AI or Goodbye: What GCs Expect from Law Firms Today
AI or Goodbye: What GCs Expect from Law Firms Today
The LexText Team
Updated:
Jul 16, 2025
Table of Contents
Corporate clients have delivered a clear mandate to their law firms: If you're not leveraging AI to deliver faster, more cost-effective services, they'll find a firm that is.
Corporate clients have delivered a clear mandate to their law firms: If you're not leveraging AI to deliver faster, more cost-effective services, they'll find a firm that is.
Corporate clients have delivered a clear mandate to their law firms: If you're not leveraging AI to deliver faster, more cost-effective services, they'll find a firm that is.
The New Client Mandate: AI Is Essential
At a recent Fortune 100 General Counsel panel before an audience of law firm leaders, one message rang loud and clear: AI is no longer optional—it’s essential. Just a year ago, clients were prohibiting AI use or requiring explicit permission. Now, the dynamic has flipped. GCs are proactively driving the conversation, pressing firms to explain their AI strategy during RFPs and pitch meetings.
One GC now routinely asks: “Are you using AI? What are you using it for? Why do you believe it’s better? What tools are you using? How are you using them? What data are you using them on?” Another GC is going even further—recommending specific vendors directly to their outside counsel.
Firms that can’t answer these questions with clarity and confidence risk being passed over.
At a recent Fortune 100 General Counsel panel before an audience of law firm leaders, one message rang loud and clear: AI is no longer optional—it’s essential. Just a year ago, clients were prohibiting AI use or requiring explicit permission. Now, the dynamic has flipped. GCs are proactively driving the conversation, pressing firms to explain their AI strategy during RFPs and pitch meetings.
One GC now routinely asks: “Are you using AI? What are you using it for? Why do you believe it’s better? What tools are you using? How are you using them? What data are you using them on?” Another GC is going even further—recommending specific vendors directly to their outside counsel.
Firms that can’t answer these questions with clarity and confidence risk being passed over.
At a recent Fortune 100 General Counsel panel before an audience of law firm leaders, one message rang loud and clear: AI is no longer optional—it’s essential. Just a year ago, clients were prohibiting AI use or requiring explicit permission. Now, the dynamic has flipped. GCs are proactively driving the conversation, pressing firms to explain their AI strategy during RFPs and pitch meetings.
One GC now routinely asks: “Are you using AI? What are you using it for? Why do you believe it’s better? What tools are you using? How are you using them? What data are you using them on?” Another GC is going even further—recommending specific vendors directly to their outside counsel.
Firms that can’t answer these questions with clarity and confidence risk being passed over.
What General Counsels Expect Now
Efficiency Through AI
Use proven AI tools for drafting, legal research, and document analysis—freeing your attorneys to focus on strategic counsel and case strategy.
Value Over Hours
Clients are no longer impressed by billable hours spent on routine tasks. If AI reduces drafting time from days to hours, those savings must translate into client value—either through lower costs or faster delivery.
Partner with Specialized Vendors (Not DIY)
Clients prefer firms that partner with specialized legal AI providers rather than attempt to build internal tools. As one panelist bluntly put it: “Law firms need to understand that they’re not tech companies.”
Clients also want specificity—they ask which vendors you're using and for what use cases. Specialized providers deliver targeted legal solutions without complicated prompting or generic chatbot interfaces. And while some firms consider building their own tools, DIY solutions are often outdated by the time they’re functional.
Human Oversight Remains Key
AI enhances legal work—it doesn’t replace human judgment. GCs expect firms to maintain rigorous oversight, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and quality in every AI-assisted output.
Efficiency Through AI
Use proven AI tools for drafting, legal research, and document analysis—freeing your attorneys to focus on strategic counsel and case strategy.
Value Over Hours
Clients are no longer impressed by billable hours spent on routine tasks. If AI reduces drafting time from days to hours, those savings must translate into client value—either through lower costs or faster delivery.
Partner with Specialized Vendors (Not DIY)
Clients prefer firms that partner with specialized legal AI providers rather than attempt to build internal tools. As one panelist bluntly put it: “Law firms need to understand that they’re not tech companies.”
Clients also want specificity—they ask which vendors you're using and for what use cases. Specialized providers deliver targeted legal solutions without complicated prompting or generic chatbot interfaces. And while some firms consider building their own tools, DIY solutions are often outdated by the time they’re functional.
Human Oversight Remains Key
AI enhances legal work—it doesn’t replace human judgment. GCs expect firms to maintain rigorous oversight, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and quality in every AI-assisted output.
Efficiency Through AI
Use proven AI tools for drafting, legal research, and document analysis—freeing your attorneys to focus on strategic counsel and case strategy.
Value Over Hours
Clients are no longer impressed by billable hours spent on routine tasks. If AI reduces drafting time from days to hours, those savings must translate into client value—either through lower costs or faster delivery.
Partner with Specialized Vendors (Not DIY)
Clients prefer firms that partner with specialized legal AI providers rather than attempt to build internal tools. As one panelist bluntly put it: “Law firms need to understand that they’re not tech companies.”
