Author: Kemari Messineo

Modern Legal Operations Starts with Smarter Tools, Not More People 

Posted on August 1, 2025 by - Legal Operations

Modern legal operations doesn’t need more complexity. It needs a reset.

Legal teams everywhere are feeling the pressure: do more with less, move faster without compromising accuracy, and be strategic while staying compliant. Sounds like a tall order, doesn’t it? That’s where modern legal operations come in.  

Today’s legal departments are trading bloated systems and manual processes for purpose-built platforms which offer data-backed insights and integrated workflows. With the right legal ops tools in place, legal teams of all sizes can move from reactive to proactive, from being viewed as bottlenecks to becoming true business drivers. 

What Are Legal Ops Tools, and How Do They Support Modern Legal Operations? 

At their core, legal ops tools are the systems, software, and strategies that enable in-house legal teams to become high-performing business units. Think of them as the infrastructure of modern legal operations. These are the tools that provide visibility, consistency, and control across legal workstreams. 

Whether it’s managing outside counsel, wrangling contracts, automating invoice approvals, or pulling performance analytics for the GC’s board presentation, these tools are doing the quiet heavy lifting so legal professionals can focus on lawyering, not logistics. 

And here’s the kicker: you don’t need to be a Fortune 100 to get started. Legal operations is no longer a luxury. It’s a necessity, and modern legal operations help make that shift possible.

Top 5 Legal Ops Tools That You Can’t Live Without 

Not all tools are created equal. If you’re building out your legal ops tech stack as part of a modern legal operations strategy, start with these five. 

1. e-Billing & Spend Management 

Think of this as your financial GPS. Tools like Onit’s ELM e-billing help legal teams track every dollar spent, analyze outside counsel performance, and surface opportunities to switch from hourly billing to AFAs. It’s also a great way to build trust with finance by giving them exactly what they want: predictability. 

2. Matter Management 

No more mystery around who’s doing what, where, and by when. A matter management platform organizes caseloads, deadlines, documents, and stakeholders in one centralized space. Bonus points if it integrates with your other tools. Nobody needs another silo. 

3. Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) 

From NDAs to MSAs to “we-needed-this-yesterday” custom deals, CLM tools accelerate contract review cycles, reduce risk, and bring visibility into every stage of the contract journey. 

4. Legal Service Requests & Intake 

Tired of email chaos and surprise fire drills? Legal intake tools are your “legal front door” and help standardize the way the business requests help, routes tasks, and automates common responses. Translation: fewer interruptions, more strategy. 

5. Analytics & Dashboards 

Legal teams are no longer the department of “no.” They’re strategic partners at the table. That means showing up with data. Modern legal operations depend on tools that deliver insights into spend, efficiency, and performance so you can speak the same language as your CFO. 

“We Have No Idea Where Our Legal Budget Is Going” 

That’s not just a stressful statement. It’s a red flag waving over your entire department. When legal spend is opaque and unpredictable, it creates ripple effects across the business. Finance loses confidence. Leadership starts asking hard questions. Legal’s seat at the strategy table starts to wobble. If you’ve ever found yourself scrambling to explain quarterly spikes or retroactively justifying outside counsel costs, it’s time to stop duct-taping your processes and start upgrading your foundation. 

This is where legal ops tools come in. The right tech stack doesn’t just help you track spend. It gives you the foresight to manage it. By consolidating billing data, enforcing guidelines, and surfacing actionable insights, modern tools replace guesswork with clarity. And in today’s fast-paced business environment, clarity is your most valuable currency. 

Chaos Isn’t a Strategy (But It’s Often the Default) 

You shouldn’t need a crystal ball to figure out where a contract is in the approval cycle or whether that vendor invoice was reviewed. But if your team is constantly chasing status updates across inboxes or relying on tribal knowledge to move matters forward, you’re not alone. You’re just stuck managing legal operations the way it used to be done. 

Legal ops tools solve this by creating structure around workflows. They help standardize intake, route requests based on urgency or risk, and give legal leadership the kind of performance metrics that other departments have had for years. No more managing legal like it’s 1999. No more spreadsheet heroics. Just a streamlined, connected way to run legal like a business unit… because that’s what it is. 

