Law Firms Tighten AI Oversight as Tools Become Standard
Three managing partners told the New York State Bar Association last week that artificial intelligence has moved from a future consideration to everyday infrastructure in law firms. The immediate challenge: preventing attorneys from trusting AI outputs too much.
Connie Cahill, managing partner at Barclay Damon; Louis P. DiLorenzo, co-managing partner of Bond, Schoeneck & King's New York City office; and Allen A. Shoikhetbrod, managing partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, agreed that training and oversight now shape firm policy.
First-Year Associates Work Without AI
Barclay Damon implemented a policy this year requiring junior associates in their first three years to complete work without AI assistance before submitting drafts or outlines. Only then can they use the tools.
"We are most concerned about associates and making sure that they are getting the training they need," Cahill said.
The approach reflects a broader concern: young lawyers enter firms already accustomed to ChatGPT and similar consumer tools. Shoikhetbrod said his firm addresses this during hiring by asking candidates to analyze hypothetical fact patterns within 24 hours without generative AI. Candidates must certify they haven't used the technology.
Once hired, new lawyers enter a mentorship program lasting six to 12 months, meeting daily with senior attorneys who review their work and provide feedback.
DiLorenzo's firm prohibits new lawyers from using AI tools altogether. He framed the distinction plainly: "It's not the hammer, it's the carpenter." AI is a tool. Being a good lawyer comes first.
"We're trying to make sure they learn how to spot issues, draft pleadings, and draft other documents so that they can then use the tool to make the product better," he said.
Efficiency Gains Without Job Losses
All three panelists said AI has improved efficiency without triggering the layoffs some predicted. Barclay Damon's accounting group had two employees handling one function. After implementing an AI tool, one person now completes the work in a quarter of the time.
"Those two people now have new jobs," Cahill said.
The firm has no plans to reduce legal assistants, a role it described as difficult to fill. Instead, assistants will handle higher-level work.
New York State Bar Association President-Elect Taa Grays highlighted the distinction: "The tool did not replace people. It allowed them to do something more."
For managers implementing AI, the message is clear. AI for Management requires structured AI Training programs that teach fundamentals before tools, paired with daily oversight of how those tools are actually used.
Your membership also unlocks:
