Developing a data and AI strategy in the legal sector

Technology in the legal sector has evolved dramatically since case management systems first appeared decades ago and so has the way law firms operate.

Among the most significant changes is the explosion of data. Today, firms hold vast amounts of information, but without the right strategy and tools, that data remains an untapped resource.

Your data should power intelligent decision-making, driving better outcomes for clients and employees. But having lots of data is meaningless without a clear strategy to standardise, analyse and secure it.

Start with the ‘Why’

Before embarking on a data strategy, firms must ask:

Why do we want to use data?
What outcomes are we aiming for?

Once the purpose is clear, the next step is understanding:

What data you have
Where it resides
How it’s used
Who accesses it
How governance and compliance are managed

Taking time to map your data landscape is critical before stitching together your technology architecture and building a strong data culture.

Unifying data for smarter decisions

Increasingly, firms are turning to platforms like Microsoft Fabric to consolidate data from multiple applications and present a unified view. This enables data-led decision-making and unlocks insights that were previously hidden in silos.

Analytics tools within Fabric transform raw data into actionable intelligence. For small and medium-sized law firms, this means identifying what’s profitable, what’s inefficient, and how to better serve clients.

Laying the groundwork for AI

Your data strategy is the foundation for successful AI adoption. AI tools are only as effective as the quality of the data they analyse. Without clean, well-structured data, even the most advanced AI solutions will fall short.

Driving AI adoption in the legal sector

AI promises huge benefits, but there’s still a gap between expectation and reality in legal services. Tools like Microsoft Copilot can boost productivity and creativity across the Microsoft 365 suite, but effective deployment requires preparation.

To maximise ROI, firms must:

Ensure data readiness
Engage stakeholders early
Roll out AI tolls with a clear adoption plan

At LIMA, we’ve developed an AI Adoption Framework based on our own journey. It includes assessments, a methodology for identifying use cases and strategies to drive engagement across your workforce.

Ready to take the next step?

Discover how LIMA can help your firm build a robust data strategy and prepare for AI adoption.

Explore our AI Adoption Framework

LIMA specialises in delivering IT services to legal organisations, helping them put technology and security at the centre of their business strategy.

Read LIMA’s new whitepaper, outlining our full blueprint for driving greater efficiency in legal organisations: Whitepaper: The law firm of the future – LIMA – Insight-led IT services

Contact the team at 0345 345 1110 or enquiries@lima.co.uk