{"id":118323,"date":"2025-05-08T09:02:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T17:02:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/05\/08\/genai-legal-ops-and-the-human-advantage\/"},"modified":"2025-05-08T09:02:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T17:02:30","slug":"genai-legal-ops-and-the-human-advantage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/05\/08\/genai-legal-ops-and-the-human-advantage\/","title":{"rendered":"GenAI, Legal Ops, And The Human Advantage"},"content":{"rendered":"

One palpable concern among attendees at this year\u2019s CLOC Global Institute<\/a> is whether GenAI will take over some of the functions that legal ops professionals currently perform \u2014 or diminish the perceived value of their work.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve certainly heard similar concerns by other legal professionals at many legal conferences, but here, it feels a little different. Legal ops professionals have long suffered from being misunderstood \u2014 many people outside their circle still don\u2019t quite know what they do, much less the value they provide. Now, they may face the prospect of their superiors believing GenAI can do the large parts of their jobs, making legal ops seem less necessary.<\/p>\n

But What About Empathy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

One often repeated \u2014 and perhaps valid \u2014 response is that no matter how advanced GenAI becomes, humans will still be essential for the soft skills it can\u2019t replicate, like empathy. That sentiment was echoed in Nancy Rademaker<\/a>\u2019s keynote. But that view does not account for recent developments: GenAI tools more and more can sound \u2014 though not be \u2014 empathetic. A recent study<\/a> found that medical questions answered by a bot were seen as more empathetic \u2014 and preferred \u2014 over those provided by doctors. Other data<\/a> suggests people are starting to use ChatGPT and similar tools to discuss personal and mental health problems and seek what feels like advice. Part of that appeal? ChatGPT always appears to listen \u2014 and never tires of doing so.<\/p>\n

Insights From Haven and Dubey<\/strong><\/p>\n

But when it comes to legal ops, there\u2019s more to the story. I attended a presentation by Mike Haven<\/a> and Prashant Dubey<\/a> where they discussed their book GenO: Essential Power Skills for Legal Operations Leaders<\/a>. Haven and Dubey examined the 12 core competencies defined by CLOC to outline the role and skills of legal ops professionals. Here they are:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Training and Development
\u2022 Business Intelligence
\u2022 Financial Management
\u2022 Firm and Vendor Management
\u2022 Information Governance
\u2022 Knowledge Management
\u2022 Organization and Optimization Health
\u2022 Practice Operations
\u2022 Project\/Program Management
\u2022 Service Delivery Models
\u2022 Strategic Planning
\u2022 Technology<\/p>\n

The Human Power Skills<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Haven and Dubey, each of these can and should be examined for how GenAI could support or enhance them. But they argue that GenAI cannot replace the \u201cpower skills\u201d \u2014 human attributes that will become even more critical in the future. These 12 skills are:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Kindness
\u2022 Radical transparency
\u2022 Empathy
\u2022 Patience
\u2022 Pure Intent
\u2022 Morale Maven
\u2022 Adaptability
\u2022 Primary colors\/Large Numbers
\u2022 Lead from the Back
\u2022 Humble Self-Promotion
\u2022 Rapid Decision Making
\u2022 Consensus Management<\/p>\n

Real World Examples<\/strong><\/p>\n

As an example of how these skills could be used in ways that AI tools can\u2019t replace, Haven shared that he begins each new career role with a months-long \u201clistening tour,\u201d meeting with stakeholders throughout the organization to understand their ideas, challenges, and fears. Empathy, in this context, isn\u2019t just a soft skill \u2014 it\u2019s foundational.<\/p>\n

Haven and Dubey also pointed out that consensus management doesn\u2019t require total agreement \u2014 but it does require awareness. One insight from Haven: identifying early skeptics during the consensus process helps ensure no one is left behind as change moves forward. Again, it\u2019s hard to imagine how AI could replace this process<\/p>\n

Another example: decision-making. According to a Cornell study cited in the session, humans make over 35,000 conscious decisions per day. Legal ops professionals are uniquely positioned to make informed, context-aware decisions \u2014 something that can\u2019t be offloaded to algorithms alone.<\/p>\n

