Zach sits down with NetDocuments Chief Product Officer Dan Hauck to unpack how AI is truly being used inside law firms and in-house legal teams today - from large-scale document profiling to agentic assistants that search, summarize, and edit directly within the DMS. Recorded live at ND Inspire conference, Dan explains why lightweight models are unlocking new automation, how in-house teams are often leading on adoption, and why the real ROI of legal AI goes beyond efficiency to include better onboarding, less isolation, and more confident decision-making for lawyers at every level.

The biggest changes Dan has witnessed after 8 years of the Inspire conference

How firms are using AI at scale — not just on pilot use cases

Why automated document profiling is now possible across millions of docs

Understanding small models vs. large models in legal workflows

How AI pipelines classify, extract, and enrich metadata instantly

New use cases emerging inside the DMS (repapering, diligence, discovery, onboarding)

Why in-house teams are often ahead of firms in AI adoption

How agentic AI assistants reduce loneliness and cognitive overload

The ROI debate: real numbers vs. intangible benefits

What lawyers gain: better focus, faster context loading, and stronger client service

Why this moment feels like a once-in-a-generation shift in legal technology

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Zach talks with Jen Berrent, former WeWork executive and founder of Covenant, an AI-first law firm reimagining how deals get done. They dive deep into what it means to build a law firm from the ground up around artificial intelligence — not as a tool, but as the foundation. Jen shares her perspective on why too much work still runs through Big Law, how AI is transforming the middle tier of legal work, and what it takes to balance human expertise with machine efficiency.

In this episode:

What an “AI-first” law firm actually looks like

How Covenant is redesigning legal workflows from scratch

The problem with Big Law’s “too much work, too few alternatives” model

Why reading comprehension is AI’s legal superpower

Building client trust in the age of automation

How AI can accelerate deals — without sacrificing rigor

The difference between a “relationship ramp” and a “SaaS snowball”

The challenges (and advantages) of raising funding in legal AI

Lessons from Robin AI’s struggles — and why clarity of business model matters

Why this is a once-in-a-generation moment for lawyers who want to innovate

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The origin story of Harvey and how it became the “Dallas Cowboys of Legal Tech”

Lessons from the early days of AI at Google Brain and DeepMind

Why the real opportunity isn’t automation — it’s amplification

How top law firms are already using AI for high-level strategic work

The emerging hybrid model of AI + human legal reasoning

Why firm size and structure could shift dramatically in the next decade

Rethinking ROI: morale, retention, and client trust as key performance drivers

How Harvey is helping firms pitch, collaborate, and win new business

The future of AI-first law firms — from pricing models to client partnerships

References:

https://www.artificiallawyer.com/2025/09/03/eudia-opens-ai-augmented-law-firm-for-ma/