AI is not new, neither is tech discussions but the push is massive at the moment. And, if you’re a General Counsel or Head of Legal, you need to make a choice: react to AI initiatives once they’re fully formed or become a proactive force shaping them.

This article is about taking the latter path. It’s about positioning the legal team as an essential, strategic partner in AI discussions—not just the department that says “no” at the last minute.

What this allows is to push proper risk assessments, compliance, and legal considerations in a way where the business listens actively.

All members of the Openli community are naturally already in the pro-active category - but let’s just imagine the opposite scenario anyway.:-)

1. Where legal stands today: a hard look in the mirror

Most legal teams fall into one of these categories when it comes to AI:

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• Isolated support function – Legal is called in only when a contract needs review, or there’s a compliance concern. Often too late to add real strategic value.
• Overburdened business partner – Legal is involved but drowning in reactive requests, putting out fires rather than shaping the AI strategy.
• Supporting business partner – Legal has a seat at the table but is still viewed as risk managers rather than innovation enablers.
• Strategic business partner – Legal drives AI strategy alongside leadership, ensuring risk is managed while pushing for AI-driven efficiencies.

👉 Where does your legal team currently sit? If it’s not in the “strategic partner” quadrant, this guide will try to get you there.

2. Why legal teams are uniquely positioned to lead in AI

Unlike other business functions, lawyers are built for AI adoption. Here’s why:

• Precision in language → AI thrives on well-crafted prompts and structured logic. Lawyers are masters of both.
• Interrogation mindset → Lawyers don’t take AI outputs at face value. They challenge, refine, and verify.
• Risk assessment expertise → AI brings regulatory, contractual, and ethical challenges. Legal is naturally positioned to address these.
• Data-driven decision-making → AI is fundamentally about data. Legal teams managing compliance, contracts, and governance are already dealing with AI’s core asset.

However, these strengths mean nothing if Legal is left out of AI conversations. You must actively insert yourself into these discussions before AI systems get rolled out.

3. How do you shift yourself from AI gatekeeper to AI champion

Step 1: Change the legal mindset

Many legal teams are instinctively cautious. That’s a strength, but in AI discussions, hesitation equals irrelevance. The new mindset should be:

❌ “AI is a compliance problem.”
✅ “AI is a business enabler that we must shape.”

Legal must engage early and think offensively—not just waiting to approve AI tools but actively identifying where AI can reduce legal workload and increase efficiency.

It really helps if you have something to show internally in your own team. It provides you enormous credibility.

Example: AI-powered contract review tools can automate 80% of NDAs, freeing up legal teams for high-value work. Instead of resisting automation, Legal themselves should drive adoption.

Step 2: Get into the right conversations

Legal won’t get a seat at the AI table unless it demands one. Here’s how:

📍 Join the AI Committee – If there isn’t one, push for its creation.
📍 Attend leadership meetings on AI – Position Legal as a strategic advisor, not just a compliance function.
📍 Embed within AI development teams – Work directly with tech teams to address risk early, not after the fact.

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📌 Adopt a “We SHOULD use AI” mindset – Instead of waiting for AI projects to come to you, present your own AI initiatives.

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Example AI initiatives legal should propose:

• AI-assisted contract drafting and review
• Automating compliance workflows
• AI-powered legal research
• AI-driven risk assessment models

When legal proactively brings AI opportunities to the business, it changes the conversation from “we need approval” to “we need Legal’s sparring to scale this.”

Step 3: Build an AI Playbook

Most companies lack clear AI governance. Legal should lead in creating an AI Playbook—not a rigid policy, but a dynamic, high-level guide.

• Define your AI philosophy – What’s your company’s risk appetite? First-mover or cautious adopter?
• Outline key AI use cases – Where can AI bring the most value while staying compliant?
• Recommend AI tools – List vetted, compliant AI tools for different business functions.
• Establish AI project approval pathways – Define how AI tools should be assessed and rolled out.
• Educate on AI risks & compliance – Ensure teams understand AI-specific legal risks like bias, data privacy, and liability.

If Legal doesn’t create these guardrails, someone else will likely go ahead without considering legal risk at all.

Step 4: Start Small and Deliver Quick Wins

AI moves fast. Long-winded “Legal AI committees” are a death sentence for credibility. Instead, find a simple AI use case, implement it, and show results.

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🎯 Quick win examples: 

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✅ Automate NDA reviews with AI → Saves hours of manual review time.
✅ Use AI chatbots for internal legal inquiries → Reduces repetitive questions.

✅ Implement AI-powered contract analytics → Provides instant insights into obligations and risks.

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Once Legal delivers one tangible AI success, the business will actively seek your involvement in future AI discussions.

4. The risk of doing nothing: legal as the AI villain

If Legal remains reactive, the business will push forward with AI anyway. The result?

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🚨 AI adoption without legal oversight → Unvetted, non-compliant AI tools enter the company.
🚨 Legal becomes a blocker → The business resents Legal for slowing down innovation.
🚨 Legal is left out of key decisions → AI governance is built without Legal’s input, leading to high-risk situations.

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At that point, the damage is done. Instead of shaping AI strategy, legal is left cleaning up compliance disasters.

Final Thoughts: Get in the game now

The AI generation is here, and Legal must lead, not follow. If you’re a Head of Legal, your job isn’t just to approve AI tools—it’s to embed Legal into AI discussions at every level.

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• Step into the AI Committee.
• Create the AI governance framework.
• Proactively suggest AI use cases for Legal and beyond.
• Show quick wins to gain influence.

AI isn’t a legal problem to be solved—it’s a business opportunity to be embraced. The only question is: will Legal be at the table or left behind?

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How to move your positioning?

If you are not positioned as a strategic partner currently (see the matrix above), you should consider these simple steps:

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✅ De-isolate yourself.
✅ Join other teams who has success with AI.

✅ Bring AI ideas with a clear ROI.

✅ Understand the business’ strategic priorities.

Time to get in the game.

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