Artificial intelligence is increasingly slipping into everyday legal practice in subtle ways rather than through dramatic, top-down overhauls. Many law firms start using AI tools without broad announcements, often beginning with routine tasks like legal research, document drafting, and contract review that were once labor-intensive. These tools — powered by large language models and specialized legal AI systems — can analyze case law, flag clauses in contracts, or generate first drafts of standard documents far faster than a human paralegal could. As a result, lawyers may find themselves using these tools informally to save time, even before firm-wide policies are in place.
One reason AI integration can feel “stealthy” is that many firms deploy it through third-party platforms or embedded features in software they already use, such as document management systems or research databases. For example, platforms like Harvey and other legal AI assistants are being adopted to support everything from summarizing volumes of case law to extracting key insights from massive document sets. These services often operate quietly in the background, helping lawyers do more with less manual effort and prompting wider adoption once a few early users demonstrate productivity gains.
However, this creeping adoption also highlights risks and ethical challenges. Law firms must grapple with issues like AI “hallucinations” — where tools generate plausible but incorrect legal information — and the need for strict oversight to verify AI outputs. Regulators and courts have already penalized attorneys for unverified AI-generated content in filings, showing that unchecked use of AI can result in professional sanctions or client harm. This means that while AI becomes more embedded in legal workflows, responsible use requires clear governance, training, and verification processes.
Finally, the “sneaking in” of AI reflects a broader transformation in the legal profession: firms that embrace AI strategically are gaining competitive advantages, while those that ignore or resist it risk falling behind. Mid-sized and large firms are reporting significant increases in AI adoption year-over-year, often driven by internal champions who demonstrate value in efficiency and cost-effectiveness. As AI tools continue to improve and integrate with core legal systems, their presence is becoming a quietly pervasive part of modern legal practice — reshaping roles, workflows, and client expectations.
