How law AI software supports Canada’s modern law firms

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one buzzword that has been making rounds in recent years and will likely do so for years to come. It has also made its way to the legal profession, where several law AI software options are now available for lawyers, law firm staff, and in-house legal departments.

In this article, we will discuss the main AI platforms that legal professionals can use to improve their practice. We will also explain the key types and their benefits. For more resources to help you decide which AI tool suits you best, check out our Legal Technology and Practice Management pages.

What is law AI software?

Law AI software is a technology-based tool that can assist lawyers and other legal professionals in their daily tasks. Its goal is to:

• improve the legal workflows for increased productivity
• reduce the time needed to complete a task
• simplify the routine or labour-intensive tasks
• reduce costs (e.g., for a third-party vendor)

This video explains how AI tools for lawyers can help legal practitioners:

Read more about law AI software in this article about AI lawyers, which discusses the pros and cons of using AI in the legal profession.

Benefits of using law AI software

Wondering if you or your firm should use an AI tool for lawyers? Here are some of the advantages you should consider:

• boosts efficiency: AI can automate routine workflows and handle some of your tasks so you can focus on higher‑value work
• gives users more time: AI can take over repetitive or mundane admin tasks, freeing up time for client work
• improved work quality: although advanced AI tools can be costly, they can help reduce errors and improve the consistency of your legal services

What are the types of law AI software?

AI software for lawyers can take different forms depending on its purpose, function, and, unsurprisingly, how much it costs. Below are just some of the types of law AI software solutions available for Canadian lawyers and firms:

• generative AI tool
• large language models (LLMs)
• workflow or document automation tool
• AI legal assistant
• AI-powered legal research tool

If you're interested in AI software for your legal practice, the sections below explain each type by purpose and function.

Here's another video showing how AI can be used as a tool for legal work:

Find more content for lawyers and firms on how to improve practice workflows on our Practice Management page.

AI for client intake and call handling

High on the list of tasks to automate is how clients find you, make initial contact, and share the details of their matter. For this, there are several law AI software platforms that help in client intake and call handling processes:

• AI chatbots for client intake: this can be placed on your website, where interested clients can interact with "you" through an AI chatbot to get some initial information; this can also serve as a filter, saving you time by screening out casual visitors or people who are not a good fit for your services
• automated client intake workflow: after agreeing to take their case, you can have your legal AI software take over the rest of the client intake process; this includes setting up your next meetings and collecting key documents and details
• AI assistants to help in call handling: when you are away, you can set up a virtual assistant to help you answer calls from clients 24/7; AI assistants can simulate actual human conversations, capture the caller's needs, and escalate priority or urgent matters when needed

One software solution that has an AI intake assistant is SmartAdvocate. This is in addition to other features that it offers users.

AI for legal research and drafting support

The bulk of a lawyer's time is often dedicated to legal research and drafting of legal documents for their clients. However, with law AI software, lawyers and firm staff can ask the AI specific questions and receive answers based on case law and federal or provincial statutes.

Another AI tool for lawyers that can do legal research is Lexis+ Canada, which also has other features, such as brief analysis and bill tracking.

AI for case management and document automation

Automation is most visible in how AI software handles case management and document automation. One platform that serves as an overall legal practice management system is Clio. It offers a central dashboard for all your active matters, along with tools for your calendar, billing, and time entries.

A software that works as an overall legal practice management platform is Clio, where you have a centralized dashboard to see all the cases you're handling, aside from other features connected to your own calendar, billing, and time entries.

AI for time tracking, billing, and accounting

AI software for legal professionals can also handle the numbers that many lawyers and firms struggle to keep on top of. For example, it can automatically track your billable hours as you work, helping you produce accurate invoices for clients.

Also, your firm's accountant or finance staff can benefit from an accounting system designed specifically for legal practices.

If you're looking for an AI to help with your time tracking, client billings, or law firm accounting, head over to our article about the different legal practice accounting software for Canadian firms.

AI for e-discovery

If you're dealing with hundreds of documents for a case, AI software for lawyers can sort through them, making the process faster and more manageable. Depending on the specific software, it can cover all stages of e-discovery:

• data ingestion
• document review
• data analysis

One example of this law AI software is Everlaw, which is a cloud-based platform that can help law firms with e-discovery.

What are the risks of using law AI software?

Like any new technology, law AI software comes with risks. Managing these risks helps reduce exposure to regulatory or professional issues and protects your reputation.

While AI software for lawyers can help one's legal practice, its users must be aware of the risks, such as:

Data security and privacy risks

Confidentiality is at the heart of legal practice, and clients rely heavily on lawyers for this. However, using law AI software may compromise the privacy of sensitive data if the data is fed into unsafe AI systems, where it may be:

• accessed by third parties or
• used to train future AI models

When choosing law AI software, ask detailed questions about how data is collected, stored, used, and accessed, not just by its users, but also by other parties.

Costs and ROI considerations

Lawyers must invest in good law AI software, especially when they need tools tailored to their practice area. Searching for the right software also costs lawyers money and time.

Worse, expectations for the software may not be met, and the investment may not translate into more clients or a better client experience. As such, lawyers and firms should weigh their need for AI software against the costs and potential return on investment.

Compliance with laws on AI use

To ensure that Canadian lawyers' work is accurate, ethical, and does not come from AI hallucinations, the law societies and lawyers' organizations have released several guidelines on how to use AI in the legal practice.

For instance, the Law Society of Ontario released a white paper entitled Licensee Use of Generative AI. It is designed to help lawyers navigate the world of generative AI, in relation to the applicable professional conduct rules.

As new laws and rules on AI in legal practice are developed, lawyers and firms that use law AI software will need to monitor legal requirements while still taking advantage of AI's practical benefits.

Law AI software: Tools for Canada's modern law firms

AI is no longer a distant trend for Canadian law firms; it is now a practical tool that helps lawyers, firm staff, and legal departments. With the right software, lawyers and legal professionals can respond faster to client needs, while keeping quality and accuracy at the centre of their work. Used thoughtfully, AI can become a steady partner in modern legal practice rather than just a passing trend.

Bookmark our Legal Technology page for more articles on the latest developments and innovations to help Canadian lawyers and law firms, including law AI software.