Why the Future of Legal AI Depends on the People Behind It

Technology is only part of the equation. Successful AI adoption requires a partner who understands legal practice, firm workflows, and the realities of change management.

When legal AI first entered the conversation, much of the focus was on the technology itself: larger models, faster answers, and more sophisticated drafting capabilities.

Today, that conversation has evolved.

Large law firms are no longer asking "What can AI do?" They're asking a much more important question:

"How do we implement AI in a way that actually changes the way our lawyers work and adds value?"

That's where the next phase of legal AI begins—not with software, but with people.

At LexisNexis, we believe the future of legal AI isn't simply about delivering powerful technology. It's about building the expertise, partnerships, and support teams that help firms transform legal work with confidence.

AI Adoption Is a People Challenge

Every major law firm is investing in AI.

But buying technology has proven to be the easy part.

The real work begins afterward:

• Which workflows should be automated?
• How should prompts and Skills be designed?
• How do you ensure outputs are defensible?
• How do you encourage lawyer adoption?
• How do you scale successful use cases across hundreds (or thousands) of attorneys?

Across the industry, firms are discovering that AI implementation requires a new kind of professional; someone who understands both the practice of law and the mechanics of AI-enabled workflows.

Enter the legal engineer.

As the American Bar Association describes it, legal engineers combine legal knowledge with technology and process design to automate workflows, optimize systems, and help legal organizations innovate.

They're becoming one of the fastest-growing roles in modern legal organizations because they're uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between technology and legal practice.

Beyond Software: Building a White-Glove Experience

At LexisNexis, we've always believed that our responsibility extends well beyond providing best-in-class legal technology.

Large law firms don't need another software vendor.

They need a strategic partner.

That's why we're continuing to invest in a consultative, white-glove service model that pairs the capabilities of Lexis+® with Protégé™ with experienced legal professionals who help firms translate AI into measurable business value.

These professionals work alongside customers to:

• Design AI-powered legal workflows
• Configure and implement custom Skills
• Identify opportunities to improve attorney productivity
• Incorporate AI into existing knowledge management programs
• Support governance, defensibility, and responsible AI adoption
• Help attorneys move from experimentation to everyday use

Rather than simply deploying technology, they help firms redesign how work gets done.

An Industry Moving Toward Embedded Expertise

LexisNexis isn't alone in recognizing that successful AI adoption requires dedicated implementation expertise.

Across the legal industry, firms are creating AI leadership positions, legal engineering teams, and cross-functional innovation groups focused on embedding AI into everyday practice, not simply licensing software. Publications from the ABA and legal technology leaders describe legal engineers as the professionals responsible for translating AI's promise into practical, scalable legal workflows.

Even some of the world's largest law firms are building "forward-deployed" legal engineering teams that work directly alongside lawyers to customize AI tools, drive adoption, and ensure technology fits the firm's unique ways of working.

The direction is clear:

The firms that realize the greatest value from AI won't simply have the best technology.

They'll have the best implementation.

Our Investment Is Really an Investment in Our Customers

Technology alone doesn't transform an organization.

People do.

That's why LexisNexis continues to invest not only in the evolution of Lexis+ with Protégé, but also in the experts who help firms unlock its full potential.

Our legal engineers, customer success teams, solution consultants, knowledge management specialists, and AI experts work together with customers throughout their AI journey from initial strategy through implementation, optimization, and long-term success.

Because when firms choose LexisNexis, they're getting more than an AI platform.

They're gaining a team committed to helping them modernize legal work, build trusted AI processes, and create lasting competitive advantage.

The future of legal AI isn't just about smarter technology.

It's about smarter partnerships.