A Clifford Chance partner on how AI has transformed the legal workforce

Ahead of her session at the Australian Law Forum, Naomi Griffin, partner at Clifford Chance and chair of the BigLaw firm’s innovation and best delivery committee in the Asia-Pacific region, explored the transformative impact of AI in the legal profession.

“AI and automation are really changing the way we work in law,” she told Lawyers Weekly.

“AI can help with drafting, research, and analysis, and it’s also great for organising projects – keeping track of meetings, ideas, and communications.

“Before long, there won’t be many areas of legal work that aren’t touched by AI or automation in some way.”

Law firms such as MinterEllison already report that 85 per cent of partners and staff now use AI tools in their daily work, with AI adoption only expected to grow.

“We’re seeing many new AI tools popping up for lawyers, as well as business tools that are useful for legal work,” said Griffin.

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The advancements in technology have disrupted the traditional workflow across the legal profession, and lawyers must adapt, said the innovation and best delivery committee chair.

“Lawyers are now picking up new skills, like writing good prompts for AI, checking where AI gets its information from, and using AI to analyse data. AI can also help us look at problems from new angles and come up with creative solutions,” Griffin said.

“Of course, using these tools brings its own risks and ethical questions, but lawyers are well placed to spot these issues and deal with them.”

However, Griffin urges lawyers to first consider their firm’s unique goals in order to drive real operational change through AI integration.

“Bringing in AI and other tech isn’t just about speeding things up – it’s about changing the way we deliver legal services for the better,” she told Lawyers Weekly.

“More and more, law firms are looking at technology as a way to rethink how they work, not just as something new to try out. The main thing is to focus on tech that actually solves real problems and makes a noticeable difference, rather than just using it because it’s there.

“When it’s done right, technology can make almost every part of a law firm run more smoothly, from managing knowledge internally to dealing with clients.”

She added: “The end result is a practice that’s more flexible, efficient, and ready for whatever comes next.

“While some people are still a bit wary of new tech, more lawyers are starting to use AI-powered tools.”

However, she cautions that legal professionals must remain vigilant of the emerging risks associated with AI integration.

“There are plenty of practical risks to think about – like whether the AI is accurate, if it makes things up, issues with bias and fairness, keeping information confidential, and making sure people understand how the tech works,” she said.

“At the same time, there’s a real chance for the legal profession to use these tools to make legal services more accessible, cut costs, and come up with new ways of working, all while sticking to our professional standards.”

“The challenge is to find the right balance between trying new things and keeping a close eye on how they’re used, and between being efficient and staying accountable.”

“If we get that balance right, we’ll end up with a legal sector that’s more effective and efficient, but still grounded in strong ethics and the rule of law.”

To hear Naomi Griffin dive deeper into the impact of AI and automation in the legal field, come along to the Australian Law Forum 2025.

The highly anticipated event will take place on Thursday, 14 August 2025, at The Star in Sydney. Click here to buy tickets and don’t miss out.

To learn more about the event, including our speakers and agenda, click here.