Artificial Intelligence isn’t coming to law firms. It’s already here. And if you’re a personal injury or criminal defense attorney, this shift isn’t optional—it’s urgent.
In the next five years, nearly 40% of the average worker’s skills will either be transformed or made obsolete by AI. The legal field is no exception. From legal research to case preparation, from client intake to billing, the very tasks that have defined the profession for decades are evolving. The real risk isn’t AI itself—it’s the failure to adapt while others do.
You don’t need to be a technologist. You don’t even need to become an expert in artificial intelligence. But you do need to understand what it can do, how it changes workflows, and where it fits into your practice. More importantly, your team needs the same clarity. Without buy-in and understanding, any change effort falls flat. People don’t reject AI because it’s complex. They reject it because it feels like a threat or a mystery.
The opportunity here is enormous. Think about the routine work that drains your time and energy—drafting boilerplate motions, organizing discovery, screening new cases, following up with leads. These aren’t the tasks that grow your practice or win your toughest cases. But they are essential, and AI can handle many of them more efficiently, accurately, and affordably than ever before.
So where should you start?
Start with education. Not just for you, but for your staff. Teach basic AI concepts. Help your team understand how tools like ChatGPT work and how to ask better questions—that’s called prompt engineering. Give them time to explore real use cases: summarizing deposition transcripts, drafting demand letters, improving client communications. Then build in space for ongoing practice. Make it a habit, not a one-time training.
Next, create a culture of curiosity, not compliance. AI adoption isn’t about handing down new software from above. It’s about involving your team in the journey. Ask them what they wish they were better at, what they dread doing each week, what drains their time without moving the needle. AI isn’t here to replace them. It’s here to remove the friction so they can do the work that matters.
You should also consider developing a firm-wide AI policy. This doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should cover the basics: how you use AI responsibly, how you protect client data, how you maintain transparency and accountability, and which tools your team should or shouldn’t use. Think of it as your firm’s AI constitution—a shared understanding of what’s in bounds and what’s not.
If you’re unsure where to begin, try this simple exercise: Open a free version of ChatGPT and enter the following prompt:
“Analyze the impact of AI on [Law Firm Name]. Consider key trends, risks, and opportunities in the legal space. Address how AI could enhance efficiency, reduce costs, improve decision-making, and create new revenue streams in [specific business function – operations, marketing, HR, product development]. Also, assess how AI may disrupt my industry, change customer expectations, and affect workforce dynamics. Identify ethical, regulatory, and cybersecurity considerations I should be aware of. Finally, provide recommendations on how [Law Firm Name] can leverage AI strategically to stay competitive and future-proof its business.”
The insights you’ll receive from that one prompt might surprise you. Even if only half of it is useful, you’ll leave the session thinking differently about how your firm runs.
The truth is, even small time savings across your team’s day can translate into significant value over time. And the firms that begin experimenting with AI now will gain a competitive edge that late adopters won’t easily match.
The future of law isn’t about replacing people with machines. It’s about helping your people do more with less friction. The firms that thrive won’t just use AI. They’ll know why they’re using it, how to use it well, and where to draw the line.
Change is here. It’s fast. But it’s also full of potential.
The smartest thing you can do right now? Start small, stay curious, and involve your people. Because the only thing riskier than trying AI is waiting too long to understand it.
If you’re curious about how AI could fit into your law firm’s future, we’re here to help. At Accelerate Now, we specialize in guiding attorneys and their teams through the practical, ethical, and strategic use of AI in legal practice. Reach out today to start a conversation. We’ll help you explore what’s possible, one smart step at a time.
About the Author
Chad Chyreck
Operations Manager