AI in Legal Operations: Strategies for Smarter Adoption and Transformation

How can in-house legal departments truly harness AI in Legal Operations to drive efficiency, consistency, and strategic impact? The answer lies not in jumping on the latest tech trend. Rather, it involves embracing a thoughtful, human-centered approach to legal innovation. This blog explores that strategy through the insights of Jordan Chapnik-Kadec. She is a seasoned legal operations leader with a unique perspective at the intersection of people, process, and technology.

Jordan Chapnik-Kadec, who currently leads legal operations at a global technology company, brings an uncommon combination of experience in psychology, business, and legal technology. Her academic background includes a degree in psychology and an MBA. She also has professional development through an artificial intelligence course at MIT. Jordan’s journey demonstrates that focusing on AI in Legal Operations doesn’t require a traditional legal background. Instead, it requires vision, adaptability, and strategic focus.

Watch the full conversation with  Jordan Chapnik-Kadec here:

Jordan’s path into legal operations defies conventional legal career trajectories. Rather than pursuing a law degree, she built expertise in adjacent disciplines—psychology and business—that offered her insights into how people think. It also provided her understanding of how systems function and how legal departments can evolve with AI in Legal Operations. This multidisciplinary approach has helped her guide legal teams through meaningful change. She did this by considering both the human and technical aspects of legal work.

Jordan has made it her mission to break down silos and champion thoughtful adoption of technology within legal departments. Her leadership emphasizes adaptability, communication, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Jordan defines artificial intelligence as “machines behaving in ways that appear intelligent to humans.” Within legal departments, this often means automating tasks through tools that leverage natural language processing, pattern recognition, or predictive analytics. These AI-powered tools can enhance tasks like contract lifecycle management and support functions such as document review and regulatory compliance.

She believes lawyers and legal ops professionals don’t need to become coders—but they do need to understand AI’s basic mechanics, its strengths, and its limitations, especially in Legal Operations. Furthermore, they should know the importance of reliable data. Understanding these tools allows legal teams to engage more strategically with technology partners and drive innovation from within.

Jordan draws useful parallels between the legal and healthcare sectors. She notes how AI was initially introduced in medicine to assist with diagnostics—not to replace doctors, but to augment their expertise. In the same way, AI in Legal Operations should support legal professionals. It can relieve them of repetitive, high-volume tasks, giving them more time for nuanced, strategic work.

She points to opportunities where AI can have the greatest early impact. These include streamlining NDA review, tracking regulatory changes, and improving document search. Implementing AI in Legal Operations with such practical use cases helps teams realize value quickly while building confidence in AI’s role.

For Jordan, the future of AI in Legal Operations lies in a true partnership between human expertise and machine intelligence. AI offers speed, consistency, and scalability. Humans contribute creativity, critical thinking, and ethical judgment. Together, they unlock higher performance and more resilient legal teams.

That partnership requires investment in training and process redesign. Change management is also crucial, ensuring AI in Legal Operations equips legal teams with new tools and prepares them to use them effectively and thoughtfully.

Jordan advises legal departments to start small, with targeted tools that align with business needs, ensuring the success of AI in Legal Operations. High-volume tasks like e-billing, document categorization, or basic contract analysis are ideal starting points. She emphasizes the importance of structured, digital legal data as the foundation for AI success.

As teams become more confident, they can explore more advanced use cases—such as compliance risk flagging or cross-border data mapping. The key is to move forward with intention, focusing on real problems AI can help solve.

Jordan Chapnik-Kadec’s insights offer a compelling blueprint for legal leaders navigating digital transformation. With the right mindset, the right tools, and a commitment to collaboration, in-house legal teams can embrace AI in Legal Operations not just as a trend—but as a strategic advantage. The future isn’t about replacing people; it’s about empowering them to do their best work. This is achieved with the support of intelligent and responsive technology.

Watch the full conversation here:  Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 5, Episode 4 (ft. Jordan Chapnik-Kadec)

At Notes to My (Legal) Self®, we’re dedicated to helping in-house legal professionals develop the skills, insights, and strategies needed to thrive in today’s evolving legal landscape. From leadership development to legal operations optimization and emerging technology, we provide the tools to help you stay ahead.

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