Power Skills Take Time<\/strong><\/p>\n

The point is, these human skills take time. You can\u2019t build consensus without investing the time. You can\u2019t be transparent if you don\u2019t take the time. And you can\u2019t build morale without actually caring about people. GenAI doesn\u2019t give you any shortcuts for that. But it may give something just as important: time to exercise these skills by taking over functions humans don\u2019t need to be doing.<\/p>\n

GenAI isn\u2019t about replacing legal ops \u2014 it\u2019s about recalibrating their role. By automating repetitive tasks, these tools free professionals to lean more deeply into strategic thinking, communication, and leadership. The goal isn\u2019t substitution. It\u2019s elevation \u2014 using AI to lift legal ops into even more impactful, uniquely human contributions.<\/p>\n

Legal Ops Should Lead GenAI Adoption<\/strong><\/p>\n

One other point that should alleviate concerns: legal ops professionals are in a unique position to lead when it comes to GenAI. They should be educating and advising their internal clients on what GenAI can or cannot be used for when it comes to the business of law. Want legal services to be delivered better, faster, and cheaper \u2014 with the help of GenAI? Ask legal ops. That makes their work more valuable, not less. It also gives a clearer way to demonstrate ROI.<\/p>\n

Define The Future<\/strong><\/p>\n

The future of legal operations isn\u2019t about defending territory \u2014 it\u2019s about defining it. Those who lead the integration of GenAI into legal workflows will shape not only their own careers, but the future of the legal profession itself.<\/p>\n

As Haven and Dubey put it, legal ops professionals need to turn challenges into opportunities \u2014 to be, in their words, a \u201cMorale Maven.\u201d<\/p>\n

Legal ops professionals shouldn\u2019t fear GenAI \u2014 they should fear missing the opportunity. Grab it.<\/p>\n

\n

Stephen Embry is a lawyer, speaker, blogger and writer. He publishes\u00a0TechLaw Crossroads<\/a>, a blog devoted to the examination of the tension between technology, the law, and the practice of law<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

The post GenAI, Legal Ops, And The Human Advantage<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Image via CLOC<\/a>)\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One palpable concern among attendees at this year\u2019s CLOC Global Institute<\/a> is whether GenAI will take over some of the functions that legal ops professionals currently perform \u2014 or diminish the perceived value of their work.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve certainly heard similar concerns by other legal professionals at many legal conferences, but here, it feels a little different. Legal ops professionals have long suffered from being misunderstood \u2014 many people outside their circle still don\u2019t quite know what they do, much less the value they provide. Now, they may face the prospect of their superiors believing GenAI can do the large parts of their jobs, making legal ops seem less necessary.<\/p>\n

But What About Empathy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

One often repeated \u2014 and perhaps valid \u2014 response is that no matter how advanced GenAI becomes, humans will still be essential for the soft skills it can\u2019t replicate, like empathy. That sentiment was echoed in Nancy Rademaker<\/a>\u2019s keynote. But that view does not account for recent developments: GenAI tools more and more can sound \u2014 though not be \u2014 empathetic. A recent study<\/a> found that medical questions answered by a bot were seen as more empathetic \u2014 and preferred \u2014 over those provided by doctors. Other data<\/a> suggests people are starting to use ChatGPT and similar tools to discuss personal and mental health problems and seek what feels like advice. Part of that appeal? ChatGPT always appears to listen \u2014 and never tires of doing so.<\/p>\n

Insights From Haven and Dubey<\/strong><\/p>\n

But when it comes to legal ops, there\u2019s more to the story. I attended a presentation by Mike Haven<\/a> and Prashant Dubey<\/a> where they discussed their book GenO: Essential Power Skills for Legal Operations Leaders<\/a>. Haven and Dubey examined the 12 core competencies defined by CLOC to outline the role and skills of legal ops professionals. Here they are:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Training and Development
\u2022 Business Intelligence
\u2022 Financial Management
\u2022 Firm and Vendor Management
\u2022 Information Governance
\u2022 Knowledge Management
\u2022 Organization and Optimization Health
\u2022 Practice Operations
\u2022 Project\/Program Management
\u2022 Service Delivery Models
\u2022 Strategic Planning
\u2022 Technology<\/p>\n

