Legal teams are under pressure to modernize their processes. Document review and production remain the most expensive and time-consuming parts of eDiscovery, often leading to budget overruns and missed deadlines. Generative AI (GenAI) offers a faster and more cost-effective way forward, but hesitation is common—and understandable.
Despite the overwhelming imperative to embrace GenAI-fueled innovation, legal teams must first understand that GenAI document review is reliable, defensible, cost-effective, and efficient before they can fully incorporate it into their eDiscovery workflows.
Even the most forward-thinking legal teams need a safe starting place and some GenAI safety guardrails to protect against missteps that could have negative financial or reputational repercussions.
What’s holding legal teams back from implementing GenAI?
Before teams can embrace GenAI for legal review, they need to overcome five common blockers:
- Unclear costs – Pricing models for GenAI aren’t always transparent, making budgeting difficult
- Accuracy and defensibility concerns – Legal teams require full confidence in the defensibility of AI-generated results, particularly when case outcomes are at stake
- Technical skills gaps – With technology changing so rapidly, even tech-savvy lawyers need to gain experience working with prompts and AI workflows
- Reluctance to change – With reputation being paramount, adopting new tools can feel risky
- Workflow integration – It’s challenging to determine how AI integrates with established eDiscovery tools and legal processes
5 ways to jumpstart your journey to Legal 3.0: Using GenAI for document review
You don’t need to solve everything at once. These five strategies can help legal teams adopt GenAI safely, cost-effectively, and at your own pace.
1. Use cloud-ready AI tools
Get up and running immediately by leveraging cloud-based AI platforms that eliminate the need for complex infrastructure setup. Cloud deployment removes technical barriers, allowing legal teams to focus on learning the technology rather than managing it. This approach provides instant access to powerful AI capabilities without the traditional IT overhead.
2. Build internal expertise through hands-on training
Develop your team’s skill set to master AI prompts and workflows without ongoing external assistance. Focus on practical, hands-on learning that builds confidence and competence. The goal is to create internal champions who can guide broader adoption across the department and establish best practices for AI-powered review.
3. Implement rapid validation cycles
Don’t wait months to see if GenAI works. Set up workflows that deliver results and enable evaluation within the first week of activity. Early wins help you measure performance, refine accuracy, and build confidence in AI-generated results before scaling up operations.
4. Develop strategic GenAI rollout plans
Use initial projects to establish a stronger foundation for a wider AI implementation strategy. Identify what worked, what didn’t, and where GenAI brings the most value. Align future deployments with business goals and legal priorities.
5. Partner with eDiscovery experts through fixed-fee packages
Avoid the risk of doing it alone. Fixed-fee packages, such as OpenText Assisted Aviator Review, include access to AI tools, expert guidance, LLM tokens, and validation support—providing a “GenAI safety net” that combines cutting-edge technology with expert consultation.
With over a decade of experience in technology-assisted review, OpenText combines GenAI with trusted legal workflows to deliver enhanced results. You get:
- Guidance from eDiscovery experts and GenAI prompt engineers
- Support in designing and testing GenAI prompts
- Reliable validation workflows for defensibility
- Predictable pricing and cost transparency
What you can expect from Legal 3.0
When legal teams use generative AI effectively, they don’t just save time—they change how they work:
- Cut review costs and reduce litigation expenses
- Improve review accuracy and consistency
- Find critical evidence faster
- Focus teams on high-value work like early case assessment and legal strategy
- Add measurable business value
- Support responsible innovation in your legal department
Ready to take the first step?
You don’t need to transform your legal operations overnight. Just start with one guided project. Let the results speak for themselves.