So if legal still feels like the team that slows things down instead of driving things forward, it’s not a people problem. It’s a tooling problem. And that’s fixable. 

Rethinking Legal Operations for a Modern Era 

Too often, legal operations has been synonymous with clunky systems and slow adoption. But today’s approach is different. It’s modular, agile, and built for the way legal actually works. Legal ops leaders aren’t looking for another layer of process. They’re looking for clarity, control, and cross-functional momentum. 

This evolution is particularly visible in how teams approach enterprise legal management. Not as a static system, but as a dynamic strategy. When powered by the right legal ops tools, modern legal operations become more than just a support function. They become a strategic engine that helps legal collaborate better with finance, support faster deal cycles with sales, and forecast resource needs before a crisis hits. 

This isn’t just a digital transformation for the sake of “change.” It’s legal, evolved and positioned to lead. 

Future-Proofing Legal: AI, Automation, and the Tools Ahead 

Legal ops tools aren’t static. As AI, NLP, and machine learning evolve, they’re rapidly being baked into legal operations platforms, making it easier to: 

  • Auto-classify incoming legal requests 
  • Flag risky contract language 
  • Review invoices for compliance 
  • Predict matter outcomes based on historical data 

In other words, your legal tech stack isn’t just about catching up. It’s about staying ahead. 

table with legal operations papers scattered on it

AI is already transforming the way legal work gets done. From invoice review to matter triage to contract risk scoring, legal ops teams are finding ways to scale their impact without scaling their headcount. And the best part? These tools are becoming easier to implement and easier to justify, especially when they show measurable ROI. 

For many teams, this next wave of modern legal operations is finally closing the gap between day-to-day legal work and enterprise legal management goals that once felt out of reach. 

What’s Your Move? 

The legal industry is transforming, and modern legal operations are the engine behind that evolution. Whether you’re a solo legal ops pro or part of a global team, investing in the right tools today will pay dividends tomorrow. Because at the end of the day, the best legal departments don’t just respond to change. They drive it. 

If you’re ready to take the next step, we’ve got two resources to help you get started. 

Step 1: Download our Legal Ops 101 One-Pager: A quick-hit guide to what legal ops is and why it matters. Perfect for busy GCs and legal ops leads needing a fast gut check. 

Step 2: Dive deeper with our Legal Operations 101 Whitepaper. This is a comprehensive, strategic blueprint for building and scaling a high-impact legal ops function. From hiring to tooling to cross-functional collaboration, it’s everything you need to chart the right course. 

Step 3: Already know what you need? Let’s talk. We’d love to hear what you’re solving for. 

Legal Tech Stack Reboot: Smarter Legal Operations Tools, On Your Terms

Posted on July 23, 2025 by - Legal Operations

Uploading 1 / 1 – Legal Tech Stack Reboot Smarter Legal Operations Tools On Your Terms.png Attachment Details Legal Tech Stack Reboot Smarter Legal Operations Tools On Your Terms - puzzle pieces to represent choice

Legal operations tools were supposed to simplify your work. Instead, they’ve multiplied it.

Most legal departments today are buried in disconnected systems: one for intake, another for invoice review, and even more just to get a clear report. The result? A tech stack that creates more problems than it solves, and a legal ops team stuck managing chaos instead of driving strategy.

Tasks are repeated. Workflows get bottlenecked. Spend slips through the cracks. And while your tech promises to do more, your team ends up doing the heavy lifting.

But never fear, change is here. The latest generation of legal tech — like Onit ELM — is smarter, faster, and actually works the way legal teams do. This is your chance to reboot.

Here’s how to evaluate what’s worth keeping, what’s holding you back, and what your legal operations tools should actually deliver.

Why Legal Tech Feels Broken (Even If It’s “Modern”)

What’s marketed as innovation often turns out to be a fresh coat of paint on the same legacy platform. Or worse: a tool that “uses AI” but still asks you to forward invoices to a shared inbox (booo!).

The brutal truth? Many legal ops teams are working harder just to keep their tech stack afloat. But often, they’re just getting buried under more work.

When your legal software becomes yet another system to navigate, rather than a tool that actually supports how your team works, it’s not helping. It’s slowing you down.

And that’s not modernization; that’s just maintenance and more work.

