Are you seeing AI as just another tool or as a chance to lead real change? For in-house lawyers, this question matters more than ever. Generative AI isn’t just software. It’s a shift in how we think, work, and lead. And the difference between treating it as a tech rollout versus a change management journey could define whether your legal team falls behind or thrives in AI adoption for in-house lawyers.
In a recent conversation with Connor Grennan, we unpacked this shift. As he put it, AI isn’t just about digital transformation about people, culture, and leadership.
Watch the full conversation with Conor Grennan here:
Why AI Adoption for In-House Lawyers Feels Different From Digital Transformation
Rolling out a new contract system or document platform? That’s digital transformation. You train the team, migrate files, and call it done.
But AI is different. You can’t just mandate adoption. AI adoption for in-house lawyers requires belief in its value. Lawyers will only use it if they believe it adds value and feel safe experimenting. That means leaders in legal must think beyond systems and policies. You need to build curiosity, reward small wins, and show your team that exploring AI won’t come back to bite them.
This isn’t just a tech story—it’s a human one.
AI for In-House Lawyers: From Tasks to Strategic Impact
Generative AI won’t replace lawyers, but it will change the nature of their work. Drafting, summarizing, and comparing documents are tasks AI can handle in seconds. That frees in-house counsel to focus on judgment, risk analysis, and building trusted relationships with the business. AI adoption for in-house lawyers is essential to meet these evolving expectations.
The challenge? Too many teams stop at “use cases.” They treat AI like a flashlight on a phone helpful, but limited while others are realizing it’s more like electricity. It doesn’t just brighten a corner; it changes the whole system.
The Leadership Role for In-House Counsel
Here’s the opportunity: in-house lawyers don’t need to be technologists to lead this shift. What’s required isn’t coding it’s guiding people through change.
Lawyers are already trained to manage ambiguity. Every day you interpret unclear laws, balance risk with business needs, and make judgment calls in the gray. That same mindset is exactly what’s needed to lead your team into an AI-enabled future.
Your role isn’t to deliver perfect answers it’s to create a culture where learning is continuous, where AI is a partner, and where legal can show the business what forward-looking leadership really looks like.
What’s Next for You?
If you’ve been waiting for a manual on “how to do AI,” it isn’t coming. This is about experimentation, leadership, and vision. The question isn’t whether AI will change in-house legal it’s whether you’ll step into the role of guiding that change. Embrace this opportunity to lead AI adoption for in-house lawyers effectively.
This is your chance to move beyond adopting a tool and start shaping the future of your team.
Dive into the next topic: The Future of Contracts: Adapting for Business Success
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 7, Episode 4 (ft.Connor Grennan)
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