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Creating the legal data foundation for AI: A practical guide

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Why your AI isn't delivering: the legal data problem no one is talking about

Legal departments across the globe are investing in AI. Many are disappointed with the results. The problem isn't the technology; it's the data behind it. When contracts live in shared drives, matters sit in email inboxes, and entity records are scattered across disconnected systems, AI has nothing solid to work with. Fragmented, unstructured legal data produces incomplete outputs, unreliable insights, and frustrated teams.

The fix isn't a better AI tool. It's a stronger data foundation.

Download the guide: Creating the legal data foundation for AI to learn what it takes to make your legal department truly AI-ready.

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The hidden cost of fragmented legal data

Most legal departments know their data is messy. Few have quantified what that messiness actually costs.

When legal information is scattered across systems, legal teams face:

  • Hours spent searching for contracts and recreating work that already exists
  • Missed renewal dates and overlooked contractual obligations
  • Inconsistent legal positions taken on similar issues across the business
  • AI tools that produce unreliable outputs because they can't access or interpret the data
  • Lost institutional knowledge when employees leave

According to the 2025 Legisway Benchmark for Legal Departments, 60% of legal teams identify a lack of visibility into contracts as their biggest contract management challenge. Yet only 42% use dedicated contract lifecycle management software. The gap between the potential of AI and its real-world performance in legal often comes down to this.

Where does your legal department stand?

The legal data and AI maturity model outlines five stages of readiness
Most legal departments sit somewhere between stages one and three. The guide walks you through a practical 90-day action plan to move forward.

1. Documents everywhere

Information is scattered across email, local folders, and shared drives

2. Central repository

Information is consolidated but remains largely document-centric

3. Structured metadata

Documents become searchable, filterable, structured data

4. Connected workflows

Legal data integrates with business processes across the organization

5. AI-powered legal intelligence

Legal teams query, analyze, and act on data using AI
Cover Whitepaper by Wolters Kluwer Legisway

Get the guide: Start your AI journey with the right foundation

Creating the legal data foundation for AI is a practical resource for GCs, legal ops leaders, and digital transformation professionals who want to move beyond AI experimentation and build something that lasts.

Inside, you'll find:
• A breakdown of why fragmented legal data limits AI performance
• A three-layer framework for building an AI-ready legal repository
• The legal data and AI maturity model
• A 90-day implementation roadmap
• Common mistakes to avoid
Download the free guide
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About Legisway – AI-powered legal management software for legal departments
Legisway, by Wolters Kluwer, is a legal management platform designed specifically for corporate legal departments. It brings together contracts, matters, entities, legal requests, and compliance records in one place, giving legal teams the structured data foundation they need to operate efficiently today and unlock Artificial Intelligence (AI) tomorrow. With built-in AI capabilities, including contract review, and contract auditing, Legisway helps legal teams work smarter, reduce manual effort, and make more informed decisions.
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