According to a recent industry survey, 79% of legal professionals believe generative AI will have a lasting impact on how legal work is done. This means that more legal teams are now relying on AI to handle tasks such as document review, risk checks, and contract analysis.
And that’s a good thing, because the right tools make this work faster, more accurate, and easier to manage. Here are the top AI platforms helping legal teams streamline document review in 2025.
Quick Comparison
Legal teams looking to streamline document review in 2025 have several powerful collaboration tools to choose from. Each one brings a unique mix of features, customization, and integration options. This quick comparison shows how they stack up at a glance:
| Tool | Key Features | Customization | Integration | Best For |
| LEGALFLY | Workflow builder, smart templates, dashboards | High | Most legal ops platforms | Teams needing flexible review flows |
| Spellbook | Real-time contract insights, risk matrix | Moderate | Document management systems | Contract-heavy organizations |
| Kira Systems | OCR, clause training, multi-language support | High | Legal analytics tools | Contract analysis & due diligence |
| Filevine | Basic review tools in Filevine ecosystem | Limited | Filevine suite only | Current Filevine users |
| Clio Duo | Risk scoring, compliance checks, automation | High | Clio Suite | Firms using Clio for case management |
| Harvey AI | Fast clause identification, flexible setup | Moderate | Custom workflows | Agile legal teams needing speed |
This table gives a clear view of what each platform offers, so your team can quickly narrow down which tools are worth exploring further.
Why Are Legal Teams Using AI for Document Review?
Legal work has always involved a high volume of documents, but the pressure to review them quickly without making mistakes continues to grow. Teams are now expected to move faster, stay compliant, and manage risk simultaneously.
That’s why legal tech tools, like AI, are becoming part of everyday legal work. It takes on the repeatable parts of the review process, like identifying clauses, flagging risks, and checking for missing terms.
And it’s working. AI doesn’t get tired or distracted. It helps teams review more documents, with more consistency, and in less time. For legal departments facing tighter budgets and stricter deadlines, that kind of support makes a real difference.
What Features Should You Look for in AI Document Review Tools?
Not every AI tool works the same way. Some focus on contracts, others handle general compliance. But the best tools in 2025 share a few features that legal teams now expect as standard.
Here’s what to look for:
- Clause and Term Extraction: The tool should extract important information, such as party names, key dates, payment terms, and obligations, with minimal manual effort.
- Risk Detection: Look for tools that can flag unusual clauses, missing terms, or language that could lead to compliance issues.
- Compliance Checks: Good AI should be able to check documents against known regulations or internal rules and alert you when something is off.
- Summarization: Tools that offer clean summaries help you understand the big picture fast, without reading every paragraph.
- Custom Workflows: Your team should be able to set up rules, templates, and review paths that match your existing workflow.
- Software Integration: The best tools work well with the platforms you already use, like contract management systems, file storage, or case tracking tools.
When these features come together, they make the review process faster, more consistent, and easier to manage across the entire team.
6 Legal AI Tools Every Legal Department Should Have in 2025
Not all AI tools are built the same. Some are built for contract-heavy environments. Others shine in complex compliance work. What matters most is finding a tool that fits your workflow and helps your team work smarter.
Here are six standout platforms that legal teams are using in 2025.
LEGALFLY
This tool is built for legal teams that want control over how their documents move through review. LEGALFLY gives you the tools to create your own workflows, set your review paths, and manage risk on your terms.
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop workflow builder
- Smart templates that adjust by document type
- Custom dashboards for tracking status and risk
- Rule-based validation to catch issues early
What Makes It Stand Out:
LEGALFLY is one of the few tools that lets you fully customize the review process without relying on IT support. You can build your workflow, define approval steps, and even set up conditional logic for specific contract types.
Best For:
Legal teams that want flexible processes and clear visibility into document status. It works well for in-house departments and legal ops teams with defined internal policies.
Spellbook
If you want an AI tool that focuses on contract intelligence, you should look no further than Spellbook. It analyzes documents as you review them and highlights key terms, obligations, and risks in real time.
Key Features
- Instant clause summaries and red flags
- Compliance checks based on custom rules
- Suggested clause additions pulled from past contracts
- Batch processing and version control
What Makes It Stand Out:
Spellbook uses a risk matrix to evaluate documents against your defined criteria. You can set thresholds and automate how documents are sorted or flagged. It also integrates with your document management system and supports multiple languages.
Best For:
Teams that work with a high volume of contracts or operate across multiple jurisdictions. It’s especially helpful for legal professionals focused on risk mitigation and standardization.
Kira Systems
Kira System is known for its machine learning capabilities. This simply means that it reads documents or any legal file and learns from them. You can train the tool to recognize custom clauses, uncommon formats, and company-specific terms.
Key Features
- Smart field detection for common contract types
- OCR for scanned and legacy documents
- Multi-language support for global teams
- “Quick Study” feature to train your own models
What Makes It Stand Out:
Kira allows your team to create clause-specific models. This gives you control over what the AI prioritizes and helps tailor the review to your organization’s actual risk profile. It’s also strong in due diligence and M&A environments.
