Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing legal operations careers by shifting the focus from manual task execution to strategic oversight and review. Legal ops professionals are not being replaced by AI; instead, they are learning to manage AI as a tool to boost productivity, which requires adapting to new workflows and developing new skills.
During the ELM Amplify 2025 user conference, this consensus was affirmed by Vincent Venturella of ELM Solutions and Kevin Cohn of Brightflag, the cloud-based provider of AI-powered legal spend and matter management software recently acquired by Wolters Kluwer. While the nature of the job is changing, the opportunity for career growth is unprecedented for those willing to adapt.
Will AI replace legal operations professionals?
The short answer is no, AI is not expected to replace legal operations professionals. Instead, the risk lies in stagnation. As stated during the conference session, "You won’t lose your job to the AI, but you could lose your job to someone willing to learn how to use it."
This distinction is crucial. The rise of AI in legal operations represents a shift in tools, not a replacement of talent. AI acts as a force multiplier for professionals who master it, much like computerized spreadsheets revolutionized accounting without eliminating accountants.
How does AI change daily work in legal ops?
The adoption of AI-enabled workflows requires a significant shift in expectations around productivity and speed. The role of a legal ops professional is evolving from direct execution to editorial oversight.
Understanding the initial learning curve
When first using AI tools, legal professionals may experience a temporary decrease in efficiency. Vincent Venturella noted this initial slowdown is due to the learning curve associated with prompting, reviewing, and integrating AI-generated outputs.
However, this initial time investment yields substantial returns. After establishing proficiency, typically within six months, productivity can increase by 20% to 50%. This sentiment was echoed by guest speaker Shawn Kanungo during his keynote address to Amplify attendees.
Shifting from execution to review
The core function of the work itself is changing. Legal ops professionals are moving away from performing rote tasks and toward a role that resembles management. Just as a manager reviews, edits, and provides feedback on work submitted by a team member, professionals must now treat AI with the same protocol. It is a powerful tool that requires direction and correction, elevating the user to a managerial role over digital agents.
What AI skills do legal ops professionals need?
Developing AI skills does not require being an early adopter and can be approached strategically. For those looking to build proficiency, the key is to start small and focus on practical application. The following guidelines can help you make steady progress.
- Start with low-risk scenarios: Kevin Cohn advises engaging with AI on low-risk personal topics to build comfort and familiarity. Use it to generate recipes or explore hobbies. This helps you understand the tool's logic and limitations without the pressure of professional consequences.
- Navigate anxiety-inducing work: Identify your most stressful work tasks and ask an AI tool for strategies to handle them more effectively. While not all suggestions will be useful, some will provide a solid foundation for improvement. This exercise trains you to view AI as a collaborative partner.
- Always refine the output: It is essential to verify the information AI provides. Finding an error should not lead to abandoning the tool but should remind you that AI knows a vast amount of information but lacks human context. The skill lies in knowing when to trust its output and when to correct it.
How to embrace AI for a thriving legal ops career
Legal operations is changing at an intimidating pace, but resisting this global shift in computing is not a viable strategy. Legal ops teams must lead the charge to remain competitive.
By iterating and adapting in this new environment, legal ops professionals can demonstrate their high value as strategic innovators. The future of the legal industry belongs to those willing to risk being novices today to master the essential tools of tomorrow and become an even more efficient force in legal ops.
