Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, for instance, has hired data analysts and created a business-side role in 2023 — chief process and AI officer — to implement the law firm's AI initiatives.
The idea to hire AI specialists hatched from Michael Best's Center of Excellence for AI, which was established to identify new AI opportunities, according to Jason Schultz, the firm's chief innovation and technology officer. Since launching the center in 2023, which includes leaders from across the 350-lawyer, Wisconsin-based firm, Schultz said the group has helped prioritize projects and identify specialists to hire. The challenge, though, is finding the right AI specialists.
"Attracting them and recruiting them is … challenging," Schultz said. "They're in high demand."
AI-focused roles are on the rise at law firms, as several have hired innovation directors and AI developers in recent years to improve efficiency and stay competitive. Demand for AI roles outpaces supply, and these hires are paid a higher salary compared with other professional administrative staff, according to law firm leaders. The average annual salary of an AI developer in the U.S. is nearing $130,000, according to ZipRecruiter.
A few months ago, Philadelphia-based Blank Rome LLP, which has more than 750 attorneys, hired a developer to create AI-based applications.
"If there's a lot of value in that, it's worth the investment in having that person on board," said Frank Spadafino, Blank Rome's chief information officer.
Other firms are opting for a different hiring approach, tapping data analysts to help manage information that can be used for future AI opportunities.
Earlier this year, Alabama-based Lightfoot Franklin & White LLC hired its first data analyst to help the law practice of about 80 attorneys organize its internal data.
Corey Thomas, the chief technology officer at Lightfoot Franklin, said that his team had to pitch the firm's leadership on the advantages of having a dedicated data analyst in the age of AI. Since joining the firm, Lightfoot Franklin's data analyst has worked on centralizing the firm's data across applications and departments.
Several law firms are asking these internal AI specialists to create AI agents such as chatbots. While law firms are looking to third-party vendors and service providers to access AI, some are developing internal AI agents to get more out of those tools.
Blank Rome typically partners with vendors instead of developing its own internal AI models. Still, it sought an AI developer to help the firm create AI agents, Spadafino said.
Blank Rome is using Microsoft Copilot and Azure to develop two AI agents. The first simulates an employee handbook and can answer questions on the firm's policies. A second agent will direct staff to applications or people within the firm who can help complete certain tasks. Spadafino said the firm plans to roll out both tools this year.
"We want to try to get the most out of our investment in that software," Spadafino said.
Lightfoot Franklin has similar aspirations. While it is working with its AI analyst to locate key internal information, Thomas said the firm envisions using that data to eventually build an AI chatbot to help users find documents quickly.
"That's where the real value is going to be," Thomas said.
--Additional reporting by Emma Cueto. Editing by Nicole Bleier.
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