The Human Power Skills<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Haven and Dubey, each of these can and should be examined for how GenAI could support or enhance them. But they argue that GenAI cannot replace the \u201cpower skills\u201d \u2014 human attributes that will become even more critical in the future. These 12 skills are:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Kindness
\u2022 Radical transparency
\u2022 Empathy
\u2022 Patience
\u2022 Pure Intent
\u2022 Morale Maven
\u2022 Adaptability
\u2022 Primary colors\/Large Numbers
\u2022 Lead from the Back
\u2022 Humble Self-Promotion
\u2022 Rapid Decision Making
\u2022 Consensus Management<\/p>\n

Real World Examples<\/strong><\/p>\n

As an example of how these skills could be used in ways that AI tools can\u2019t replace, Haven shared that he begins each new career role with a months-long \u201clistening tour,\u201d meeting with stakeholders throughout the organization to understand their ideas, challenges, and fears. Empathy, in this context, isn\u2019t just a soft skill \u2014 it\u2019s foundational.<\/p>\n

Haven and Dubey also pointed out that consensus management doesn\u2019t require total agreement \u2014 but it does require awareness. One insight from Haven: identifying early skeptics during the consensus process helps ensure no one is left behind as change moves forward. Again, it\u2019s hard to imagine how AI could replace this process<\/p>\n

Another example: decision-making. According to a Cornell study cited in the session, humans make over 35,000 conscious decisions per day. Legal ops professionals are uniquely positioned to make informed, context-aware decisions \u2014 something that can\u2019t be offloaded to algorithms alone.<\/p>\n

Power Skills Take Time<\/strong><\/p>\n

The point is, these human skills take time. You can\u2019t build consensus without investing the time. You can\u2019t be transparent if you don\u2019t take the time. And you can\u2019t build morale without actually caring about people. GenAI doesn\u2019t give you any shortcuts for that. But it may give something just as important: time to exercise these skills by taking over functions humans don\u2019t need to be doing.<\/p>\n

GenAI isn\u2019t about replacing legal ops \u2014 it\u2019s about recalibrating their role. By automating repetitive tasks, these tools free professionals to lean more deeply into strategic thinking, communication, and leadership. The goal isn\u2019t substitution. It\u2019s elevation \u2014 using AI to lift legal ops into even more impactful, uniquely human contributions.<\/p>\n

Legal Ops Should Lead GenAI Adoption<\/strong><\/p>\n

One other point that should alleviate concerns: legal ops professionals are in a unique position to lead when it comes to GenAI. They should be educating and advising their internal clients on what GenAI can or cannot be used for when it comes to the business of law. Want legal services to be delivered better, faster, and cheaper \u2014 with the help of GenAI? Ask legal ops. That makes their work more valuable, not less. It also gives a clearer way to demonstrate ROI.<\/p>\n

Define The Future<\/strong><\/p>\n

The future of legal operations isn\u2019t about defending territory \u2014 it\u2019s about defining it. Those who lead the integration of GenAI into legal workflows will shape not only their own careers, but the future of the legal profession itself.<\/p>\n

As Haven and Dubey put it, legal ops professionals need to turn challenges into opportunities \u2014 to be, in their words, a \u201cMorale Maven.\u201d<\/p>\n

Legal ops professionals shouldn\u2019t fear GenAI \u2014 they should fear missing the opportunity. Grab it.<\/p>\n

\n

Stephen Embry is a lawyer, speaker, blogger and writer. He publishes\u00a0TechLaw Crossroads<\/a>, a blog devoted to the examination of the tension between technology, the law, and the practice of law<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One palpable concern among attendees at this year\u2019s CLOC Global Institute is whether GenAI will take over some of the functions that legal ops professionals currently perform \u2014 or diminish the perceived value of their work. I\u2019ve certainly heard similar concerns by other legal professionals at many legal conferences, but here, it feels a little […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":118324,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-118323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CLOC-Global-Institute-via-CLOC-zrZjLg.jpeg?fit=398%2C242&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}