Author: Shelby Benavidez 
Contributing Attorney: Will Davis, partner and chief legal officer 

Just a few years ago, the conversation around artificial intelligence (AI) in law centered on when it would arrive. Today, AI is no longer a distant possibility – it’s an active force shaping the industry. 

Most law firms with even a passing interest in technology have already tested the waters on at least one AI platform and have probably already implemented AI in some form within their firm. At Daniel Stark, we have embraced all that AI has to offer, and it is now a staple in modern legal operations. However, we’re still cautious – adoption should not be haphazard.  

“You either get on board with some type of AI usage in your practice,” Will Davis, partner and chief legal officer, said, “or there’s a good chance that you can get left behind.” 

Strategic Adoption: How Law Firms Can Implement AI Effectively 

For law firms, AI adoption should be a strategic and intentional implementation rather than trying to use every new tool available. 

Davis recommends identifying the “right places within the handling of a case that AI could bring the most value to.” Start small, he suggests, focusing first on pain points or areas of the greatest return, and only then expanding to other parts of the practice. 

Attempting to integrate AI into every part of a firm’s workflow all at once would be setting your firm up for failure because it’s simply too big of a project. You’d bring confusion and frustration, rather than efficiency. Instead, success depends on rolling it out one stage at a time with detailed training and clear instructions. 

Common Misconceptions: AI Won’t Replace Attorneys 

One of the biggest fears surrounding AI is that it will replace human lawyers. Davis pushes back on that narrative. 

“People may think that AI could do an attorney’s job or really anybody’s job,” he says. “But for the most part, law firms should be using AI to distill information so that you can look at that information in a more efficient and clear way.” 

Instead of replacing humans, AI should serve as an enhancer. When a talented team member learns to integrate AI into their work, it can elevate their performance dramatically, allowing them to level up in both efficiency and capability. 

However, he adds, “If you have somebody that maybe is a poor performer before the use of AI, I don’t know that it’s going to make them a better team member just because they have AI.” 

Above all, AI usage in the legal field should be used to enhance the client experience. 

Enhancing the Client Experience Through AI 

At Daniel Stark, the most valuable AI applications are those that directly improve client service. 

“For us,” Davis says, “it’s ultimately about getting better results for the client and making sure that they have a good interaction with our firm.” 

One example he provides is AI-assisted note-taking. When attorneys and paralegals no longer have to take exhaustive manual notes, they can engage in active listening and truly hear what the client is saying. 

He points out that automated note-taking also reduces the risk of missing key information.  

“When you’re leaving it up to the person who’s taking the notes, they’re only recording what they think is important. But what they think is important may not always be what’s actually important,” Davis said. 

By using AI to document entire client conversations, firms can maintain more complete and accurate records, leading to better-prepared attorneys and paralegals. With access to detailed, well-organized information, legal teams can approach client discussions, adjuster calls, and mediations with greater confidence and insight. Ultimately, AI provides them with the data they need at their fingertips to deliver stronger advice and achieve better outcomes for clients. 

Key Use Cases: How Firms Are Leveraging AI Today 

AI in law isn’t limited to a single function. From research and document management to client communication and case preparation, its influence is expanding across the entire practice. Davis outlined several areas where firms are already seeing meaningful results. 

AI has quickly become a powerful research partner for law firms, cutting down the hours once spent digging through endless case law and legal articles. Instead of reviewing each document manually, today’s tools can scan and synthesize information from multiple sources in a fraction of the time. 

“Any type of research can be very beneficial,” Davis says, emphasizing how much faster AI tools have become. By pulling together insights from statutes, case law, and legal commentaries, AI helps attorneys move past the grunt work and focus on analysis, strategy, and client outcomes. The payoff is better research, stronger arguments, and more time to think critically about each case. 

2. Document Management and Automation 

For many firms, managing document intake and maintaining consistent naming conventions is a constant headache. Files get mislabeled, misplaced, or saved in the wrong folder, and small issues that can snowball into costly inefficiencies. 

