Getting real work done · for legal and compliance professionals
Finishing real legal and compliance work with AI
An AI draft is a starting point. Legal and compliance work counts when it is final: the redline goes to the counterparty, the policy is approved, the business acts on the advice. Many practitioners use AI to draft and then spend as long correcting the draft as writing it themselves would take.
Getting real work done means using AI to reach a finished result that meets the need, survives review, and stays accurate. It includes knowing which parts of a task require professional judgment that AI cannot supply.
Where it comes up
An internal policy ready for approval
A policy on acceptable use of company systems, finished and consistent with existing policies. AI can structure the document and draft clear wording. You confirm the obligations and decide the company’s position.
A plain-language explainer for a sales team
A one-page guide to the indemnity and liability terms sales sees most often. It must stay accurate and say clearly when to bring legal in.
A negotiated redline ready to send
A full markup with clean change tracking and a short cover note. AI can draft proposed language and the cover note. You decide every position and read the final document before it goes out.
What it looks like at each band
E1 · Foundational
Produces first drafts with AI and finishes them mostly by hand. Final quality depends more on manual effort than on how AI was used. Sometimes sends work that still reads as machine-written.
E2 · Proficient
Uses AI to reach a finished document that stands on its own with moderate editing. Meets the need on routine matters such as standard NDAs or policy updates. Knows which sections to write personally.
E3 · Distinguished
Delivers complete, accurate work on complex matters, such as a cross-border policy or a negotiation strategy note. Uses AI where it helps and personal judgment for positions and risk calls. The finished work reads as one consistent document.
E4 · Exceptional
Consistently delivers work that raises the team’s standard, under deadline. Is deliberate about where AI helps and where it does not. Can show colleagues how a finished piece was built and checked.
Common mistakes
Treating the draft as nearly done
An AI policy draft can look complete and still miss obligations specific to your company. Judge it against the requirements, not against how polished it reads.
Letting AI take the legal position
A model will offer a position if you ask for one. The risk judgment and the recommendation belong to the professional responsible for the matter.
Simplifying until it is wrong
Plain-language explanations for the business can lose a condition or an exception. Check that the simple version still matches the legal text.
A worked example
A one-page guide for the sales team on when a customer’s requested contract changes need legal review.
Ask AI to "write a guide for sales on contract terms" and circulate the result.
The guide will be generic. It may describe terms the company never uses and omit the escalation points that matter. Sales either ignores it or relies on wrong guidance.
List the five clause types sales most often sees changed and your rule for each: what sales may accept, and what must come to legal. Ask AI to turn your notes into a one-page guide in plain language with one example per clause. Check each rule against your playbook, confirm the wording does not soften any escalation trigger, and have one salesperson read it before it goes out.
The rules come from the legal team. AI provides structure and plain wording. The guide is checked against the playbook and tested with a reader before the business relies on it.
The full study guide for this skill, for every role, is Getting real work done. The other five skills for legal and compliance professionals are on the AI skills for legal and compliance professionals page. A one-page summary is in the AI-assisted work checklist.
See where you stand
The free check grades getting real work done and the other five skills in about fifteen minutes. Nobody sees the grade but you.
Then build the skills and prove it. The three steps for legal and compliance professionals list the courses and templates that fit the work.