Managing contracts shouldn’t feel like a second full-time job. With AI and automation, law firms are streamlining contract workflows, reducing risk, and gaining back valuable time. 

We’ve all been there: you’re knee-deep in client work and then—boom—a partner forwards an email saying, “Can you take a quick look at this contract?” That “quick look” turns into two hours of cross-referencing old templates, finding boilerplate language, checking for typos, and trying to remember which version was final. 

The truth is contract management in most firms is still way too manual. 

But here’s the good news: AI and modern contract management software are making it possible to automate repetitive tasks, reduce review time, and bring consistency across every agreement you touch. Whether you’re dealing with NDAs, vendor agreements, or complex commercial leases, AI is making life a whole lot easier. 

Let’s break down how contract automation is changing the game—and how you can use it in your firm today. 

The Contract Chaos Most Firms Are Dealing With 

Even in 2025, many law firms and legal departments still use outdated systems (or no systems at all) to manage contracts. That often means: 

• Dozens of versions saved in multiple locations 

• Missed deadlines and renewals due to lack of tracking 

• Inconsistent clauses across similar contracts 

• Redundant work recreating the same types of agreements 

All of this adds up to lost time, increased risk, and frustrated clients. 

What Contract Management Software Can Do Now (That It Couldn’t Before) 

Today’s contract management software isn’t just a storage solution—it’s a full-on productivity engine. 

Tools like Ironclad, ContractWorks, Juro, and Lexion now offer features such as: 

• Template libraries with conditional logic 

• Automated approval workflows 

• E-signature integration 

• AI contract review to flag risky terms or missing clauses 

• Dashboard tracking for key dates, obligations, and renewals 

These platforms are designed to handle contracts from creation to execution—and even through post-signature obligations. 

AI Contract Review: Fast, Smart, Consistent 

This is where things get exciting. AI can now analyze contracts for you, making suggestions, flagging issues, and even comparing documents to your preferred clause library. 

Let’s say you receive a vendor agreement. An AI-powered platform can: 

• Highlight non-standard indemnity language 

• Flag missing termination rights 

• Compare governing law clauses to your firm’s default 

• Suggest alternative phrasing based on your preferences 

Platforms like Kira Systems, Evisort, and Luminance specialize in this type of AI contract review, and they’re increasingly being adopted not just by big firms, but by lean in-house teams and boutique firms too. 

Real-World Win: How One Firm Saved 30+ Hours a Month 

One of our clients—a 10-attorney business law firm—handled over 200 contracts per quarter for small and midsize business clients. They used to rely on Word templates and manual editing. 

After switching to a contract automation platform with integrated AI review, they: 

• Reduced contract drafting time by 60% 

• Cut down back-and-forth with clients by using smart intake forms 

• Prevented missed deadlines with automatic alerts 

Most importantly? They freed up nearly 30 hours a month—which went straight to higher-value advisory work. 

Objections We Hear (and How to Overcome Them) 

“We don’t handle enough contracts to justify this.” 
If you’re drafting more than 5–10 contracts per month, automation will save you time and reduce errors. Even small-volume firms benefit. 

“It’s too complicated to implement.” 
Modern platforms are designed for ease of use. Many offer white-glove onboarding and can be up and running in days. 

“We’re worried about accuracy.” 
AI doesn’t replace legal judgment—it surfaces potential issues for you to review. You stay in control. 

How to Get Started with Contract Automation 

1. Identify high-volume or repetitive contracts. Start with NDAs, leases, or MSAs. 

2. Choose a tool that integrates with your current systems. Look for e-signature support, CRM integration, and clause libraries. 

3. Standardize your clause playbook. What are your preferred terms? AI can learn these. 

4. Pilot with one client or matter. Show ROI before expanding firm wide. 

Final Thoughts: The Future Is Automated—But Still Human 

Contract automation doesn’t eliminate lawyers—it elevates them. It takes care of the repetitive, error-prone tasks and frees you up for strategy, negotiation, and client relationships. 

And let’s be real: the firms that master contract automation today will be the ones leading tomorrow. 

Want to build a smarter contract workflow—AND earn CLE credit? 

Our MCLE course, “AI for Lawyers,” includes a full module on contract management, with real-world demos and automation frameworks. 

👉 Click here to enroll and simplify your contract game.