What small law firms can learn from how top firms use AI
Across the UK, the use of AI in law firms is no longer experimental. The latest data from Legal Futures shows that 75% of the top-20 firms have implemented AI tools and formed dedicated transformation teams. For many of these firms, AI has moved from a single project to a managed, ongoing part of their legal work delivery.
Yet for many smaller firms, questions arise about where to begin, how to manage risk, and how to avoid tools sitting idle after the initial excitement fades.
Aside from access to resources, the difference between large and small firms lies in their approach. Let’s look at what small law firms can learn from how larger ones integrate AI into their everyday practice.
Lessons from successful integrations of AI in law firms
Those leading in the use of AI in law firms share consistent habits. They build a structure around technology, train their people continuously, and set standards that guide the responsible use of AI. These practices make their digital investments stable rather than experimental.
The following shows how smaller firms can apply the same discipline on a manageable scale.
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1. Building a structure around AI use
Many large firms now treat AI as a core part of management rather than an isolated experiment. Some have created dedicated teams or appointed AI leads to oversee the review, implementation, and monitoring of technology.
At Shoosmiths, this shift has gone a step further. The firm linked a £1 million bonus pool to AI adoption, using it as a reward for active engagement with its digital tools. The result was not only increased experimentation but also clearer accountability and stronger collaboration between legal and operational teams.
For smaller firms, structure can be simple and practical:
Designate one partner or senior associate as your AI lead to track usage and performance.
Hold quarterly “AI check-ins” where the team shares learnings and updates.
Keep a short internal log of which tools are in use and how they align with your firm’s goals.
Even in a small team, these steps create predictability and continuity. They help make AI part of your broader legal digital transformation, ensuring new tools are introduced within an organised, trusted framework.
2. Making training part of professional practice
Larger firms now recognise that AI competence needs to evolve alongside legal knowledge. More than half (55%) of the UK’s top 20 firms provide structured AI training. This approach has proved practical because it fits into busy schedules and builds confidence gradually.
Smaller firms can adapt the same rhythm:
Run a 15-minute session weekly or fortnightly to cover practical uses such as drafting with AI, reviewing AI-generated text, or integrating an AI legal assistant into document workflows.
Rotate who leads each session so everyone contributes and learns from experience.
Use free or low-cost resources from AI providers, legal-tech communities, or professional associations.
Training also works best when everyone is included. Fee earners, paralegals, and administrative staff all interact with data that AI can support. AI literacy is becoming as important as client communication or research skills. Establishing this habit early prepares your firm for how quickly AI in the legal industry continues to evolve.
3. Establishing accountability and communication standards
Accountability is what turns adoption into sustained progress. Many of the UK’s largest firms now publish AI ethics frameworks that explain how they ensure confidentiality, accuracy, and transparency. This openness strengthens internal discipline and public trust.
Early this year, the High Court warned solicitors about relying on unverified AI-generated case law. The ruling was a reminder that while technology can help, the responsibility for accuracy always rests with practitioners. It pushed many firms to formalise policies for verifying AI outputs before use in client work or submissions.
Smaller firms can apply similar discipline with manageable steps:
Write a concise AI use policy outlining how your firm verifies accuracy, protects client data, and handles disclosure.
Review and update it annually, aligning it with new regulatory guidance or client expectations.
Discuss it with clients when relevant, so they understand how AI supports efficiency without compromising professional standards.
Documenting and reviewing these standards builds confidence inside your firm, too. When everyone knows how AI is used and monitored, mistakes are reduced, and learning becomes continuous. Over time, these records become a foundation for future growth in your legal digital transformation, linking ethical practice with reliable performance.
Turning discipline into advantage
Larger firms may have more resources, but small firms can often move faster once they find rhythm and focus. Progress with AI in the legal industry comes down to three connected habits that any practice can sustain:
Clear structure keeps technology aligned with firm goals.
Regular training makes AI literacy part of everyday skill development.
Documented accountability builds trust internally and externally.
When these habits become routine, AI stops feeling like a new initiative and starts supporting your firm's day-to-day operations. It builds confidence in your team, reliability with your clients, and space to innovate without disruption.
Your size becomes an advantage because small adjustments ripple quickly across your team. Each improvement compounds, helping you build a modern, adaptable practice ready for the next stage of AI in law firms.
If your firm is already using AI and wants to take the next step, we can help you align workflows, people, and tools so your evolution continues with clarity and control.
