Ashurst reveals time-saving benefits of generative AI trials

Global law firm Ashurst has unveiled the findings from its recent generative AI (GenAI) trials, which engaged over 400 individuals across 23 offices in 14 countries. The report, titled "Vox PopulAI: Lessons from a global law firm's exploration of generative AI," presents comprehensive data and insights into the use and potential impact of GenAI in the legal sector.

The primary conclusion of the trials underscored the significant time-saving benefits of GenAI during the creation of initial drafts. Participants reported an average time saving of 45%, with some scenarios witnessing up to an 80% reduction in time spent. Specifically, tasks such as drafting corporate filings and legal briefings — which usually consume several hours to days — saw substantial time economies, translating to an average of 2.5 hours saved per draft.

A key observation from the study was the direct correlation between the utility of GenAI and its accuracy. Interestingly, in a blind study where an expert panel assessed whether outputs were GenAI or human-produced, 50% of AI-generated content was misidentified. The human-like quality of GenAI outputs contributes to this challenging distinction, demonstrating the need for further exploration to elevate the credibility and perceived quality of AI-generated legal documents.

Support for GenAI within Ashurst extends beyond mere efficiency gains. About 61% of respondents felt that GenAI effectively aids in managing workloads, freeing up time for higher-value tasks. This sentiment is echoed by a substantial 88% of participants who reported feeling more prepared for the future due to their engagement with GenAI technologies.

Tara Waters, Ashurst’s Chief Digital Officer, remarked, "Generative AI offers huge potential gains, not only in terms of efficiency but also new value creation opportunities, for both law firms and our clients. Our experiments with GenAI-powered tools have helped us to assess the benefits and challenges that come with this technology and to plan how we can best use generative AI to deliver solutions for our clients."

Waters highlighted that while the legal industry is at the nascent stage of GenAI adoption, sharing findings and collaborating will be crucial as the field progresses. The report, she suggests, seeks to provide a road map for others in the industry, shedding light on how GenAI could foster meaningful, beneficial change.

Hilary Goodier, global head of Ashurst Advance, emphasised the firm’s intricate approach to the trials, aiming not just to identify valuable use cases for GenAI but also to discover optimal strategies for supporting people in adapting to this technological shift. "There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to embedding GenAI appropriately. Our research has opened the door to a greater understanding of the digital literacy and development needs of our people and what is required to achieve broader digital transformation at Ashurst."

Goodier added, "We now have a better understanding of pain-points, user-needs and our lawyers' daily experience, which has allowed us to make investment decisions based on measurable data and to move forward with designing our own GenAI policies and implementing its use in our firm."

Ashurst's report on its GenAI trials signals a forward-looking approach to integrating advanced AI technologies within traditional legal frameworks. It delves into the intricate benefits and challenges posed by GenAI, thereby setting a precedent for legal firms globally to explore and adopt AI-driven efficiencies and innovations.