminance Diligence, and Spellbook.

Practice area-specific AI tools

Some AI tools cater to specific practice areas. Steno, which integrates with Clio, provides AI-generated case transcript summaries for litigators, while Eve helps plaintiff law firms accelerate casework. EvenUp, a Clio integration, assists personal injury lawyers by generating AI-driven demand packages.

Non-legal generative AI tools

Law firms use generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and Microsoft Copilot for administrative tasks like marketing, email drafting, and brainstorming. However, these tools aren’t built for legal work and lack firm-specific data, making them unreliable for tasks like document analysis or case management. Misusing non-legal AI tools in legal contexts can lead to ethical risks and professional mistakes.

Embracing legal AI with confidence

The legal AI landscape is evolving quickly, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By leveraging AI to streamline tasks, you can focus on the critical legal work that requires your expertise.

Adopt AI at your own pace—every firm can find the right entry point and expand strategically. Ready to securely adopt AI directly within you case management software? Book a Clio Duo demo today.