PurposeFit Industry guide
AI tools for solicitors and law firms
Small firms spend much of the day reading, writing and recording. These are the general-purpose jobs where an AI tool can help, with our best pick and an alternative for each. They aren’t legal research databases, so check every output.
7 jobs where AI can help
All tasks →Draft client letters and emails
Task: Write or reply to emails. See all picks →Proofread letters and documents
Task: Proofread and fix grammar. See all picks →Take notes in client meetings
Task: Transcribe audio or take meeting notes. See all picks →Background research with linked sources
Task: Research a topic with sources. See all picks →Organise internal know-how and procedures
Task: Organise notes and team knowledge. See all picks →Automate intake and admin steps
Task: Automate a repetitive workflow. See all picks →Picks and reasons come from our task pages. Pricing models are taken from each tool’s own website and dated on its tool page; prices change, so check before you buy. Editorial picks are never paid for.
UK privacy and compliance note
- Client confidentiality and legal professional privilege come first. Don’t put privileged or identifiable client material into a tool your firm hasn’t approved, and follow your regulator’s guidance.
- AI tools can produce confident but wrong answers, including made-up sources. Check anything you rely on against the original.
- If you put personal data about clients, customers or staff into an AI tool, UK GDPR applies. The tool provider will usually be your processor, so check it offers a data processing agreement (ICO guidance on contracts with processors).
- Check where each tool stores data. If it’s outside the UK, the ICO guidance on international transfers explains what’s needed.
- Check whether the provider uses what you type or upload to train its AI, and switch that off where the plan allows.
This is general information, not legal advice. For the official view, start with the ICO advice for small organisations, the ICO guidance on AI and data protection and, for higher-risk uses, the ICO guidance on DPIAs.
AI Tool Audit
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FAQ
Which AI tools should solicitors and law firms start with?
It depends on the job. Our best picks are: for summarise and question long documents, NotebookLM; for draft client letters and emails, ChatGPT; for proofread letters and documents, Grammarly. Every job on this page has a best pick and an alternative, and the AI Tool Finder builds a shortlist from your own answers.
Is it safe to put client information into AI tools?
Only once you’ve checked the tool. UK GDPR applies to personal data you put into an AI tool, so check the provider’s data processing agreement, where it stores data and whether it trains its AI on your inputs. The ICO guidance on AI and data protection is the official starting point. This is general information, not legal advice.
Are there free AI tools for solicitors and law firms?
Yes. Of the best picks on this page, NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Grammarly, Otter.ai, Perplexity, Notion AI and Zapier have a free plan, going by the pricing model each one publishes. Free plans have limits, so check each tool’s pricing page before you rely on one.
Are these recommendations paid for?
No. Editorial picks are never paid for. Some links may be affiliate links; if so they’re marked Ad, and the pick would be the same without it.
Can you recommend a tool for every task in my business?
Yes, that’s what our AI Tool Audit does. List up to 10 tasks and within 3 working days you get a written PDF report with a recommended tool and an alternative for each, a setup guide for each app, costs, a 30-day rollout plan and UK GDPR notes. It costs £79 inc. VAT, and there are no calls.