Generative AI reshapes legal teams into strategic business growth partners

For decades, in-house legal teams have been seen as corporate guardians – a vital but often conservative function designed to protect the enterprise from risk. Today, a new era is unfolding. The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) is enabling legal teams to step beyond the role of “Department of No” and into the strategic, forward-looking mindset of the “Department of Yes”.

 

According to the LexisNexis Future of Work Report: 2025, 82 per cent of professionals are open to adopting new technologies, with C-suite leaders among the most enthusiastic. Legal teams are no exception. In fact, The Department of Yes survey found that more than 60 per cent of in-house departments already use AI for legal research, 48 per cent leverage it for drafting and 38 per cent apply it in contract management.

 

Driving efficiency and reducing bottlenecks

 

Time is a scarce commodity in the legal world. Pressure for faster turnaround is mounting – with 82 per cent of in-house legal leaders reporting they feel this urgency. AI’s ability to deliver rapid, accurate legal research and automate drafting tasks not only speeds the process but also reallocates attorney time toward strategic, high-value work. Nearly 86 per cent of surveyed legal professionals report that AI has improved efficiency, with close to half noting moderate to significant gains.

 

Enhancing risk management

 

Corporate counsel must balance business enablement with robust risk oversight – a challenge cited by nearly 60 per cent of respondents. AI’s data-driven capabilities strengthen regulatory and compliance risk evaluations, helping teams anticipate and mitigate issues before they escalate. This proactive stance turns legal into a partner in innovation, rather than an obstacle to it.

 

Cost savings and resource optimisation

 

Budget constraints are another persistent challenge. By streamlining workflows and reducing reliance on outside counsel, AI enables measurable cost savings. More than a third of legal leaders surveyed cite these savings as a primary success metric for AI implementation.

 

Building stronger cross-department collaboration

 

The “yes” mindset extends beyond legal’s walls. AI-driven tools facilitate closer collaboration with operations, compliance, HR and even the C-suite. Legal advice becomes more integrated into strategic decision-making, allowing businesses to act with both speed and confidence.

 

From tools to transformation

 

Technology adoption alone isn’t enough. The roadmap to becoming a true “Department of Yes” involves:

• Identifying high-impact use cases
• Selecting purpose-built legal AI solutions with transparency and accuracy
• Integrating tools with internal systems
• Prioritising security and compliance
• Measuring ROI through tangible metrics such as time saved and accuracy gains
• Fostering a culture of innovation through training and experimentation

With 96 per cent of legal leaders expecting AI to be part of their operations within the next five years, the momentum is undeniable. For in-house attorneys, the choice is clear: embrace AI and lead from the front, or risk being left behind.

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Discover how your legal team can evolve into a high-impact Department of Yes: download the Department of Yes whitepaper now