Leading the Largest Global Law Firm as AI Transforms Legal Practice
How does a law firm succeed in today’s AI-influenced legal landscape? Efficiency, precision, or price alone won’t cut it anymore. With AI tools now capable of reviewing documents, summarizing case law, and drafting contracts, the profession is changing fast. Yet, the key to true competitive advantage lies elsewhere.
AI is freeing up only about five hours a week for the average legal professional, according to the Thomson Reuters Future of Professionals Report. This modest gain highlights a critical point: the core of legal work demands skills AI can’t replace—judgment, persuasion, empathy, and trust.
Why Emotional Intelligence Matters More Than Ever
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is not about just processing facts; it’s about connecting different perspectives, building consensus, and approaching situations with tact. AI excels at handling routine tasks, but lawyering is deeply human. Clients face uncertainty and complexity that require more than answers—they need thoughtful guidance shaped by empathy and insight.
Lawyers spend much of their time in high-EQ activities: mediating conflicts, advising through ambiguity, and bridging cultural divides. These moments define client value and remain out of AI’s reach. The successful lawyer will combine AI’s efficiency with emotional awareness to deliver results that machines cannot.
Time Spent on What Really Counts
AI can automate document review, contract drafting, and data analysis quickly. But legal outcomes often hinge on nuance, tone, and timing. It’s about reading the room, understanding what each party truly wants, and crafting solutions where everyone feels they’ve gained something valuable.
This “win-win” approach, long championed by experienced business leaders, depends heavily on EQ. Can a lawyer assess subtle signals? Can they balance competing interests and thread the needle between parties? These skills are essential for long-term relationships and meaningful results.
Building EQ as a Core Legal Competency
Law firms must invest in emotional intelligence development just as they invest in technology. EQ is not a soft skill—it’s a core professional competency that sets lawyers apart. Embedding EQ training in legal education, mentorship, leadership development, and performance reviews is critical.
Fortunately, EQ can be cultivated at any career stage. Programs that combine online learning and in-person mentorship can help lawyers refine their abilities to connect, persuade, and lead. Leaders themselves should model vulnerability—showing willingness to adjust course or make concessions for the greater good, demonstrating that EQ is a strength, not a weakness.
Redefining Success in the AI Era
Success in law is about more than winning cases or closing deals. Building trust, managing conflict, and deepening client relationships remain vital. These “intangibles” are where lawyers excel beyond AI capabilities.
While AI can handle many marginal tasks, it cannot replace the human connection and insight lawyers bring to their work. Those who combine AI tools with emotional intelligence will distinguish themselves. Success will come not from outsmarting machines but from knowing when to move beyond analysis and engage with empathy.
Lawyers seeking to thrive amid AI integration should focus on developing emotional intelligence. It’s the skill that will continue to define excellence in legal practice.
Your membership also unlocks:
