Your schedule leaves no breathing room. Mornings in court, afternoons fielding client calls, evenings buried in briefs or redlines. The growing case load doesn’t hit pause—and neither do client expectations. If you’re starting to feel like you’re drowning in tasks that shouldn’t need your full attention, you’re not imagining things.
The answer isn’t working longer hours. It’s working smarter—with tools that amplify your output, without compromising precision or professional judgment.
AI tools for lawyers aren’t theoretical anymore. They’re already running behind the scenes at top firms, reducing manual work, boosting accuracy, and uncovering key insights faster than ever. And they’re not just built for Big Law—you can tailor them to any firm size or specialty.
Here are 10 of the most effective AI tools lawyers are using right now—to save time, handle complexity, and reclaim mental bandwidth where it matters.
1. Harvey
Best for large firms looking to streamline complex legal workflows
Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 and built specifically for the legal field, Harvey is already in use by elite firms including Allen & Overy and PwC Legal. It’s not just performing basic generative tasks—it’s parsing complex statutes, analyzing contracts, and adapting to your firm’s internal knowledge sources.
Use Case: Summarize 300-page due diligence packets, manage multilingual compliance reviews, or pinpoint contractual red flags before they cause real issues.
Standout Feature: Harvey integrates with your internal data sets, so it doesn’t rely on random public information. It learns from your firm’s actual work product.
Paid/Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing
Why it matters: If you’re spending entire days combing through contracts or legal opinions, Harvey can trim that to hours—with results that hold up under scrutiny.
2. Casetext (CoCounsel)
Best for fast, accurate legal research and case preparation
Casetext’s CoCounsel combines the depth of legal research platforms with the intuitiveness of GPT-4—bringing you reliable answers pulled from a vetted legal database. It’s like staffing a research assistant who never loses focus and never needs time off.
Use Case: Evaluate case viability by checking relevant precedent or dissecting opposing arguments within minutes using a trusted legal authority.
Standout Feature: It’s built-in citation checker sources directly from actual case law, not generic summaries, so you cite with confidence.
Paid/Pricing: Subscription required; pricing varies by firm size
Why it stands out: If you’re stretched thin, CoCounsel lets you offload initial research while maintaining a high standard of accuracy.
3. Spellbook (formerly Rally Legal)
Best for contract drafting directly inside Microsoft Word
Spellbook enhances your drafting workflow without leaving Microsoft Word. This means your clauses auto-complete based on best practices, redlines stay consistent, and review cycles shrink dramatically.
Use Case: Edit and redline transactional agreements like NDAs or M&A contracts without toggling between platforms.
Standout Feature: It understands legal drafting norms and adjusts suggestions based on jurisdiction and contract type.
Paid/Pricing: Starts at $89/month per user
What most people miss is… Spellbook flags not just typos, but logical flaws—like conflicting indemnity clauses or undefined terms—before they show up in final drafts.
4. DoNotPay
Best for automation of simple client-side legal tasks
While DoNotPay started as a consumer-facing app, its templates and automation tools can support your practice by managing routine legal documents—especially for lower-budget or volume clients.
Use Case: Generate draft responses for FOIA requests, refund claims, or consumer complaints at no billable cost.
Standout Feature: Offers fast templates built around valid legal formats—so you’re spending time on strategy, not repetition.
Free Version: Yes, with basic functions, premium plans unlock more
Why this matters for you: You can serve small claims clients efficiently without diminishing your time—or your margins.
5. LEXIS+ AI
Best for deep research and litigation analytics
If you’ve used LexisNexis, you’re familiar with its research power. LEXIS+ AI builds on that with strategic forecasting tools and litigation data analytics—all directly tied into judge behaviors, court tendencies, and argument trends.
Use Case: Research how a judge has ruled on similar motions or identify opposing counsel’s past litigation patterns.
Standout Feature: It doesn’t just serve up precedent—it predicts how that precedent might apply based on past court behavior.
Paid/Pricing: Enterprise-tier plans; contact for custom pricing
What sets it apart: You go into hearings or negotiations with insights your opponents might miss—even if they use traditional research tools.
6. ChatGPT (Enterprise)
Best for general brainstorming, summarization, and internal comms
If you’ve tried ChatGPT for quick legal draft prompts or email templates, the enterprise version kicks it up a notch. With stronger privacy protocols, longer memory, and system integration, it becomes a flexible writing and reasoning assistant within your workflow.
