Artificial intelligence is reshaping how legal departments operate—offering opportunities to streamline workflows, improve compliance, and reduce costs. But implementing AI is not a decision to take lightly. How do you determine whether your organization will benefit more from buying an existing solution or developing your own custom solution in-house? Here are three critical factors to evaluate before making the decision.
1. Data quality Is the foundation of AI
AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on. Legal departments need to assess whether their data is complete, clean, readable, and free of bias. Do you have access to high-quality internal and external data sources, such as industry benchmarks? If your data doesn’t meet these standards, building your own AI model may not even be an option. Alternatively, buying an AI solution that includes the necessary data can save time and resources.
2. Do you have the resources to build?
Building an AI model requires a significant investment of both money and talent. Training cutting-edge AI models like ChatGPT costs millions of dollars, and even small-scale AI projects can quickly exceed six figures. Beyond development, maintaining and updating AI systems requires ongoing data science expertise. If your organization lacks the budget or talent to sustain an AI project, partnering with a vendor may be the more practical choice.
3. The right partner makes all the difference
Choosing a trusted AI vendor can simplify adoption while ensuring robust security and compliance measures. The right partner will:
- Integrate AI seamlessly into your existing IT environment
- Provide transparency about their data governance and security practices
- Demonstrate compliance with your organization’s policies
Working with an experienced vendor not only accelerates the implementation process but also ensures your data is treated with the highest level of care and protection.
These are just a few of the essential factors your legal department should evaluate when considering AI. For a more detailed look at these considerations, download our guide Should you buy or build an AI solution?
