Microsoft Copilot significantly enhances legal productivity by automating mundane tasks like document drafting and email summarization, allowing lawyers to focus on more strategic work.
The integration of Copilot with law-related software improves efficiency and accuracy by leveraging internal document libraries and ensuring compliance with existing security protocols.
Deep dives
Introduction to Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot serves as an artificial intelligence assistant designed to enhance productivity across various tasks, particularly within legal settings. Its core functionality revolves around streamlining mundane tasks like drafting documents and summarizing emails, allowing users to focus on more creative and strategic aspects of their work. The tech expert Ben Shore emphasizes that Copilot provides clear benefits in applications such as Excel, where it generates complex functions through natural language input, significantly reducing the time spent on formula creation. This introduction underlines Copilot's utility as a tool aimed at improving efficiency and productivity.
Integration with Legal Tools and Document Management
The integration of Copilot with law-related software and document management systems offers substantial advantages for legal professionals. By tapping into Microsoft 365 content, Copilot can access emails, calendars, and documents, increasing its effectiveness in creating tailored responses and assisting with legal matters. This capability allows law firms to leverage their own internal document libraries and other legal tools more effectively, enhancing the AI's relevance and accuracy in specific contexts. Therefore, firms utilizing Copilot can gain significant value from integrating their existing legal management systems with the AI's capabilities.
Misconceptions and Security Concerns
One of the prevalent misconceptions surrounding Microsoft Copilot is the perception that it undermines security by exposing sensitive documents. In reality, Copilot adheres to the established permission settings within a firm’s system, ensuring that only authorized users can access documents. Additionally, firms are encouraged to establish proper information governance practices before implementing AI tools, as poor management can lead to outdated or irrelevant data impacting the AI's functionality. Misunderstandings about Copilot's nature and its proactive behavior can also lead to unrealistic expectations regarding its capabilities and how it interacts with user data.
Future Developments and Enhancements
Looking ahead, several exciting developments are anticipated for Microsoft Copilot, particularly regarding its agent capabilities. Agents will allow users to customize tasks and workflows using AI while grounding them in specific content for more relevant interactions. Enhancements include the introduction of 'actions', which automate routine tasks like summarizing emails or generating daily schedules, thus increasing productivity across various functions. These innovations aim to further integrate artificial intelligence into legal practices while maintaining human oversight, ensuring that legal professionals harness the technology effectively for their specific needs.
Copilot is a powerful tool for lawyers, but are you making the most of it within your Microsoft apps? Tom Mighell is flying solo at ABA TECHSHOW 2025 and welcomes Microsoft’s own Ben Schorr to the podcast. Ben shares expert insights into how lawyers can implement Copilot’s AI-assistance to work smarter, not harder. From drafting documents to analyzing spreadsheets to streamlining communication, Copilot can handle the tedious tasks so you can focus on what really matters. Ben shares numerous use-cases and capabilities for attorneys and later gives a sneak peek at Copilot’s coming enhancements.
As always, stay tuned for the parting shots, that one tip, website, or observation you can use the second the podcast ends.
Have a technology question for Dennis and Tom? Call their Tech Question Hotline at 720-441-6820 for answers to your most burning tech questions.
Ben Schorr is Senior Content Program Manager at Microsoft.