Why Legal Operation Tools Matter More Than Ever

Legal operations has moved from reactive service provider to proactive business partner, and expectations are rising. You’re being asked to control costs, forecast accurately, streamline intake, prove value, and do it all with limited resources.

You can’t meet that mandate with a disconnected set of point solutions. You need legal operations tools that are cohesive, intelligent, and action oriented. Your tech stack isn’t just supporting legal operations anymore. It defines what your department can achieve.

And the gap between the teams who have the right tools — and the ones who don’t — is only going to widen.

What Today’s Legal Ops Tools Should Actually Do

To move your legal team forward, your tools need to do more than plug gaps. They need to remove them entirely. Whether you’re managing matters, invoices, or workflows, here’s how a truly world-class platform can help.

1. Streamline Legal Spend Management and Invoicing

Tracking spend isn’t enough. Today’s tools should help you control it.

That means smarter automation, like flagging billing violations before they hit your desk. AI bill review should be baked into the platform, not added through a third party. You should be able to see which vendors are overspending, which departments are trending high, and where your money is going – without digging through PDFs or spreadsheets.

If your legal spend data lives in silos or static reports, you’re not just lacking insight. You’re losing leverage.

2. Activate AI That Actually Works for Legal

AI shouldn’t just generate summaries. You deserve AI that actually delivers results.

Legal operations tools that claim AI functionality need to do more than slap a chatbot into the corner of your screen. They should automate approval workflows, intelligently triage legal intake, and reduce manual touchpoints that drain your time.

The best AI doesn’t just respond. It anticipates and learns. It works in the background to keep things moving, so your team can focus on legal strategy (not software babysitting).

And if your current tools can’t evolve , it might be time to look for a new partner that can.

3. Automate Legal Workflow (Without the Extra Work or Headaches)

Legal operations professionals are no strangers to bottlenecks. New requests come in through Slack, email, shared folders, and more. Most of it still ends up relying on manual routing.

It doesn’t have to be this way. The right workflow engine should centralize intake, automatically assign tasks based on priority or matter type, and give full visibility into what’s moving and what’s stuck.

Workflow automation isn’t about adding layers of logic. It’s about removing friction. If your current tech still makes you manage work around the system, it’s not working hard enough for you.

4. Deliver Analytics Built for Legal Ops

Your team is already overloaded. The last thing you need is another dashboard to keep track of. You need answers… fast.

A legal operations platform should give you real-time visibility into the health of your matters, your spend, vendor performance, and internal resourcing. Reporting shouldn’t take days. It should take a few clicks, and it should tell you something useful.

If your system can’t explain where your time and money are going, or which firms are helping you hit KPIs, is it even a reporting tool? No, it’s a mirror.

Choosing the right legal tech solutions

Time for a Tech Stack Reality Check?

Legal ops teams are being asked to deliver more value with less margin for error. But if your legal tech is still clunky and disconnected, it’s undermining your mission instead of supporting it.

The gap between expectation and execution is where your tech stack lives. And if you’re constantly working around the limitations of your tools, you’re definitely not being set up to lead.

Rebooting your legal tech stack isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about reclaiming control. On your terms.

Ready to Really Evaluate Your Legal Ops Tech?

Download Onit’s AI Buyer’s Guide to get the goods on what to look for. This is a practical resource built for legal operations teams who want clarity.

The guide walks you through the real questions that matter:

  • Are your tools actually AI-capable, or just AI-labeled?
  • Is your spend management workflow helping you control costs or just documenting them?
  • Can your platform scale with your needs, or are you building on top of duct tape?

You’ll get a clear framework to assess what you have today, identify what’s missing, and understand what to look for in your next legal tech investment. It’s helpful whether you’re upgrading one piece or rethinking your entire stack.

If your current tools are costing you more time than they save, the AI Buyer’s Guide will help you spot the signs early and move forward with confidence.

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

Posted on July 11, 2025 by - Artificial Intelligence, Legal Operations

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 

Posted on June 26, 2025 by - Legal Operations

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.

Better Call GPT: Can AI Contract Review Outlaw the Traditional Legal Reviewer?

Posted on June 12, 2025 by - Artificial Intelligence, Contract Lifecycle Management

Better Call GPT: Can AI Contract Review Outlaw the Traditional Legal Reviewer?