Use Case: Quickly summarize depositions, brainstorm legal theories, or prep intake questionnaires tailored to new practice areas.
Standout Feature: You can train the system on your own data—from style guides to template libraries—to suit firm specifics.
Free Version: Yes, with usage and privacy limits; the enterprise tier is paid
Advanced Tip: Pair ChatGPT Enterprise with internal knowledge banks for tailored responses that reflect your firm’s voice—not boilerplate.
7. BriefCatch
Best for legal writing clarity and compliance with rules of court
BriefCatch is designed for litigators and appellate attorneys who can’t afford to let weak phrasing obscure strong positions. Think of it as your final polish tool.
Use Case: Refine a complex motion for readability and persuasiveness before filing. Or, pre-emptively review an opponent’s brief to identify soft spots.
Standout Feature: Gives you scores in logic, clarity, and urgency—so you’re not guessing where the argument needs tightening.
Paid/Pricing: Starts at $25/month
Here’s the real trick: It’s not just for your work. Run opposing filings through the tool pre-hearing to find flaws to exploit.
8. LawDroid Copilot
Best for solo and small firms managing intake and communication
For solo practitioners without admin staff, LawDroid Copilot does the heavy lifting: call screening, intake forms, appointment scheduling, and even SMS responses—all auto-handled.
Use Case: Capture leads who contact your firm outside business hours and keep them engaged without extra staffing.
Standout Feature: Voicemail transcripts land in your inbox with relevant action tags—so you never lose follow-up momentum.
Free Version: Basic chatbot is included free; full version with pro features is paid
Use Case Advantage: Ideal for small firms growing fast without hiring overhead. You get time back while keeping the client experience seamless.
9. Closing Folders
Best for automating deal closings and transaction workflows
Built for transactional law, Closing Folders replaces spreadsheets and scattered folders with automated task lists, signature tracking, and real-time document status updates—all in one platform.
Use Case: Coordinate closings for real estate or M&A transactions with multiple parties and critical dependencies.
Standout Feature: Smart checklists and auto-sent signature requests make version control and execution fast and mistake-free.
Paid/Pricing: Custom pricing for firm size and volume
Unique Insight: Clients remember how smooth their last closing was. Done right, this tool transforms deals from stress to satisfaction.
10. Juro
Best for end-to-end contract lifecycle management with AI
If your in-house legal team handles frequent vendor contracts, NDAs, and renewals, Juro streamlines the entire chain—from redlining to approvals—all within one AI-assisted environment.
Use Case: Manage contract workflows across departments without toggling between Word, email, and storage folders.
Standout Feature: Suggests clauses based on what’s worked (or failed) in prior contracts—minimizing surprises and aligning with precedent.
Free Version: No; pricing varies by user and contract volume
Why this matters for in-house teams: Frees your bandwidth to focus on real legal risks—not chasing down signatures or outdated versions.
The Smart Stack: How to Combine Tools Without Overload
Let’s be honest—AI can feel overwhelming if you try to use everything at once. Most firms go wrong by piling on tech without mapping it to real problems. Here’s how to avoid that trap and make it work.
Map the Pain Points
Start by listing where your time drains. Is it email bloat? Legal research? Tedious drafting? Choose tools that target those issues directly.
Start with One or Two Tools
Ease your team in. Maybe it’s BriefCatch for editing and CoCounsel for research. Use them well before introducing other systems.
Train It With Your Own Data
Generic AI isn’t enough. Feed in your templates, pleadings, or playbooks—so responses reflect your expertise, not average output.
Secure Your Access
Client confidentiality is non-negotiable. Choose tools that are SOC 2-compliant, have ethical AI frameworks, and allow you to control your firm’s data.
AI in Law Isn’t Tactical—It’s Strategic
Here’s what sets the top firms apart: they don’t just adopt AI to move faster. They use it to deepen service quality, cut wasteful overhead, and retain top-tier clients who demand precision at speed.
Your clients care—especially enterprise ones. They look for lawyers who run streamlined operations, charge fair fees without bloat, and bring insights machines like Google can’t touch.
AI frees up your time so you can focus on complex strategy, not admin cycles. And that’s where legal expertise builds real value.
Go Deeper From Here
You don’t have to overhaul your whole practice at once. But waiting too long? That’s what your competitors are counting on.
Start with the tool that solves your biggest bottleneck. Build momentum. Then layer in smarter systems across your intake, drafting, or research processes.
Modern clients expect intelligence. Make sure your firm reflects it.
