Smarter Week

AI and automation by role

How In-house counsel can use AI and automation

Below are 14 common tasks for In-house counsel, most common first. For each one you get the best fix (AI, automation, a feature in software you already have, or a simpler process), the steps to set it up and, for AI fixes, a prompt to copy.

Also called: Corporate Counsel, General Counsel, Legal Counsel, Commercial Counsel, Associate General Counsel, Head of Legal

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Task 1 · typically 120 min, a few times a week

Review and redline customer and vendor contracts

AIBest fix

Have AI do a first pass against your playbook, then a lawyer decides

Contract AI (Spellbook, LegalOn, Ironclad AI, Harvey, Legora, Copilot in Word) flags clauses that differ from your positions and suggests redlines. A qualified reviewer accepts or rejects every change; use only tools approved for confidential documents.

Typically saves about 40% of the time2 h to set up
  1. 1Write your playbook: for the 10 to 15 clauses that matter, your standard position, acceptable fallback and walk-away.
  2. 2Use a contract AI tool or an enterprise AI account your company has approved for client and counterparty data.
  3. 3Run the contract with the prompt below (or load the playbook into the tool).
  4. 4Review every flag and suggested redline yourself; do not send AI redlines unread.
  5. 5Add new positions to the playbook as you negotiate.
Prompt to copy
You are assisting an in-house lawyer. Review the attached [CONTRACT TYPE] from the perspective of [OUR COMPANY] as [CUSTOMER / VENDOR]. Compare it against our playbook below. For each clause that differs, give: clause reference, what it says, our position, risk level (high/medium/low), and a suggested redline in tracked-change style. Then list any missing clauses we normally require. Do not give a final recommendation to sign; quote the contract exactly.

Playbook:
[PASTE POSITIONS]

Tools: Spellbook · LegalOn · Ironclad AI · Harvey · Legora · Microsoft Copilot in Word · Enterprise ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot (approved for confidential data)

One more way to fix it
Process fix

Write a clause playbook with fallback positions

A one-page position for each key clause (preferred, fallback, never) lets contract managers handle most negotiations and makes AI review much more accurate.

Typically saves about 30% of the time8 h to set up
  1. 1Pull your last 20 negotiated contracts and list the clauses that always come up.
  2. 2For each, write the preferred wording, acceptable fallbacks and who can approve going further.
  3. 3Store it next to your templates and in your contract AI tool.
  4. 4Review it twice a year.

Tools: Word or Google Docs · CLM clause library

How to automate this task

Task 2 · typically 30 min, every day

Review NDAs and other standard agreements

Process fixBest fix

Let the business send the standard NDA themselves

A pre-approved NDA the business can send through e-signature without legal means you only see the ones where the other side wants changes.

Typically saves about 60% of the time2 h to set up
  1. 1Approve one mutual NDA template (and a one-way version if needed).
  2. 2Set it up as a self-serve template in DocuSign, Ironclad, Juro or your CLM with fixed text and fill-in fields.
  3. 3Publish clear rules: send as-is; any change comes to legal.
  4. 4Use AI first-pass review for counterparty paper.

Tools: DocuSign templates · Ironclad · Juro · SpotDraft

One more way to fix it
AI

Have AI do a first pass against your playbook, then a lawyer decides

Contract AI (Spellbook, LegalOn, Ironclad AI, Harvey, Legora, Copilot in Word) flags clauses that differ from your positions and suggests redlines. A qualified reviewer accepts or rejects every change; use only tools approved for confidential documents.

