Last week, Riley Hawkins and I attended Consero’s Legal Operations Forum in Miami. The event offered a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with peers and clients, including Evisort customers Raul Taveras, Kelly Spong, and Diana Hendrix. (We even got into the 80s spirit with themed outfits that added some fun to the experience!)

During the forum, we hosted a roundtable discussion on an important topic: how legal teams can approach AI adoption in contracting. The conversation explored strategies that can make implementing new technology smoother and more effective for organizations.

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One of the key ideas from the roundtable was the concept of prioritizing contract intelligence AI before tackling workflow automation. While it’s not the typical approach, it’s a strategy that can make the adoption process more manageable for many teams.

Here’s why it works:

1. Streamlining Before You Automate
   Workflow automation in Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) requires teams to align on templates, fallback positions, and preferred language. Without structured data, teams can spend months manually reviewing contracts before they’re ready to implement workflows.
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2. Quick Wins with AI
   Starting with contract intelligence AI enables teams to extract key terms, dates, and obligations from thousands of contracts—including scanned PDFs. This structured data provides immediate value in the form of dashboards and insights, creating momentum for future automation projects.

Playbook Updates Based on Real Data
AI-driven analysis can also help teams refine their playbooks. For example, you might find that while your playbook specifies “New York governing law,” a significant portion of your contracts already include Texas law. Adjusting your playbook to align with these patterns could save time and avoid unnecessary back-and-forth in negotiations.

While this approach isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s a strategy that can empower teams to start small, gain early wins, and set the stage for more complex projects like workflow automation.

The legal ops Forum was a reminder of the power of collaboration and shared learning in the legal community. It’s exciting to see how legal teams are embracing technology to drive smarter, more effective ways of working.

Curious to see how Evisort can help your legal team work smarter and achieve faster results? Bring your contracts for a real-time demonstration.