How do I bill my working hours on GenAI?

Ask any GenX attorney about their experiences as a new associate in a law firm “A quick examinationof the past 40 yearsor so provides myriadexamples showing “I spent hours going through paper due diligence files and the only direction I had was‘Look for anything weird.’” Or, “I learned the nuances of my practice area by readingevery decision ever written on asbestos in every jurisdiction.” Or, “I used to put in so They learned by doing, but they weren’t doing anything interesting. And it took an awfullylong time to develop expertise. In that time, associates learned the law and racked up In the past 25 years, new technology has emerged to streamline many aspects of legalwork. That includes more sophisticated online legal research, virtual deal rooms, legal Law firms have taken successive innovations in stride. “A quick examination of the past 40years or so provides myriad examples showing that new innovation doesn’t necessarilystifle law firm profitability,” writes William Josten, Senior manager of Enterprise Content for With generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) starting tocreate big wavesin the waylegal professionals approach their work, many are wondering how newer attorneys will Associates and their law firms are adapting to the new paradigm already, as associates takeon higher-level work and attorneys at all levels learn how GenAI can support their successlong term. Some firms are considering more alternative fee arrangements to capture thevalue of the matter regardless of the time it takes to complete it. For now, though, most 10%of a person’s skills come fromformal training programs. Taking control of your own development It’s tempting to look at law firm training programs for the new playbook. However,Professional Development teams know that only about 10% of a person’s skills come fromformal training programs. Another 20% comes from coaching and feedback. The rest — a As you consider your own development, pay attention to your technological expertiseand your legal expertise. You’ll want to know how to use newlegal GenAI toolsquicklyand efficiently to deliver great legal work. But you’ll also need to know what great legalwork looks like. That means knowing an area of the law, an industry, or a major client very 20% Here are some ways firms are adapting their approach to each mode of learning. Takeadvantage of programs and exercise like these to grow your technological and legal of a person’s skills come from Experiential learning in the age of AI 70% As AI takes on routine work, you and your leaders will have to get more creative aboutopportunities to learn on the job. The industry is moving from a “learn by repetition” modelto a “learn by guided challenge” approach. Here are some examples of new modes of of a person’s skills comefromexperiential learning •Curated project rotations:Associates have exposure to complex, high-context workearlier. They partner with senior attorneys on matters that require judgment, strategy, or •AI + Human projects:Associates review or enhance AI-generated outputs — likerefining a contract draft — so they can spot risks and add nuance. •Client shadowing and debriefs:Associates sit in on client calls, then write reflections •Know how tools:Associates access know how tools that guide through matters andhelp them get up to speed in new areas of the law.Practical Law™ incorporates AI to Coaching and feedback Law firms are likelyto pair AI adoptionwith structuredsupervision and Coaching and feedback have always been crucial to attorneys’ development. Sometimesthese are brutal critiques and redlines from a frustrated partner. In the best cases theypositively support learning and growth. Many people believe that human oversight willbe critical for attorneys just learning the ropes with GenAI. Law firms are likely to pair AI Related:“Early AI adopters seeing revenue growth potential & career satisfaction” Here are some ways firms are providing feedback opportunities to associates: •Peer learning circles:Associates can work together to develop AI skills and legalacumen. You can all share examples of how they used AI to create culture, share best •Regular coaching on AI use:Create feedback loops with more experienced attorneysnot just about legal analysis but also about how associates interact with GenAI tools. •Mentor pairing with tech-savvy seniors:Pair younger associates with moreexperienced lawyers who embrace AI, to help balance legal insight with tech-enabled •AI tools for real-time feedback:Deploy systems like Praktio, which give users a chanceto practice their legal work product with realistic exercises and immediate feedback.Tools like Microsoft® Copilot can help teach associates how to interact with AI tools Formal learning Your firm’s Professional Development team is very likely working with practice leaders andother partners to facilitate some of the new modes of experiential learning and feedbackdiscussed in the previous sections