At the recent Inspire Conference hosted by NetDocuments, a lively panel of legal innovators and technology leaders opened a crucial conversation about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the business of law. They didn’t just skim the surface. We’re talking about honest, nuanced dialogue around how hard it still is to measure AI’s return on investment, and what that ambiguity means for decision-making in high-trust, high-pressure environments like law firms. More importantly, they explored what happens next: how AI is already changing pricing models, shifting how law firms structure work, and empowering a new class of “AI-first” legal players. Add to that the growing momentum we’re seeing among in-house legal teams adopting AI rapidly, and you’ve got real-time creative change.

• Traditional ROI models aren't built for this moment. AI delivers value across efficiency, insight, and speed, often in ways that don't show up on a balance sheet right away.
• AI-first law firms are no longer hypothetical. These groups are designing from scratch—lean, automated, profitable—and they’re challenging the long-held norms across the legal ecosystem.
• In-house legal teams are moving fast. They're experimenting, iterating, and sending a clear message: innovate with us, or we may do it without you.
• We’re watching individual lawyers—across functions and generations—lean into AI out of necessity and curiosity. That’s culture shift work, happening right now.

These aren’t abstract trends—they’re signals. And they spark big, necessary questions. What will law firm leaders need to reimagine, quickly and boldly, to align with this accelerated future? Could AI adoption quietly catalyze new billing models? Are we ready for what happens if economic pressure speeds up the urgency for automation? Here’s a provocative one: what if the in-house teams we’ve long served start leading, hiring, and building legal services functions in-house, fully tech-enabled and self-sufficient? That’s not a sci-fi scenario. That’s the dawn phase of something significant. The clock’s ticking, and those bold enough to think out loud, together, will write the next chapter of this story.

Robin AI, positioned at the crossroads of legal innovation and Generative AI, skyrocketed to a $50M investment and hit $10M in revenue for 2024. Yet growth has stalled, and now the team is feeling the weight of that reality. A recent attempt to course-correct through a strategic partnership with Dye & Durham to inherit part of LawGeex’s client base? It didn’t land. And now, the hard truth: layoffs, an open CTO seat still unclaimed, and a tougher road ahead to profitability.

• The legal tech landscape is intensely competitive, especially in AI-powered contract review, making growth a grind for scale-hungry teams like Robin AI.
• High expectations from big funding rounds add pressure fast. When speed to scale is the goal, underperformance can catch even the most promising teams off guard.
• Partnerships and acquisitions aren’t always accelerants. When they miss the mark, you feel it in product velocity, customer retention, and team morale.
• The market’s energy is shifting. Consolidation isn’t hypothetical—it’s on the horizon. Some startups will choose acquisition routes before they’re ready.

What we're seeing here is the underside of innovation—when bold bets don’t pay off right away. But let’s zoom out. Why are revenue wins not translating to lasting growth? What does this mean for the rising tide of startups in this space? And what kind of moves will define the next chapter of legal tech? These are the questions lighting up the room right now. We’re in a phase of transition, and everyone is watching to see what happens next.