AI in 2025: Key Insights for solo & small‑firm lawyers
Agents, memory, and AI‑driven discovery are here. Here’s how to adapt fast—without buying shiny objects.
According to a recent post by AI expert Allie Miller these are big AI trends that will matter most for small firms in the coming year.
Agents that do multi‑step work (not just drafts)
“Context engineering” + memory that lets AI work inside your files and systems
Clients finding lawyers through AI assistants, not Google
If you want more insight, here are the 5 big shifts to consider leveraging.
1. Reinvent workflows (don’t just speed them up)
Most lawyers ask AI for isolated outputs (a letter, a clause). The big gains come from redesigning the flow:
Intake → AI triages leads, drafts confirmations, schedules consults
Case prep → AI summarizes depositions and pleadings from your drive
Drafting → AI assembles first drafts from firm templates + prior work
Comms → AI prepares client updates keyed to your calendar
Voice and vision are now real force multipliers:
Dictate case notes and email in seconds (tools like Wispr Flow)
Turn source docs into slides and visuals (e.g., NotebookLM “generate presentation”)
Bottom line: stop bolting AI onto old processes. Build around it.
2. Context + Memory = useful by default
Two under‑hyped breakthroughs:
Context engineering: Connect AI to Drive, Gmail, Slack, Notion. It “knows” the matter without you pasting long prompts.
Persistent memory: ChatGPT/Claude can remember your preferences, templates, styles. The 200th draft is as on‑brand as the first.
This is the difference between “cute demo” and “daily leverage.”
Implementation tip:
Start with a single matter. Grant read‑only access to a curated folder of pleadings, emails, and templates. Add a one‑page style guide. Tell the AI to ask before it assumes. Iterate.
3. Agents are becoming real paralegals
Agent capability is compounding. One independent study reports task length handled reliably by agents is doubling about every 7 months. Today’s frontier models can competently execute multi‑hour workflows; 12–18 months from now, expect multi‑day projects to be within reach.
What to deploy now:
Proactive briefings: Daily roll‑ups based on your calendar and inbox
Watchers: Agents that monitor dockets/feeds and flag changes
Division of labor: One agent drafts, a second reviews cites, a third creates client‑safe summaries—then you approve
Treat agents like junior teammates: define scope, checkpoints, and quality bars.
4. Client discovery has shifted to AI assistants
Your next client may never see Google’s page one.
Signals to watch:
66% of Gen Z uses ChatGPT for info (nearly the same as Google)
AI’s share of general search queries tripled in six months
36% of Americans discovered new brands through ChatGPT in 2025
Translation: AI is now a gatekeeper. You need an “AI discoverability” plan:
Publish clear service pages, outcomes, fees, and FAQs in plain language
Structure case studies/testimonials so AIs can parse “who, what, result”
Keep your NAP (name, address, phone) consistent across directories
Post short, specific explainers that answer client‑phrased questions
Make your expertise machine‑findable and machine‑summarizable
Think less “SEO,” more “can an AI confidently recommend us?”
5. Strategy: portability, ROI, ethics
Portability: Don’t lock into one model. Choose tools that let you switch engines (OpenAI/Anthropic/Google) as performance and pricing shift.
ROI: Start with high‑value, measurable use cases (contract review, summaries, research). Track time saved, revision counts, cycle time.
Ethics: Fight AI “sycophancy.” Ask for dissenting views and counter‑arguments. Build a lightweight policy: what can be uploaded, review steps, and who signs off.
What to start doing now
Pick one matter and define the ideal context (folder access + style guide)
Pilot a daily “proactive briefing” and a docket/watch agent
Publish one AI‑friendly case study (problem → process → outcome → who it’s for)
Iterate weekly. Small compounding big wins (this beats small ideas you never really finish).
;-)
Ernie
P.S. If you want practical guidance using AI, consider joining my ChatGPT lab. We meet twice a week to discuss the best AI applications for solo and small firm lawyers.
Here’s a special offer that lets you try it for 30 days for just $1.