The report, which surveyed over 150 legal professionals, reveals that efficiency gains remain modest, with 44% of teams reporting tangible improvements. Despite these gains, data security remains the primary hurdle, cited by 40% of respondents as the most significant barrier to broader implementation. Rather than focusing on specific software vendors, the findings suggest that legal leaders must prioritize internal workflows and governance structures before scaling operations.

Paragon Legal CEO Trista Engel argues that institutionalizing guardrails is essential for sustainable progress. The firm’s newly released guide provides a five-step framework for legal departments to transition from ad-hoc experimentation to a structured approach. This methodology emphasizes process audits, data readiness, and the preservation of human judgment, particularly for junior lawyers tasked with navigating increasingly automated environments. By focusing on business objectives rather than just speed, legal teams may better manage the complex intellectual property and regulatory risks inherent in AI integration.