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How small law firms can use AI

Legal work is document-heavy, so the potential time savings are real, but so are the confidentiality obligations. The safest wins are in admin and first drafts that a lawyer always reviews.

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1. Draft proposals and documents from a template

Produce first drafts of routine letters and documents from your own precedents, with a lawyer reviewing every word.

How to start:

  1. Gather 2-3 of your best past documents as examples.
  2. Make a template with standard sections.
  3. Write bullet points for the new document and ask AI for a first draft.

A prompt to try:

"Using this structure: [template], write a first draft proposal from these notes: [notes]. plain language."

Watch out: Check every fact, figure and promise.

2. Triage the inbox and draft routine replies

Sort and summarise the inbox, and draft routine client updates.

How to start:

  1. List your 5 most common email types and paste a good past reply for each into a document.
  2. Turn on the AI assistant in your email (Gemini in Gmail or Copilot in Outlook), or use a business AI chat plan.
  3. Create labels/folders and simple filters for each email type.

A prompt to try:

"Here is an email from a customer: [paste, with names and addresses removed]. Draft a friendly, short reply in plain English using the style of these examples: [paste]. Do not promise dates or prices."

Watch out: Remove customer personal details before pasting into tools that may keep or train on data.

3. Answer common enquiries faster

Draft responses to new-enquiry questions on fees and process from approved wording.

How to start:

  1. List the 10 questions you get most.
  2. Write approved answers once and publish them as an FAQ.
  3. Use AI to draft replies from your FAQ for each new enquiry.

A prompt to try:

"Using only this FAQ: [FAQ], draft a reply to: [enquiry]. If the answer is not in the FAQ, say we will get back to them."

Watch out: Tell customers when they are chatting with AI.

4. Automatic meeting notes and actions

Use a note-taking tool for internal meetings, with consent, to capture actions.

How to start:

  1. Choose a note-taker tool.
  2. Ask permission to record.
  3. Review the summary.

A prompt to try:

"Summarise this transcript into decisions and actions with owners."

Watch out: Always get consent before recording.

A word of caution

Client confidentiality comes first. Only use tools approved for confidential data and follow your law society's guidance on AI.

Your first step this week

Write approved wording for your five most common enquiry replies.

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Last reviewed 15 October 2026. General guidance, not professional or legal advice. Tool features and prices change; check before you buy.