AI-generated emails and documents are overwhelming law firms, forcing them to spend more time reviewing client-submitted materials and increasing legal fees. One US litigation firm partner described receiving a “barrage” of AI-written correspondence from a single client, delaying responses and inflating hourly billing. Lawyers typically charge by the hour, and the volume of AI content—often lengthy and irrelevant—extends response times, directly raising costs.

Fixed-fee contracts are also affected. A patent attorney noted clients submit AI-drafted patents riddled with errors, requiring extensive revisions. At Addleshaw Goddard, time spent validating AI-generated content is included in fixed fees, but hourly clients face added charges. The issue spans all practice areas, with lawyers spending hours verifying outputs that “may or may not be relevant,” according to Kerry Westland, head of the firm’s innovation group.

Clients increasingly rely on AI for litigation strategies and draft letters, but poorly styled documents complicate matters. Senior partner Greg Falkof of Mishcon de Reya highlighted that AI-written letters often violate firm protocols, demanding extra revisions. The problem is most acute with non-experts, such as business owners, who lack legal training and produce less polished work.

While AI adoption grows—UK firm Shoosmiths rewarded staff with a £1mn bonus for entering 1mn prompts into Microsoft’s Copilot—concerns about accuracy and confidentiality persist. US firm Ropes & Gray encourages junior lawyers to dedicate 20% of billable hours to AI experimentation. However, inaccuracies and data risks mean AI has yet to replace lawyers wholesale, though efficiency gains are evident in some workflows.