AI workflows for legal operations.

Running the legal team as a business: intake, matter tracking, outside counsel, spend and legal tools.

Who does this work

  • Paralegal
  • Legal operations manager
  • Legal administrator

5 workflow templates ready to adapt, and 7 workflows identified.

Updated

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Examples of the workflows identified
  1. Request status updates from outside counsel
  2. Review closed matter files for a records decision
  3. Run a conflict check on a new inquiry
  4. Structure a new client intake
  5. Find gaps in the contract repositoryIllustrative

The workflows identified

Marked illustrative: an example of the work, identified, with no workflow template yet.

Request status updates from outside counselDrafts a status request to each outside firm that owes one, with what has happened since the last update, the dates on record to confirm, decisions pending and spend against budget, for in-house counsel to edit and send. Prepares work for a lawyer. Not legal advice.Workflow templateReview closed matter files for a records decisionSorts a batch of closed matter files into those whose retention period has run under the firm's own schedule, those under a hold, those with client originals not yet returned and those that cannot be assessed, for counsel to decide. Prepares work for a lawyer. Not legal advice.Workflow templateRun a conflict check on a new inquiryA name-check record of parties, aliases, related entities and possible matches, with the limits of the search shown. Prepares work for a lawyer. Not legal advice.Workflow templateStructure a new client intakeA structured intake note separating first-hand statements, secondhand accounts, assumptions and missing documents. Prepares work for a lawyer. Not legal advice.Workflow template
Find gaps in the contract repositoryCompares the contract repository with signed agreements found in email, shared drives and the finance system, listing missing contracts, unsigned versions filed as final and records with missing dates, owners or counterparties.Illustrative · not built yet
Prepare the legal spend report against budgetTotals outside-counsel and other legal spend by matter, firm and business unit against budget and accruals, with matters trending over budget and invoices not yet received.Illustrative · not built yet
Triage incoming legal requestsSorts the week's requests to the legal team by type, urgency and business owner, routes each to the right person or to an approved self-service answer, and lists the information each request is missing.Illustrative · not built yet

Workflow templates

Closed-file retention reviewWhen closed matter files are ready for records review, the records officer has a draft list for supervising counsel in four groups: files whose period has run under the firm's own schedule, files under a hold, client originals not yet returned, and files that cannot be assessed. Nothing is destroyed or moved. Prepares work for a lawyer. Not legal advice.Workflow templateConflict search recordBefore the responsible attorney decides on a new matter, the conflicts clerk has a draft search record: every name searched with its aliases and related entities, every possible match with its source matter and why it matched, the names still to search, and the limits of the search. It clears nothing. Prepares work for a lawyer. Not legal advice.Workflow templateConsultation fact recordAfter a first consultation, the intake attorney gets a draft fact record: each statement marked by how the client knows it, each date by how exactly it was given, the outcome the client wants set apart, every document mentioned but not supplied, and questions to choose from. It names no legal issue. Prepares work for a lawyer. Not legal advice.Workflow templateOutside-counsel invoice questionsWhen a law firm’s invoice arrives, legal operations has one worksheet ready: every line set against the agreed rates, the approved matter budget and the company’s own billing guidelines, each difference written as a neutral question for the firm. Nothing is sent, paid or rejected until people decide. Prepares work for a lawyer. Not legal advice.Workflow templateWeekly status requests to outside counselEvery Monday, in-house counsel has a draft status request for each outside firm that owes one: what has happened since the last update, the dates on record to confirm, decisions pending and spend against budget, plus the matters skipped and why. Counsel edits and sends each one. Prepares work for a lawyer. Not legal advice.Workflow template

Questions people ask

What does AI do for legal operations?
It prepares the administrative work that keeps a legal team moving: a conflict search record for a new inquiry, a fact record from a first consultation, and status requests to outside counsel. The conflicts clerk, the attorney or the legal operations lead decides what happens next.
Are there free AI workflow templates for legal operations?
Yes. The published ones are free to read with a free account. They include the conflict search record, the consultation fact record and outside counsel status requests.

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Where to go next

All of legal and contractsEvery area of the function, with workflow templates and examples.Map your team in the PlannerPut this work in your plan, with the roles that do it.

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