At the 2025 ACC Legal Ops Conference, DocJuris surveyed legal professionals to uncover how AI is being used in contract work—and where it falls short.
At this year’s ACC Legal Ops Conference, legal professionals took a closer look at how artificial intelligence is changing contract negotiation—and what it still can’t do. The takeaway was clear: AI is powerful, but legal professionals remain essential for building relationships and leading strategy, judgment, and dealmaking.
Across topics like governance, workflows, risk, and negotiation, the data from the survey results highlighted a grounded truth that cuts through the noise—legal work isn’t just about rules and outputs. It’s about relationships, context, and making smart decisions. And for that, humans are still at the center.
65% of respondents said they aren’t yet using AI for contract tasks like redlining, drafting, or clause checks. Among those who are, Microsoft Copilot led the pack at 50%, followed by ChatGPT at 34%, and Gemini at 11%. Some (16%) reported using other tools, while 26% said they aren’t using AI for legal work at all.
On the governance side, progress is underway. 44% said their company has a formal AI policy, and 38% are actively developing one. A smaller group—16%—have no policy in place or planned, and 3% were unsure. These numbers suggest that adoption is happening, but legal teams are moving forward with care.
When asked where AI is most likely to fall short, respondents pointed to the skills that require experience and subtlety. 36% cited persuasion and relationship management, while 28% pointed to understanding the full business and negotiation context. Another 22% said recognizing hidden risks is where AI still struggles most.
30% of attendees said they use AI today for clause extraction, compliance checks, or redlining, and just 5% use it to generate drafts. None said they rely on AI for risk assessment. That gap between promise and practice speaks volumes: AI can help with tasks, but it still can’t fully grasp the big picture.
AI might generate redlines or highlight issues, but professionals agree that negotiation is something else entirely. When asked what it truly requires, 54% said the ability to strategically push back or concede. 49% pointed to emotional intelligence and persuasion, and 36% emphasized understanding the counterparty’s goals. 0% of respondents said AI could do it better alone.
“AI can redline with precision, flag risks with speed, and draft contracts at scale,” said Henal Patel, CEO of DocJuris. “But when it comes to negotiation, the human factor remains irreplaceable. True dealmaking requires more than algorithms; it demands emotional intelligence, strategic concession, and an instinct for nuance that only people bring to the table.”
When asked if two AIs could negotiate with each other to reach an optimal deal, 100% say two AIs negotiating with another would lack the ability to build relationships and make trade-offs, and depends on the contract complexity and parties involved. 0% of the respondents believe AI would outperform humans in this scenario. Still the notion of two AI agents negotiating against—and on behalf of—each side is one of the most pressing questions in today’s legal-tech landscape.
Attendees also shared how often AI misses the mark when flagging contract risks. 63% said it misses or mislabels issues, and 34% said it happens frequently. Just 3% said rarely—and no one said never. Risk, it turns out, isn’t just about following rules—it’s about understanding intent.
Crafting the right prompts—the instructions that guide AI—is quickly becoming a key legal skill. But it’s still new territory for many. Only 9% of respondents said they felt “very confident” about prompting AI for redlines. Over half (53%) said they’re still learning, while 28% said they need training. Another 9% hadn’t realized prompt writing was even necessary or a required skillset.
This shows that even as AI becomes more common, people remain essential. Technology doesn’t run itself—it relies on human insight to be useful. The professionals who develop these skills will not only stay relevant—they’ll be leading the way.
DocJuris is built on the idea that AI should support, not replace, the people doing the work. Its platform helps legal teams move faster by automating the parts of contract review that are repetitive or time-consuming—so lawyers can focus on what matters most.
“With AI, it's proven that contracts move faster, redlines get smarter, and teams stay ahead,” said Patel. “However, while AI accelerates the work, it’s people who close the deal. AI brings the speed, data, and precision. Humans bring the insight, empathy, and vision. When combined, organizations can transform how business is done.”
The survey was put out to 360 legal professionals across various industries, predominantly from North America, in partnership with the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) that took part at the 2025 ACC Legal Ops Conference.
For further details and to view the complete report, visit DocJuris’s website.
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