Legal departments are under more pressure than ever to do more with less — more contracts, tighter budgets, shorter timelines. For years, contract review tasks were handed off to junior lawyers or sent to legal process outsourcing providers (LPOs). But today, AI contract review using Large Language Models (LLMs) is emerging as a game-changer.

At Onit’s AI Center of Excellence, we set out to answer a bold question: Can Large Language Models (LLMs) outperform human lawyers in reviewing legal contracts? The results aren’t just compelling — they signal a shift that’s already underway.

Here we outline major takeaways from the full research paper conducted by the AI Center of Excellence, available here.

AI Contract Review: LLMs vs. Lawyers – Who Wins?

What are LLMS?
An LLM, or Large Language Model, is an AI system trained on massive amounts of text data to understand, generate, and reason with human language.

To find out how LLMs stack up against Junior Lawyers and LPOs, we benchmarked performance on three fronts: accuracy, speed, and cost. We used real-world procurement contracts and measured every review against the gold standard — senior lawyers’ assessments.

AI Contract Review

Here’s what we found:

1. AI Isn’t Just Matching Humans — It’s Elevating Them

LLMs like GPT-4 are now performing contract reviews with a level of precision that rivals professional legal service providers — and in many cases, they’re outperforming junior lawyers.

They’re not just keeping up, they’re raising the bar. While seasoned professionals still have an edge in pinpointing where issues appear, AI is closing that gap fast and already exceeding the capabilities of many junior team members.

Takeaway: This isn’t about humans being replaced. It’s about giving legal teams the superpowers they need to move faster, think bigger, and focus on what matters most. When AI handles the tedious, humans can lead with insight, creativity, and strategy.

2. AI is 70x–270x Faster

Speed is where LLMs leave human reviewers in the dust. While a junior lawyer may take nearly an hour to review a contract, LLMs clock in at just a couple of minutes or less.

  • Junior Lawyers: ~56 mins

  • LPOs: 201 mins

  • GPT-4 1106: 4.7 mins

  • Claude 2.0: 1.63 mins

  • Palm2: under 1 minute

Even with setup and prompt engineering time factored in (averaging about 16 hours), LLMs still provide massive long-term efficiency gains.

Takeaway: LLMs aren’t here to compete with humans — they’re here to boost our capacity. By offloading repetitive work, they help legal teams move faster, take on more, and focus on the strategic work that really matters.

3. AI is 99.97% Cheaper

Cost savings were just as dramatic. A junior lawyer averages around $74 per contract, while top LLMs do the same job for $0.02–$0.25.

ReviewerAvg. Cost Per Contract
Junior Lawyer$74.26
LPO$36.85
GPT-4 1106$0.25
Claude 2.1$0.02
Palm2$0.03

Takeaway: LLMs don’t just save time. They shift how we invest in human talent. Instead of spending hours on repetitive reviews, junior lawyers can focus on higher-value work that demands judgment, creativity, and critical thinking. It’s not about hiring less. It’s about empowering your team to do more meaningful work.

What This Means for Legal Teams

If you’re managing a high-volume legal workload — procurement, compliance, risk — you already know the pain points: too many documents, too few hands. LLMs are ready to fill that gap. They’re fast, cost-effective, and increasingly accurate.

In fact, our research findings suggest LLMs are already strong enough to disrupt the traditional LPO model. And while junior lawyers won’t be replaced anytime soon, we see their roles evolving — moving from routine tasks to higher-value, strategic work.

The Future of Legal Work is AI-Native: Are You Ready?

This research confirms what forward-thinking legal leaders already sense: the future of contract review isn’t just powered by AI — it’s AI-native. Success will belong to those who rethink processes from the ground up with AI at the core, not as an add-on.

This isn’t about replacing humans. AI is redefining how legal work gets done. Whether you’re exploring LLMs to speed up contract review or scale your legal operations, the opportunity is clear.

Early adopters will unlock efficiency, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge. Those who wait? Risk being left behind.

Just Getting Started? Download our Better Call GPT one pager for a quick snapshot of the research — perfect for sharing or bringing to your next team sync.

Ready to Go Deeper? Unlock the full research insights, benchmarks, and legal impact analysis in our comprehensive whitepaper — available for download.