Typically saves about 40% of the time2 h to set up
  1. 1Write your playbook: for the 10 to 15 clauses that matter, your standard position, acceptable fallback and walk-away.
  2. 2Use a contract AI tool or an enterprise AI account your company has approved for client and counterparty data.
  3. 3Run the contract with the prompt below (or load the playbook into the tool).
  4. 4Review every flag and suggested redline yourself; do not send AI redlines unread.
  5. 5Add new positions to the playbook as you negotiate.
Prompt to copy
You are assisting an in-house lawyer. Review the attached [CONTRACT TYPE] from the perspective of [OUR COMPANY] as [CUSTOMER / VENDOR]. Compare it against our playbook below. For each clause that differs, give: clause reference, what it says, our position, risk level (high/medium/low), and a suggested redline in tracked-change style. Then list any missing clauses we normally require. Do not give a final recommendation to sign; quote the contract exactly.

Playbook:
[PASTE POSITIONS]

Tools: Spellbook · LegalOn · Ironclad AI · Harvey · Legora · Microsoft Copilot in Word · Enterprise ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot (approved for confidential data)

How to automate this task

Task 4 · typically 45 min, every day

Sort through and reply to email

AIBest fix

Have AI draft replies to routine email

Paste the thread and a one-line instruction; edit the draft instead of writing from a blank page. Most routine replies take a minute instead of five.

Typically saves about 35% of the time5 min to set up
  1. 1Open the AI assistant your company allows (or the one built into Outlook or Gmail).
  2. 2Paste the email thread, or use the built-in "draft reply" button.
  3. 3Tell it the point you want to make in one line.
  4. 4Read the draft, fix anything wrong, and send.
Prompt to copy
Draft a reply to the email below. My point: [WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY IN ONE LINE]. Keep it under 120 words, friendly and direct, and match the tone of the sender. Do not invent facts or commitments.

Email:
[PASTE THE EMAIL]

Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot · Gmail "Help me write" or Outlook Copilot

One more way to fix it
Process fix

Batch email twice a day and let rules file the noise

Rules move newsletters, notifications and CCs out of your inbox, and checking at set times stops email from cutting your day into pieces.

Typically saves about 25% of the time20 min to set up
  1. 1Create rules that move notifications, newsletters and emails where you are only CC'd into folders.
  2. 2Turn off desktop and phone notifications for email.
  3. 3Pick two or three set times a day to process the inbox to zero.
  4. 4Tell your team that anything urgent should come by phone or chat.

Tools: Outlook or Gmail rules

How to automate this task

Task 6 · typically 60 min, a few times a week

Draft contracts and amendments from templates

Software featureBest fix

Generate contracts from a questionnaire in your CLM

Ironclad, DocuSign CLM, Juro, Agiloft, Icertis and similar tools build the draft from a few answers (party, term, price, options), so the right clauses go in every time.

Typically saves about 55% of the time8 h to set up
  1. 1Pick your three highest-volume contract types.
  2. 2Turn each into a template with conditional clauses in your CLM.
  3. 3Let sales or procurement fill in the questionnaire themselves.
  4. 4Route only non-standard requests to legal.

Tools: Ironclad · DocuSign CLM · Juro · Agiloft · Icertis · Conga

One more way to fix it
AI

Have AI draft the amendment or side letter from the deal terms

Give AI the original clause, the agreed change and your template; it drafts the amendment for you to review.

Typically saves about 45% of the time5 min to set up
  1. 1Use an AI tool approved for confidential documents.
  2. 2Paste the relevant original clauses, the agreed changes and your amendment template.
  3. 3Use the prompt below.
  4. 4Review definitions and cross-references carefully before sending.
Prompt to copy
Draft an amendment to the [AGREEMENT NAME] dated [DATE] between [PARTY A] and [PARTY B], using our template below. Agreed changes: [LIST]. Original clauses affected: [PASTE]. Keep defined terms consistent with the original, update cross-references, and add a standard "all other terms remain in effect" clause. Mark anything ambiguous with [CHECK].

Template:
[PASTE]

Tools: Enterprise ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot (approved for confidential data) · Spellbook · Copilot in Word

How to automate this task

Task 7 · typically 20 min, a few times a week

Compare versions to see what the other side changed

Software featureBest fix

Run a proper compare instead of reading for changes

Word Compare, Litera Compare or Draftable show every change between versions, including ones the other side did not mark.