Best For:
Firms handling high-stakes transactions or reviewing thousands of pages as part of audits or litigation prep. Kira is ideal when accuracy and customization are both top priorities.
Filevine AI Doc Review
This is a top legal tool with considerable features. While Filevine AI review documents' features are still growing, they serve as a valuable tool for legal departments that want basic AI assistance built into their existing platform.
Key Features
- Document classification
- Highlighting and basic clause recognition
- Early integration with Filevine project management tools
What Makes It Stand Out:
For legal teams already using Filevine, this tool offers convenience. There’s no need to jump between platforms. Everything is managed in one place, including case notes, project timelines, and document workflows.
Best For:
Law firms already using Filevine who want to introduce AI with minimal friction. It’s a solid first step into automation for small to mid-sized legal teams.
Clio Duo
Clio Duo extends the functionality of Clio’s popular legal management suite. It adds AI features like document tagging, risk scoring, and real-time clause extraction.
Key Features
- Risk scoring based on predefined settings
- Smart comparison of clause versions
- Support for scanned files and PDF formats
- Workflow automation inside the Clio ecosystem
What Makes It Stand Out
Clio Duo keeps everything connected. Case management, billing, and document review all happen in one system. This eliminates the need to transfer files or re-enter data manually.
Best For
Firms that are already using Clio for their practice management. It works best for lawyers who want AI review tools built into the platform they already use every day.
Harvey AI
If you are looking for an AI that takes speed seriously, you should look at Harvey AI. It is built to help easily identify legal terms and potential issues faster than most tools in its category. It’s designed to help teams move through reviews quickly, without losing accuracy.
Key Features
- Rapid clause detection and tagging
- Adjustable review templates
- API support for custom workflows
- Lightweight design for fast deployment
What Makes It Stand Out:
Harvey AI can adapt to multiple practice areas. Its flexibility and speed make it a good option for legal teams that regularly handle a wide range of document types.
Best For:
Agile legal teams that require quick results and a system that can grow with them. It’s a smart choice for teams that want power without a heavy learning curve.
How to Set Up AI Document Review in Your Legal Workflow
Adopting AI for legal document review starts with more than choosing a tool. It requires a process that fits your team, your documents, and your existing systems. The setup stage is where many legal departments either find success or face delays.
Here’s how to lay the foundation for smooth integration and long-term results.
Start with a workflow assessment
Before adding AI into the mix, review how your team handles document review today. Examine the steps involved, where delays occur, and which parts require the most manual work. This helps you pinpoint where AI can provide real value.
Ask questions like:
- Which parts of the review process take the most time?
- Where do human errors happen most often?
- What tools are we already using for contract or case management?
Plan your integration path
“This latest wave of generative AI is really good at summarizing information, which at first glance might seem like it would replace lawyers. But lawyers do so much more.” - Alex Su.
That means AI tools must serve and effectively connect with what your team already uses. Whether that’s a document management platform, contract lifecycle system, or shared storage setup, the smoother the connection, the better the results. Remember, it is to support the team, not replace it.
Build a simple integration checklist:
- Confirm platform compatibility
- Set user roles and access limits
- Align folder structures or document categories
- Set up automated triggers for common review tasks
Migrate key documents for learning
Many AI platforms learn from past reviews. Importing older, reviewed contracts helps train the system to recognize what matters to your team. Start with high-volume or high-risk documents.
This helps the AI recognize:
- Common clause patterns
- Your preferred risk language
- Exceptions you typically flag or escalate
Train a focused team of users
Not everyone needs to learn the new system at once. Start with a small group, usually one or two attorneys, a compliance lead, and a legal ops manager. These early users help test real scenarios and give feedback on how the tool fits the team’s workflow.
After that, roll out usage gradually with internal walkthroughs, short guides, and real-world examples.
Set up a dual-review system
AI is powerful, but it works best with oversight. Keep attorneys in the loop by building review thresholds into your process. For example:
- Documents flagged as high-risk go through manual checks
- AI summaries are verified before client delivery
- A legal lead reviews compliance exceptions
This keeps the balance between speed and control.
Measure performance from day one
The real benefit of AI shows up over time. Set baseline metrics for how long reviews take, how often issues are missed, and how much manual effort is involved. Use these numbers to track progress, adjust templates, and strengthen the workflow.
This setup phase doesn’t have to be complicated. With a clear plan and a focused rollout, your team can start seeing real value from AI in just a few weeks.
Conclusion: Simplify Compliance with the Right Legal AI Support
AI tools make legal review faster, cleaner, and easier to manage, but the real value comes from how well your team uses them. That’s why the most successful legal departments combine innovative technology with the right kind of support.
If your team is building out AI-driven workflows or managing complex reviews, Lawtrades can help. The platform connects you with experienced legal professionals who understand document review, compliance, and contract processes. You can bring in support when needed, keep your workflow moving, and avoid unnecessary delays.
AI does the heavy lifting. Lawtrades helps you guide the process, stay aligned with policy, and make confident legal decisions with less back and forth. When the systems work together, your team can scale without losing control.
