Have you ever asked a tool a question and secretly hoped it would just give you the perfect answer so you could move on with your day? For many in-house counsel experimenting with AI collaboration for in-house counsel, that quiet hope is familiar. Between overflowing inboxes, stakeholder pressure, and limited headcount, the temptation to let AI “just tell me what to do” is real. But that mindset is also where things start to go wrong.
That tension came up clearly in a recent conversation with Tom Martin, founder and CEO of LawDroid, who has spent years working alongside legal professionals as they adopt new technology. Tom has seen firsthand how quickly AI can become misunderstood inside legal teams. The tools are powerful, but when lawyers expect them to function like all-knowing authorities rather than guided collaborators, frustration and risk tend to follow. One of the most useful ideas to emerge from that discussion was simple but grounding: AI collaboration for in-house counsel is not an oracle. It is a collaborator. And for in-house legal professionals, that distinction matters more than almost anything else right now.
Watch the full conversation with Tom Martin here:
The Oracle Trap In-House Counsel Fall Into
When AI first entered legal workflows, it felt almost magical. Ask a question, get an answer. Draft a clause, summarize a document, explain a concept. The speed alone was intoxicating. But problems arise when AI is treated as a source of final truth rather than a starting point for thinking.
In-house lawyers operate in context-heavy environments. Business priorities shift, risk tolerance varies by department, and the “right” legal answer often depends on strategy rather than doctrine alone. AI does not understand your company’s culture, your board’s sensitivities, or the unspoken trade-offs that come with legal leadership. When lawyers expect AI to deliver definitive answers without guidance, hallucinations, oversights, and misplaced confidence follow.
AI Works Best as a Thought Partner, Not a Decision Maker
The most effective in-house legal teams are using AI collaboration for in-house counsel the same way they would use a sharp junior colleague. It can draft, summarize, brainstorm, and surface issues quickly, but it still needs direction, feedback, and supervision.
When you approach AI as a collaborator, the dynamic changes. Instead of asking for a perfect answer, you ask for a first pass. Instead of delegating judgment, you reserve it. AI becomes a way to accelerate legal operations, not replace legal thinking.
This shift is especially powerful for in-house counsel focused on legal leadership and career development. Lawyers who learn how to guide AI clearly, challenge its outputs, and integrate them into business strategy are not just more efficient. They utilize AI collaboration for in-house counsel to become more valuable. They spend less time buried in administrative work and more time advising, influencing, and leading.
What This Means for the Future of In-House Legal Work
The future of law inside companies is not about choosing between humans and machines. It is about learning how to work together well. AI will not replace in-house counsel, but it will absolutely reshape expectations around speed, clarity, and strategic contribution.
For in-house legal professionals willing to move past the oracle mindset, AI becomes a tool for growth rather than anxiety. It supports legal operations, sharpens legal leadership, and creates space for the kind of work that actually moves organizations forward.
The big takeaway is simple. AI does not need to be perfect to be powerful. It just needs a thoughtful lawyer on the other side of the screen.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 10, Episode 8 (ft.Tom Martin)
Join the Conversation
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.
What’s been your biggest breakthrough moment in your legal career? Let’s talk about it—share your story.