“If you could have AI that could help route documents to the right place and ensure your naming convention is followed 100% of the time,” Davis says, “that helps with both accuracy and efficiency.” 

He explains that some AI tools can even monitor email traffic, automatically saving attachments to the correct case file under the proper naming format. This saves staff hours of administrative work but also helps ensure that critical case documents are always organized and easy to locate when needed. 

3. Client Communications 

AI is also reshaping how law firms communicate with clients, helping teams respond faster, track sentiment, and strengthen relationships. Modern client communication platforms now use AI to draft suggested responses to routine messages, which staff can review, edit, and approve before sending. This ensures clients receive timely updates without sacrificing the human oversight and empathy that legal communication requires. 

Some of these tools can even analyze tone and language to predict when a client might be frustrated or anxious. By identifying those patterns early, firms can step in proactively, address issues before they escalate, and maintain a stronger, more positive client experience overall. 

4. Voice Agents and Intake 

“One of the next big waves of AI in law firms is voice agents,” Davis says. Firms are now using AI-powered phone systems for after-hours or overflow intake calls. 

While these systems can sound remarkably human, most firms are careful to disclose upfront that it’s an AI agent. Transparency is critical. These agents are trained much like employees with scripts, mock calls, and continuous monitoring to ensure accuracy and quality. “It could talk to a potential client, identify a case that meets our criteria, and then send that client a contract digitally,” Davis explains. 

It’s important to note that the goal of these AI systems is to provide timely support and make legal assistance more accessible to clients – not to deceive them or give them the runaround. By clearly identifying themselves as AI, these voice agents reassure clients that they are interacting with a tool designed to help them get the assistance they need at any time, whether that’s answering basic questions, initiating the intake process, or scheduling follow-ups. Firms are encouraged to maintain this transparency, reinforcing trust while leveraging AI to improve responsiveness and client service. 

5. Drafting and Discovery 

AI also plays a growing role in document drafting and discovery – two areas that are often time-consuming in legal practice. Davis explains, “You can ask it to draft some discovery responses or ask what we should request from the other party. That’s another big efficiency gain.” 

By automating repetitive or research-heavy tasks, AI allows attorneys to focus on strategy and client advocacy rather than administrative work. For example, an AI system can quickly generate draft responses to discovery requests, highlight missing or relevant information, and even suggest additional documents or evidence to request from the opposing party. This speeds up the process and helps ensure that nothing critical is overlooked. 

Additionally, AI’s ability to analyze large volumes of documents quickly can uncover patterns, inconsistencies, or potential leverage points that might take a human team much longer to identify. While AI doesn’t replace the attorney’s judgment, it acts as a powerful support tool to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and thoroughness throughout the litigation process. 

6. Medical Record Analysis 

Perhaps one of the most transformative uses of AI, according to Davis, is in analyzing medical records. “Medical records can be hundreds or thousands of pages,” he says. “AI can do in a matter of minutes what would take a human days to do – and it spits it out in a way that’s much more digestible.” 

This capability is particularly valuable in medical malpractice and personal injury cases, where every detail can be critical. AI can quickly identify relevant diagnoses, treatments, medications, and timelines, highlighting potential inconsistencies or critical points that could affect a case. By summarizing complex medical information in a clear, organized way, AI allows attorneys and their clients to understand the records without wading through endless pages. 

In addition to speed, AI enhances accuracy and thoroughness. Humans are prone to oversight, especially when faced with massive volumes of information, but AI can systematically review every page, flagging patterns, anomalies, or areas that need further investigation. 

Building Trust and Compliance: Ethics and Confidentiality in AI 

With such powerful tools, ethical and professional responsibility must remain front and center. Most importantly, “you need to know your vendors really well,” Davis advises. Firms should understand their AI provider’s “security standards, whether they’re HIPAA compliant, and what protections they have in place.” 

He stresses the importance of understanding what happens to your data, who owns your data, where your data lives, and how it’s protected. 

Equally vital is creating an internal AI policy. “People shouldn’t use tools that are not confidential or are not a safe place to talk about protected information,” he warns.