Typically saves about 60% of the time10 min to set up
  1. 1Always compare the returned draft against your last sent version, not the one they marked up.
  2. 2Use Word Review > Compare, Litera Compare or Draftable.
  3. 3Ask AI to summarize the substantive changes from the compare if it is long.

Tools: Microsoft Word Compare · Litera Compare · Draftable

One more way to fix it
AI

Have AI do a first pass against your playbook, then a lawyer decides

Contract AI (Spellbook, LegalOn, Ironclad AI, Harvey, Legora, Copilot in Word) flags clauses that differ from your positions and suggests redlines. A qualified reviewer accepts or rejects every change; use only tools approved for confidential documents.

Typically saves about 40% of the time2 h to set up
  1. 1Write your playbook: for the 10 to 15 clauses that matter, your standard position, acceptable fallback and walk-away.
  2. 2Use a contract AI tool or an enterprise AI account your company has approved for client and counterparty data.
  3. 3Run the contract with the prompt below (or load the playbook into the tool).
  4. 4Review every flag and suggested redline yourself; do not send AI redlines unread.
  5. 5Add new positions to the playbook as you negotiate.
Prompt to copy
You are assisting an in-house lawyer. Review the attached [CONTRACT TYPE] from the perspective of [OUR COMPANY] as [CUSTOMER / VENDOR]. Compare it against our playbook below. For each clause that differs, give: clause reference, what it says, our position, risk level (high/medium/low), and a suggested redline in tracked-change style. Then list any missing clauses we normally require. Do not give a final recommendation to sign; quote the contract exactly.

Playbook:
[PASTE POSITIONS]

Tools: Spellbook · LegalOn · Ironclad AI · Harvey · Legora · Microsoft Copilot in Word · Enterprise ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot (approved for confidential data)

How to automate this task

Task 8 · typically 45 min, once a week

Sit in status or update meetings

Process fixBest fix

Replace the status meeting with a written update

Everyone posts three lines in a shared thread before a set time; you only meet when something is blocked.

Typically saves about 60% of the time15 min to set up
  1. 1Agree a format: done, next, blocked.
  2. 2Create a channel or a thread that repeats every week.
  3. 3Ask everyone to post by a set time; the lead reads them and replies to the blockers.
  4. 4Keep a shorter meeting only for the blockers, or cancel it outright.

Tools: Slack, Teams or email

How to automate this task

Task 9 · typically 60 min, once a week

Keep up with new laws and regulatory changes

Software featureBest fix

Set up regulatory alerts and an AI weekly summary

Regulator email lists, law firm alerts and regulatory intelligence tools bring changes to you; AI condenses them into one weekly page.

Typically saves about 40% of the time1 h to set up
  1. 1Subscribe to your regulators' updates and two or three law firm alert lists.
  2. 2Route them to one folder or feed (Outlook rule, Feedly).
  3. 3For heavy regulatory load, consider Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence, Compliance.ai or your GRC tool's regulatory feed.
  4. 4Each week, paste the new items into AI and ask for a one-page "what changed and does it apply to us" summary, then check the sources.

Tools: Regulator email lists · Feedly · Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence · Compliance.ai · ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot

One more way to fix it
AI

Use AI research mode and check the sources

Deep Research modes in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity read dozens of pages and give you a cited summary.

Typically saves about 55% of the time5 min to set up
  1. 1Write the exact question and what you will use the answer for.
  2. 2Run it in a research mode (ChatGPT Deep Research, Claude Research, Gemini Deep Research or Perplexity).
  3. 3Open the two or three key sources it cites and confirm them.
  4. 4Save the summary where your team can find it.
Prompt to copy
Research [QUESTION]. I need this to [DECISION OR USE]. Give me a one-paragraph answer first, then the key facts as bullets with a source link for each, then what is uncertain or disputed.

