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AI for Solo Attorneys: 3 Dead-Simple Ways to Start Using It This Week

LegalGPS : May. 17, 2025

6:51

Many solo attorneys assume AI is too complex, expensive, or unnecessary for their practice. In reality, AI is already transforming how lawyers handle research, document drafting, and client intake—saving hours of time every week.

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The biggest advantage? You don’t need advanced technical skills or costly software to start using AI. The right tools can automate tedious legal tasks, improve efficiency, and even help generate new business.

This guide covers three simple, no-hassle ways to start using AI this week, even if you’ve never used AI before.

1. Use AI to Automate Legal Research and Case Law Summaries

Why It Matters

Legal research can be one of the most time-consuming parts of practicing law. Manually searching for case law, reviewing statutes, and drafting legal arguments can take hours. AI-powered research tools can complete these tasks in minutes, delivering case law summaries, relevant rulings, and even suggested legal arguments.

How to Use It

Instead of manually reviewing cases, AI-driven legal research tools can:

Analyze case facts and suggest relevant precedents.
Summarize rulings in plain language, making it easier to apply case law.
Identify key arguments for motions or briefs based on past rulings.

Best Tools to Try This Week

Casetext CoCounsel – AI-powered legal research that finds relevant case law and provides legal reasoning.
Westlaw Edge – Predictive AI that refines case searches and offers legal insights.
Lexis+ AI – AI-enhanced legal search for faster case law discovery and analysis.

Example – How a Solo Attorney Saved Hours With AI Research

Lisa, a solo criminal defense attorney, needed to find case law to support a suppression motion. She previously spent three to four hours per case combing through legal databases. After using Casetext CoCounsel, she was able to find relevant precedents and draft legal reasoning in just 30 minutes. This efficiency allowed her to take on more cases without increasing her workload.

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Pro Tip – Leverage AI

If you charge flat fees, AI-powered research helps you deliver results faster without reducing profit margins. If you bill hourly, AI allows you to focus more time on case strategy instead of administrative tasks.

2. Use AI for Drafting Contracts, Emails, and Legal Documents

Why It Matters

Drafting legal documents is a time-intensive process, especially for solo attorneys handling everything themselves. AI-powered drafting tools can generate accurate contracts, demand letters, legal memos, and client emails in minutes—freeing up hours each week.

Instead of spending time formatting and retyping similar documents, AI-assisted drafting lets you customize templates quickly, reducing errors and improving efficiency.

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How to Use It

AI-driven document automation tools can:

Draft contracts, agreements, and pleadings based on pre-set templates.
Generate client correspondence for follow-ups, demand letters, and legal explanations.
Detect missing clauses or inconsistencies to ensure contracts are complete.

Best Tools to Try This Week

Lawyaw – Automates document creation from pre-built templates.
ChatGPT & Jasper AI – Drafts client emails, legal memos, and contracts based on your input.
Woodpecker – AI-powered legal document automation built for attorneys.

Example – How a Solo Attorney Cut Drafting Time in Half

Michael, a solo estate planning attorney, used to spend 45 minutes drafting each will and trust package for clients. After switching to Lawyaw, he was able to generate customized estate planning documents in under 15 minutes while maintaining accuracy. This efficiency allowed him to handle more clients without working longer hours.

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Pro Tip – Automate Documents

Start by automating your most frequently drafted document. Once you see how much time AI saves, expand to other contracts and legal documents.

3. Use AI to Improve Client Intake and Lead Management

Why It Matters

Many solo attorneys lose potential clients simply because they don’t respond quickly enough or have an inefficient intake process. AI-powered intake tools automate lead management, screen inquiries, and schedule consultations—ensuring that no potential client falls through the cracks.

By using AI-driven chatbots, virtual assistants, and CRM tools, solo attorneys can streamline the intake process, reduce administrative work, and improve response times.

How to Use It

AI-driven client intake and lead management tools can:

Automate client inquiries by answering frequently asked questions.
Schedule consultations based on availability, reducing back-and-forth emails.
Pre-screen leads by collecting basic case details before an initial call.
Track and follow up with potential clients to keep them engaged.

Best Tools to Try This Week

Smith.ai – AI-powered virtual receptionist service that answers calls, screens leads, and schedules consultations.
Clio Grow – AI-enhanced CRM and intake automation tool for law firms.
LawDroid – AI chatbot designed to assist law firms with automated client intake and FAQ handling.

Example – How a Solo Attorney Saved 5+ Hours Per Week With AI Intake

Emily, a solo family law attorney, frequently missed client inquiries while in court. She implemented Smith.ai, which answered calls, pre-screened clients, and scheduled consultations automatically. Within a month, she noticed that her response time improved, and she retained more paying clients simply because they no longer had to wait for a callback.

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Pro Tip – Create Virtual Receptionists

Use an AI chatbot or virtual receptionist to handle basic intake and scheduling. This ensures that potential clients get a fast response, improving conversion rates and reducing lost leads.

Final Thoughts – AI Can Make a Solo Attorney’s Practice More Efficient Today

For solo attorneys, time is the most valuable resource. AI-powered tools help streamline research, automate document drafting, and improve client intake—allowing attorneys to work smarter, not harder.

The best part? You don’t need expensive software or technical expertise to start using AI. By integrating even one AI-driven tool this week, you can reduce time spent on administrative tasks, enhance client service, and increase your firm’s efficiency.

Take Action Today

Choose one AI tool from this guide and integrate it into your practice this week.
Test how it impacts your workflow—whether it’s legal research, document drafting, or client intake.
Gradually adopt additional AI solutions to maximize efficiency and free up more time for higher-value work.

AI isn’t just for large law firms—it’s an essential tool for solo attorneys who want to stay competitive, scale their practice, and focus on what truly matters: serving their clients.

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