Have you ever opened your laptop, noticed a new AI feature quietly sitting there, and wondered, “Am I supposed to be using this now?” If so, you’re not behind. You’re experiencing the same mix of curiosity and unease that many in-house lawyers feel as AI becomes embedded into everyday legal work. The real challenge isn’t whether AI matters. It’s how AI adoption in legal departments can happen without lawyers feeling overwhelmed, exposed, or out of control.
That tension came through clearly in a recent conversation with Sam Moore, Senior Director of Innovation at SkillBurst Interactive. His perspective stood out because it wasn’t about chasing shiny tools or forcing rapid change. Instead, it focused on helping lawyers feel confident and grounded as AI continues its adoption in legal departments without much warning.
Watch the full conversation with Sam Moore:
Why AI Adoption Feels Different in Legal Departments
Legal technology has been evolving for decades, but AI feels different because it refuses to stay in the background. Tools like e-signatures and document management systems quietly improved efficiency without demanding much attention. AI behaves differently. It appears inside email, word processors, chat platforms, and meeting tools. Lawyers don’t consciously opt into it so much as realize it has already arrived, marking a shift towards AI adoption in legal departments.
For in-house counsel, this creates a subtle sense of lost control. Legal work depends on judgment, accountability, and context. When a system suddenly summarizes a meeting or drafts language automatically, it raises valid questions about accuracy, safety, and authorization. Ignoring that discomfort doesn’t solve it. Banning tools outright rarely works either, since experimentation tends to move into unsupervised spaces.
How Legal Departments Can Learn AI Without Pressure
One of the most practical insights from Sam Moore’s experience is that successful adoption begins by giving lawyers permission to explore. Not permission to upload sensitive data or outsource judgment, but permission to learn about AI. When people feel monitored or restricted, they disengage or take risks quietly. When they feel supported, they ask better questions and develop better instincts.
For in-house legal teams, this means creating space for low-risk experimentation. Using AI for summaries, explanations, or early brainstorming builds familiarity without compromising standards. The goal is not instant mastery. It’s comfort with AI adoption within legal departments. Once lawyers understand where AI performs well and where it falls short, fear gives way to discernment.
Why Education Builds Confidence Faster Than Rules
Much of the anxiety around new technology comes from not knowing how it works. When lawyers lack that understanding, they either trust AI too much or not at all. Education changes the equation. Learning how generative AI produces responses, where it tends to make mistakes, and why nuance remains difficult helps lawyers stay firmly in control.
This matters even more as AI becomes embedded into core platforms rather than offered as standalone tools. Features arrive automatically, without fanfare. The only way to maintain confidence is to recognize when AI is involved and understand when human review matters most in legal departments.
The Opportunity Hidden in Thoughtful Adoption
AI does not diminish the role of in-house lawyers. It sharpens it. As routine tasks move faster, judgment becomes more visible. Legal value shifts away from typing and toward interpretation, prioritization, and communication. Teams that approach AI thoughtfully can engage earlier, advise more strategically, and strengthen trust with the business.
The path forward is simple, though not easy. Start small, stay curious, and keep judgment firmly in the driver’s seat. Adopting AI in legal departments works best when lawyers remain deliberate, informed, and confident as the tools continue to evolve.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 9, Episode 3 (ft. Sam Moore)
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