Clients also want specificity—they ask which vendors you're using and for what use cases. Specialized providers deliver targeted legal solutions without complicated prompting or generic chatbot interfaces. And while some firms consider building their own tools, DIY solutions are often outdated by the time they’re functional.
Human Oversight Remains Key
AI enhances legal work—it doesn’t replace human judgment. GCs expect firms to maintain rigorous oversight, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and quality in every AI-assisted output.
The LexText Advantage: Built by Litigators, for Litigators
LexText was built by litigators to solve the real pain points of litigation teams—reducing associate stress, increasing partner confidence, and accelerating high-quality output.
Focused Drafting Excellence
LexText isn’t just another chatbot. It’s purpose-built for litigation workflows—streamlining tedious first drafts of core litigation documents while embedding human oversight at every step. Integrated AI-powered legal research ensures accurate, relevant supporting authority.
Firm-Specific Customization
LexText adapts to your firm’s unique style, jurisdictional requirements, and drafting preferences—so every output reflects your standards and voice.
Secure and Confidential
SOC 2 Type II certified, LexText ensures your sensitive client data remains secure and fully within your control—a critical priority for corporate legal departments.
Endorsed by Industry Leaders
LexText is proudly backed by former Chief Legal Officers of Oracle, Uber, Twitter, SoFi, and Dropbox—reinforcing our commitment to security, credibility, and excellence.
LexText was built by litigators to solve the real pain points of litigation teams—reducing associate stress, increasing partner confidence, and accelerating high-quality output.
Focused Drafting Excellence
LexText isn’t just another chatbot. It’s purpose-built for litigation workflows—streamlining tedious first drafts of core litigation documents while embedding human oversight at every step. Integrated AI-powered legal research ensures accurate, relevant supporting authority.
Firm-Specific Customization
LexText adapts to your firm’s unique style, jurisdictional requirements, and drafting preferences—so every output reflects your standards and voice.
Secure and Confidential
SOC 2 Type II certified, LexText ensures your sensitive client data remains secure and fully within your control—a critical priority for corporate legal departments.
Endorsed by Industry Leaders
LexText is proudly backed by former Chief Legal Officers of Oracle, Uber, Twitter, SoFi, and Dropbox—reinforcing our commitment to security, credibility, and excellence.
LexText was built by litigators to solve the real pain points of litigation teams—reducing associate stress, increasing partner confidence, and accelerating high-quality output.
Focused Drafting Excellence
LexText isn’t just another chatbot. It’s purpose-built for litigation workflows—streamlining tedious first drafts of core litigation documents while embedding human oversight at every step. Integrated AI-powered legal research ensures accurate, relevant supporting authority.
Firm-Specific Customization
LexText adapts to your firm’s unique style, jurisdictional requirements, and drafting preferences—so every output reflects your standards and voice.
Secure and Confidential
SOC 2 Type II certified, LexText ensures your sensitive client data remains secure and fully within your control—a critical priority for corporate legal departments.
Endorsed by Industry Leaders
LexText is proudly backed by former Chief Legal Officers of Oracle, Uber, Twitter, SoFi, and Dropbox—reinforcing our commitment to security, credibility, and excellence.
GCs Are Already Leading the Way
Forward-thinking General Counsels aren’t just asking about AI—they’re actively encouraging their preferred firms to adopt specialized tools. Recommending vetted vendors like LexText helps firms stay aligned with expectations for speed, value, and security—especially ahead of annual software procurement cycles.
If you're a GC looking to empower your outside counsel, LexText is ready to help.
Forward-thinking General Counsels aren’t just asking about AI—they’re actively encouraging their preferred firms to adopt specialized tools. Recommending vetted vendors like LexText helps firms stay aligned with expectations for speed, value, and security—especially ahead of annual software procurement cycles.
If you're a GC looking to empower your outside counsel, LexText is ready to help.
Forward-thinking General Counsels aren’t just asking about AI—they’re actively encouraging their preferred firms to adopt specialized tools. Recommending vetted vendors like LexText helps firms stay aligned with expectations for speed, value, and security—especially ahead of annual software procurement cycles.
If you're a GC looking to empower your outside counsel, LexText is ready to help.
Don’t Fall Behind. See LexText in Action.
In just 30 minutes, experience how LexText helps your firm stay ahead of client demands for smarter, faster, and more efficient legal services.
👉 Schedule your private demo now to ensure your firm remains the preferred choice in today’s competitive legal market.
In just 30 minutes, experience how LexText helps your firm stay ahead of client demands for smarter, faster, and more efficient legal services.
👉 Schedule your private demo now to ensure your firm remains the preferred choice in today’s competitive legal market.
In just 30 minutes, experience how LexText helps your firm stay ahead of client demands for smarter, faster, and more efficient legal services.
👉 Schedule your private demo now to ensure your firm remains the preferred choice in today’s competitive legal market.
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