Tools: ChatGPT Deep Research · Claude Research · Gemini Deep Research · Perplexity

How to automate this task

Task 10 · typically 90 min, once a month

Keep board consents, minutes and entity records up to date

Software featureBest fix

Keep entity records and board consents in an entity management tool

Entity tools track officers, filings, registered agents and consents, and remind you of annual reports, so records stay current without a spreadsheet hunt.

Typically saves about 40% of the time6 h to set up
  1. 1List every entity with officers, directors, registered agent and filing dates.
  2. 2Load into Diligent Entities, Athennian, CSC, or your cap table tool (Carta) for smaller companies.
  3. 3Turn on filing deadline reminders.
  4. 4Use e-signature for written consents and file them automatically.

Tools: Diligent Entities · Athennian · CSC · Carta · DocuSign

One more way to fix it
AI

Have AI draft board consents and resolutions from your templates

Give AI the action being approved and a past consent; it drafts the resolution language for counsel to check.

Typically saves about 45% of the time5 min to set up
  1. 1Use an AI tool approved for confidential documents.
  2. 2Paste a past consent of the same type and the facts of the new action.
  3. 3Use the prompt below.
  4. 4Check entity names, dates and authority against your records.
Prompt to copy
Draft a unanimous written consent of the [BOARD OF DIRECTORS / MANAGERS] of [ENTITY NAME], a [STATE] [ENTITY TYPE], approving: [ACTION AND KEY TERMS]. Follow the format of the example below. Include recitals, resolutions, and general authorizing resolutions. Mark anything you are unsure of with [CHECK].

Example:
[PASTE]

Tools: Enterprise ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot (approved for confidential data)

How to automate this task

Task 11 · typically 60 min, once a month

Review outside counsel invoices and legal spend

Software featureBest fix

Have outside counsel bill through an e-billing tool that checks your guidelines

Legal e-billing tools check invoices against your billing guidelines (block billing, rates, staffing) and flag problems, so you review exceptions instead of every line.

Typically saves about 50% of the time4 h to set up
  1. 1Write or update your outside counsel billing guidelines.
  2. 2Set up Brightflag, SimpleLegal, Onit or Mitratech TeamConnect, and require firms to submit through it.
  3. 3Turn on automatic guideline checks and budget alerts by matter.
  4. 4Review flagged lines and monthly spend by firm.

Tools: Brightflag · SimpleLegal · Onit · Mitratech TeamConnect

One more way to fix it
AI

Let AI build the formulas, pivots and summary

Copilot in Excel, Gemini in Sheets, or uploading the file to ChatGPT or Claude can build the pivot, the chart and the commentary in minutes.

Typically saves about 50% of the time10 min to set up
  1. 1Export or open the data.
  2. 2Ask Copilot in Excel or Gemini in Sheets, or upload the file to an approved AI assistant.
  3. 3Describe the report you want, including the breakdowns.
  4. 4Check the totals against the source before you share.
Prompt to copy
Here is [DESCRIBE THE DATA]. Build a summary that shows [THE NUMBERS YOUR MANAGER WANTS] by [BREAKDOWN], compared with [LAST PERIOD]. Give me the Excel formulas or pivot setup to reproduce it, and three sentences on what changed and why it matters.

Tools: Copilot in Excel · Gemini in Google Sheets · ChatGPT or Claude with file upload

How to automate this task

Task 12 · typically 60 min, once a week

Write documents, proposals or long emails from scratch

AIBest fix

Start from an AI first draft, never a blank page

Give the AI your notes, the audience and an example you liked; you spend your time editing, which is faster and better.

Typically saves about 45% of the time5 min to set up
  1. 1Gather your notes, bullet points and a past document you liked.
  2. 2Tell the AI who it is for and what it must achieve.
  3. 3Ask for an outline first, adjust it, then ask for the full draft.
  4. 4Edit for facts and your voice.
Prompt to copy
You are helping me write a [TYPE OF DOCUMENT] for [AUDIENCE]. The goal is [WHAT IT MUST ACHIEVE]. Here are my notes: [PASTE]. Here is an example I like the style of: [PASTE]. First give me an outline. After I approve it, write the full draft. Don't invent facts; mark anything you are unsure of with [CHECK].

Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot

How to automate this task

Task 13 · typically 20 min, a few times a week

Take notes and send recaps after meetings

AIBest fix

Let an AI notetaker write the notes and the recap

A notetaker records the meeting, writes the summary and action items, and you send the recap in one click.

Typically saves about 75% of the time15 min to set up
  1. 1Check which notetaker your company allows: Copilot in Teams, Zoom AI Companion, Google Meet "Take notes for me", Otter, Fireflies or Granola.
  2. 2Turn it on for your recurring meetings and tell attendees it is on.
  3. 3After the meeting, review the action items and fix names or owners.
  4. 4Send the recap straight from the tool, or paste it into email or chat.

Tools: Copilot in Microsoft Teams · Zoom AI Companion · Google Meet "Take notes for me" · Otter, Fireflies or Granola

How to automate this task

Task 14 · typically 20 min, every day

Hunt for files, numbers or answers someone already has

Software featureBest fix

Ask your workspace AI instead of searching folders

Microsoft Copilot (formerly Microsoft Copilot), Gemini in Google Workspace, Glean, Notion AI and Slack AI can answer questions from your company's own files, chats and email.

Typically saves about 50% of the time10 min to set up
  1. 1Check whether your company already pays for Copilot, Gemini in Google Workspace, Glean, Notion AI or Slack AI.
  2. 2Ask it the question in plain words, e.g. "What did we quote Acme for the Q3 renewal?"
  3. 3Open the source it cites to confirm.
  4. 4If you have none of these, ask IT. It is often cheaper than the hours lost.

Tools: Microsoft Copilot · Gemini in Google Workspace · Glean · Notion AI · Slack AI

One more way to fix it
Process fix

Agree one home for each kind of file

Most searching comes from the same thing living in three places. Pick one place per type and link to it.

Typically saves about 35% of the time1 h to set up
  1. 1List the five things people search for most.
  2. 2Pick one home for each (one folder, one wiki page, one system).
  3. 3Pin the links in your team channel.
  4. 4Move or delete the copies.

Tools: SharePoint, Google Drive, Notion or Confluence

How to automate this task

Quick wins

Have you tried…

Have you let an AI notetaker write your meeting notes and action items?
Tools like Copilot in Teams, Zoom AI Companion or Otter join the call, write the summary and list who owes what. You just check it and send.
Have you had AI draft a reply to a tricky or routine email?
You paste the email and say the point you want to make; the AI writes a draft you edit. Outlook and Gmail now have this built in.
Have you asked an AI that can see your company files a question, instead of digging through folders?
Microsoft Copilot (formerly Microsoft Copilot), Gemini in Google Workspace, Glean and similar tools search your email, chats and files and answer with links to the source.
Do you start long documents from an AI first draft built on your own notes?
Give the AI your notes, the audience and an example you like. Editing a draft is much faster than writing from a blank page.
Have you tried running your standup as a written check-in in chat instead of a call?
Bots like Geekbot or a Slack or Teams workflow ask everyone the same three questions each morning and post the answers. You only meet when someone is blocked.
Have you used AI for a first-pass contract review against your own playbook?
Tools like Spellbook, LegalOn or Copilot in Word compare a contract with your standard positions and suggest redlines. A lawyer still reviews and decides every change.
Can the business send your standard NDA without going through legal?
A pre-approved NDA set up as an e-signature template lets anyone send it as-is. Legal only sees it when the other side wants changes.
Have you tried the AI in Westlaw or Lexis for legal research?
CoCounsel in Westlaw and Lexis+ AI answer research questions with links to real cases and statutes. You still read every source before relying on it.

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