NLJ this week: AI’s digital associates reshape legal practice

With 79% of legal professionals using AI in 2024, firms must embed technology strategically, viewing AI as a ‘digital associate’—trained, monitored, and developed to enhance productivity. Grice explains how regional and boutique firms gain agility by adopting innovative tools, but must anchor each technology in a clear business case and track performance using both quantitative and qualitative metrics. AI’s impact on billing models is profound, with outcome-based fees replacing the traditional billable hour. Grice emphasises the importance of collaboration between lawyers and AI, prioritising tools that automate routine tasks and speed up research.