The rise of AI and the implications on humans and the legal space has taken the country by storm and is an emerging hot topic, according to a new survey of in-house legal professionals released today, titled the 2025 AI and the Human Factor for In-House Legal Teams Survey Report.
Conducted by DocJuris, a leader in AI-powered contract review, the survey finds that while AI is gaining traction, legal professionals remain essential for building relationships and leading strategy, judgment, and dealmaking.
Adoption of AI is underway—Microsoft Co-Pilot leads usage at 50%, followed by ChatGPT (34%) and Gemini (11%)—but the results show that many legal teams (both in-house and outside counsel) are proceeding with caution.
“AI can redline with precision, flag risks with speed, and draft contracts at scale,” said Henal Patel, CEO of DocJuris. “But when it comes to negotiation, the human factor remains irreplaceable. True dealmaking requires more than algorithms; it demands emotional intelligence, strategic concession, and an instinct for nuance that only people bring to the table.”
Conducted by DocJuris, a leader in AI-powered contract review, the survey finds that while AI is gaining traction, legal professionals remain essential for building relationships and leading strategy, judgment, and dealmaking.
Adoption of AI is underway—Microsoft Co-Pilot leads usage at 50%, followed by ChatGPT (34%) and Gemini (11%)—but the results show that many legal teams (both in-house and outside counsel) are proceeding with caution.
“AI can redline with precision, flag risks with speed, and draft contracts at scale,” said Henal Patel, CEO of DocJuris. “But when it comes to negotiation, the human factor remains irreplaceable. True dealmaking requires more than algorithms; it demands emotional intelligence, strategic concession, and an instinct for nuance that only people bring to the table.”
The Problem: Legal Teams Need Human Judgment—AI Can’t Replace It
In DocJuris’s survey, we found that 82% of companies either have a formal policy in place or are working on a policy towards AI governance.
Among current users, 30% use AI for clause extraction, compliance checks, or redlining, and just 5% use it to generate drafts. However, 65% of respondents said they aren’t yet using AI for redlining, drafting, or clause checks due to uncertainty around whether current tools can meet due diligence standards. None reported relying on AI for risk assessment.
When asked where AI falls short, 36% cited persuasion and relationship management, 28% pointed to understanding business and negotiation context, and 22% highlighted AI’s struggles with identifying hidden risks.
Among current users, 30% use AI for clause extraction, compliance checks, or redlining, and just 5% use it to generate drafts. However, 65% of respondents said they aren’t yet using AI for redlining, drafting, or clause checks due to uncertainty around whether current tools can meet due diligence standards. None reported relying on AI for risk assessment.
When asked where AI falls short, 36% cited persuasion and relationship management, 28% pointed to understanding business and negotiation context, and 22% highlighted AI’s struggles with identifying hidden risks.
Survey Highlights: AI’s Role in Legal Is Evolving—but Limited
- 100% say two AIs negotiating with another would lack the ability to build relationships and make trade-offs, and depends on the contract complexity and parties involved.
- 63% say AI misses, overlooks, or mislabels contract risks that aren’t actual problems, and 34% say it happens frequently.
- 54% say negotiation requires strategic pushback or concession.
- 49% point to emotional intelligence and persuasion.
- 36% emphasize understanding the counterparty’s motivations and goals
- 0% believe AI alone could handle it better.
Humans Are The Key Factor in Making AI Work
Prompt engineering is emerging as a key legal skill, yet only 9% of respondents feel “very confident” writing prompts for redlines that deliver the right results. Another 53% are still learning, noting that AI often misinterprets their intent; 28% say they aren’t confident and need training, and 9% weren’t aware prompt writing was even necessary or a required skillset. While AI offers speed and structure, it’s human oversight that drives strategic value. That’s why it’s critical to choose tools that are purpose-built by legal experts—solutions designed from the ground up to align with legal workflows. Unlike generic AI that overpromises and underdelivers, these models are trained with legal insight at the core, enabling end users to benefit from precise edits, compliance, and direction—without having to shoulder the burden of due diligence themselves.
DocJuris is built to complement—not replace—the expertise of in-house legal teams. As the survey results make clear, legal work requires more than logic and speed—it demands emotional intelligence from nonverbal cues or gestures, strategic thinking, and an understanding of nuance that AI alone can’t deliver. That’s why DocJuris combines advanced AI with workflows designed to keep lawyers firmly in control.
The platform automates the tedious parts of contract review, such as screening and redlining, so legal professionals can stay focused on what matters: making smart decisions, managing risk, and building relationships. From first pass reviews to complex negotiations, DocJuris empowers teams to move faster, stay aligned with policy, and close deals with confidence. AI does the heavy lifting; people provide the direction.
The survey was put out to 360 legal professionals across various industries, predominantly from North America, in partnership with the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) that took part at the 2025 ACC Legal Ops Conference.
For further details and to view the complete report, visit DocJuris’s website.
DocJuris is built to complement—not replace—the expertise of in-house legal teams. As the survey results make clear, legal work requires more than logic and speed—it demands emotional intelligence from nonverbal cues or gestures, strategic thinking, and an understanding of nuance that AI alone can’t deliver. That’s why DocJuris combines advanced AI with workflows designed to keep lawyers firmly in control.
The platform automates the tedious parts of contract review, such as screening and redlining, so legal professionals can stay focused on what matters: making smart decisions, managing risk, and building relationships. From first pass reviews to complex negotiations, DocJuris empowers teams to move faster, stay aligned with policy, and close deals with confidence. AI does the heavy lifting; people provide the direction.
The survey was put out to 360 legal professionals across various industries, predominantly from North America, in partnership with the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) that took part at the 2025 ACC Legal Ops Conference.
For further details and to view the complete report, visit DocJuris’s website.
About DocJuris
Headquartered in Houston, DocJuris is a dynamic legal tech company committed to revolutionizing contract review and negotiation with its state-of-the-art AI platform. Led by a seasoned team of legal professionals and tech enthusiasts, DocJuris optimizes contract review processes, guarantees policy alignment, and reduces contract negotiation timeframes.
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Email: press@docjuris.com