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Unlocking Efficiency: How AI Streamlines Legal Operations for In-House Teams

This article explores how in-house legal teams can leverage AI to automate workflow processes, enhance efficiency, and improve their operations, with practical insights and actionable takeaways.

Jarryd Strydom

August 20, 2025

Unlocking Efficiency: How AI Streamlines Legal Operations for In-House Teams

Leveraging AI in Legal Operations
Leveraging AI in Legal Operations
In today's fast-paced legal environment, the ability to adapt and transform workflows is paramount. A recent study revealed that legal departments can boost productivity by up to 40% through automation and efficient processes. Yet many in-house teams still rely on outdated methods, hindering their potential. AI isn't just a buzzword; it's a solution poised to reshape how legal teams operate.

The Rise of Legal Automation

As legal professionals face increasing pressure to deliver value while managing workload complexities, automation rises as a game-changer. The integration of AI tools allows legal teams to:
  • Automate routine tasks: Scheduling, document review, and compliance checks are now easily managed by AI agents.
  • Enhance data analysis: AI can sift through vast amounts of data, providing insights that would take humans hours or days.
  • Improve contract life cycle management: Automation streamlines contract creation, negotiation, and post-signature processes.
Many legal teams are still navigating the initial steps toward automation. Sandstone provides a user-friendly platform that aids in gathering, shaping, and streamlining legal workflows, making it easier for teams of all sizes to embrace these changes.
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Real-World Applications of Automation
Consider the onboarding process for new vendors. Traditionally, this involves a mountain of paperwork, email chains, and endless follow-ups. With AI, teams can set up automated workflows for vendor onboarding. This process can include:
  1. Automated communication: Notify stakeholders of needed documents via automated emails, reducing bottlenecks.
  2. Data collection: AI can extract information from submitted forms, populating databases without manual entry.
  3. Compliance checks: Verify that the necessary regulations and compliance measures are consistently followed without the need for human oversight.
By employing automation in these specific tasks, teams can refocus their efforts on higher-value activities, expanding capacity and enhancing job satisfaction. These repetitive tasks no longer need human attention, freeing legal ops to tackle strategic initiatives.
Measuring Success with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
For any automation strategy to be successful, measuring its impact through KPIs is essential. Here are critical metrics legal teams should track:
  • Time savings: Calculate hours saved per task or project post-automation.
  • Cost reduction: Analyze the monetary impact by tracking decreases in overtime hours or outsourced work.
  • Error rates: Monitor how automation affects the accuracy of tasks, such as contract drafting or compliance checks.
By closely observing these KPIs, teams can make informed decisions about where to implement further automation, ensuring scalability within their operations. With Sandstone, these metrics can be easily monitored and reported, creating a clear picture of team performance.
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Actionable Takeaway

To begin making meaningful changes to your legal operations, consider implementing one automated process this quarter. Start with a straightforward workflow that consumes a lot of team time, such as document approvals or compliance tracking. Evaluate the feasibility of using AI tools like Sandstone to facilitate this automation.
By taking this step, your team can experience firsthand the transformative power of technology in legal operations.

Conclusion: Scalable, Streamlined Legal Operations

As we navigate complexities within legal departments, embracing automation becomes not just an option—it’s a necessity. AI solutions provide a foundation for improved efficiency, allowing legal teams to scale and adapt in today's dynamic legal landscape.
At Sandstone, we believe that by integrating smart, crafted solutions, legal teams can elevate their performance and unlock their true potential. The future of legal operations isn’t just about technology—it’s about making every minute count, and ensuring that your team can focus on what really matters.
Explore how Sandstone can streamline your legal workflows today.

About Jarryd Strydom

Jarryd Strydom is a contributor to the Sandstone blog.