When people think about law and tech, they often imagine dramatic courtroom AI or robot judges. But the real revolution? It's happening in the day-to-day. Legal automation isn’t glamorous. It’s not always disruptive. But it’s quietly transforming the way legal professionals - especially in small firms and consultancy roles - get things done. What Do I Mean by Automation? Let’s break it down. I’m not talking about replacing humans. I’m talking about: Automatically generating NDAs or contracts with client-specific inputs Automating email reminders for key dates (deadlines, renewals, filings) Using legal CRMs that track client onboarding, billing, and case progression Triggering updates or form completions based on client questionnaire responses Auto-tagging and routing documents with smart workflows These aren't futuristic tools. They’re available now. And I use some of them every day. Why It Matters in Legal Practice If you're running a lean team - or if you're supporting SMEs as a cons

There’s been a lot of noise lately about AI “replacing” lawyers - mostly from people who’ve never drafted a contract, let alone survived a disclosure deadline. As someone who works across both law and operations, I find the conversation both fascinating and slightly unhinged. So let’s reset. AI won’t replace lawyers. But it is already transforming legal work - especially in areas like contract review, compliance monitoring, and early-stage litigation triage. The tools are evolving. And the real question isn’t whether law will change. It’s how fast legal professionals can adapt to the shift. What AI Actually Does in Practice When used properly, AI is a brilliant assistant - not a lawyer, but a tireless analyst. For example: Contract review platforms (like Kira, Luminance, and even some functions in Microsoft Copilot) can flag missing clauses, unusual terms, or compliance red flags. Litigation support tools are helping identify key documents faster than ever in e-discovery processes. AI-

Legal tech always promises revolution. “Transform your workflow!” “Automate your practice!” “Never touch a lever-arch file again!” And yet here I am, two hours into trying to help a grisly old silk get his budle into a cloud-based e-bundling tool, for free, as part of the work experience with a Barrister I unceremoniously "touted" myself out for, its ok though, he totally didn't forget his password. Let’s be honest: law tech is a mixed bag. There are tools that genuinely improve the day-to-day—automated client onboarding, contract analysis platforms, case management software that doesn’t look like it was coded in 1997. But there are also overengineered “solutions” solving problems no one has. Some tools wow you in demos and disappoint you in practice. They’re meant to make lawyers’ lives easier, but often end up requiring a PhD in “clickology.” Worse still are the tools that try to replace core legal work—because no software update can replace judgment, empathy, or negotiation. The bes

Legal professionals, are no strangers to complexity. From navigating statutory nuance to managing high-stakes litigation, law is a discipline built on precedent, process, and precision. But in recent years, an undeniable shift has begun to reshape our daily work: technology is no longer just a support function—it’s becoming a driver of change in how legal services are delivered. This blog post marks the launch of my new Law Tech series—a dedicated space to explore the evolving intersection of law and technology in England and Wales. We’ll look at the tools transforming practice, the challenges of digital transformation, and the broader questions tech raises for justice, ethics, and professional identity. Why Law Tech Now? While the idea of "legal technology" isn't new (we've had case management systems and digital legal research tools for decades), the acceleration of innovation post-pandemic has been unprecedented. Remote hearings, e-disclosure, AI-assisted contract review, virtual le