Choosing Legal AI with confidence: How to decide on the next step you won't regret
- Jan Roggen
- Jan 12
- 5 min read
“Jan, you know AI and legaltech, right? What legaltech tool should I buy?”
It's a question I get pretty often. Sometimes in WhatsApp, sometimes over a quick coffee, or just pinging in my inbox.
A client started asking questions on how the firm is using generative AI, or the managing partner read an article about how Law firm X is now working with Harvey or Legora, and they decide that the firm needs to do something too. So they want to know which tool they should buy. Preferably a quick, single product name so they can move on and continue with their real work.
And the question always allows me to dig up my lawyering skills and eloquently answer them: “It depends.” Because it really does.
But that’s not what they want to hear, and more often than not, their eyes instantly glaze over. Because they're not used to being at the receiving end of that answer, and to them, “it depends” sounds like: “Buckle up for a long, complex, and pricey consulting project with an uncertain outcome.”
The tough choices firms are facing
When firms feel the urgent need to act on AI, they tend to swing toward two extremes. And neither serves them particularly well.
Option A: “Buy Something Shiny” This path is tempting, and it's the path of the least resistance. A competitor makes headlines with their full firm roll-out, a vendor dazzles with a slick demo, and the contract gets signed. Quick and not too pricey at first sight, but it’s risky.
This often leads to “innovation theater”: a shiny new tool no one uses, shoehorned into processes it doesn’t fit. After a few months, or even weeks, the initial excitement quietly disappears, while the AI team wonders how to explain the sunk costs to leadership.
Option B: “Big-Budget Transformation” Afraid of picking the wrong tool, the firm commission a lengthy, expensive consulting engagement. Dozens of interviews, a current state assessment and a gap analysis, painstaking process mapping, multi-year roadmaps.
But by the time the final report drops, technology has already shifted. Information overload paralyzes the firm, and a decision still hasn’t been made.
Both options fail for the same reason: They aim for perfection. Option A assumes the tool is perfect; Option B assumes the plan is perfect. But in the current market, perfection is impossible. So instead of chasing perfection, law firms should be aiming for the next safe steps. Five safe, actionable steps forward.
Why firms really ask “What tool should I buy?”
When lawyers ask what to buy, they aren't looking for innovative solutions. They are looking for risk reduction.
Deep down, the fear isn't about missing out on the "cool" factor. It's about the downsides. They want confidence that:
They aren't wasting their limited technology budget.
They aren't investing in a soon-to-be obsolete tool.
They aren't going to embarrass themselves by rolling out underused software that doesn't solve a problem.
They won't have to defend a bad decision to the leadership committee in six months.
They can show clients transformation without actually breaking anything.
What your law firm actually needs: five smart steps
A recent study by Thomson Reuters highlights that law firms with a well-defined strategy are significantly more successful in their AI adoption journey. By focusing on clear goals and aligning AI initiatives with firm priorities, these organizations avoid common pitfalls and maximize the value of their investments.
But a well-defined strategy doesn't have to be a 100K three-year AI masterplan. Strategy isn't a complex, standalone exercise. It's a means to an end; a tool to minimize regret.
Mid-size and boutique firms are in a tough spot. Unlike the biggest players, they don’t have massive R&D budgets, yet they face similar demands from clients and regulators.
They need direction, are confronted with constraints:
No time: No one has the bandwidth for lengthy assessments.
Impatience: Partners, associates, and clients want results now, not next quarter.
A fast-moving market: Every week brings new AI developments.
Safety: Clients want innovation and safety—both, not either/or.
What these firms need isn't "strategy" in the classical sense. They need a safe decision, quickly. A way to cut through the noise and find a path that won't get the CTO fired.
The good thing: You don't need 40 interviews. And you don't need a 5-year digital transformation plan. You just need to see the next five steps you won't regret in 6 months. And you can do that by seeing your firm through the lens of FIDAM.
This framework’s power is in its simplicity: find the smallest set of insights that dramatically lowers the risk of the next steps in your AI transformation.
The FIDAM Framework
Foundations: Where are you now? What is your "AI Maturity"? Are your data, systems, and workflows ready for a sophisticated tech solution? Or should you prepare first? Don’t sugarcoat it. If chaos reigns, technology won't solve it.
Identity: Who are you as a firm? What kind of work drives your revenue? Where do you stand out from competitors? Where do you add value or face the most risk?
Direction: This is crucial. Are you a Pioneer (innovator), a Builder (focused on incremental improvement), or a Guardian (prioritizing caution)? Pioneers disrupt. Builders optimize.Guardians play it safe.(Hint: Most law firms are Builders or Guardians, yet they keep buying tools for Pioneers. That's a recipe for failure.)
Actions: What actions will bring real value and are feasible right now?
Move: Prioritize the Actions and decide on your 5 next steps. The 5 moves you can take confidently now, and won't regret in 6 months.
And the good thing? You can go through this framework in less than a week.
By breaking things down into these manageable steps, you move past the FOMO and uncertainty surrounding AI. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by endless possibilities, you’ll focus on where AI can make a tangible difference for your firm, on your next step you won’t regret.
Some firms should start with setting up a governance structure now. Others should run a small pilot now, and focus on training. FIDAM helps you decide on your next steps with confidence by focussing on what's next, not on perfection.
Why This Works
This focused, practical approach wins out over classical strategy consulting because it is:
Faster: Answers in days, not months, so you keep your momentum.
Cost-effective: You spend your budget on actual action items, not on endless slide decks.
Lower risk: The safety net is built in, thanks to honest self-assessment.
Clear alignment: Decision-makers understand the rationale. No mysteries.
Utterly practical: It focuses on the next practical step you won't regret, not theoretical transformation.
FIDAM boils the challenge down to what truly matters, so you can act decisively.
So, If you're feeling stuck or unsure about your next steps with AI, take a moment to reflect on where your firm stands using the FIDAM framework. Start small, think practically, and remember: its not about perfection, it’s about the next step you won’t regret.
If you’d like to discuss how this could work for your firm, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to help you navigate the process.
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