WHY UNDERSTANDING EMPLOYEE NEEDS MATTERS
Making use of AI in ways that can improve team morale is important because turnover is inordinately expensive. The National Association for Law Placement conducted a survey that showed replacing an associate can cost firms between $200,000 and $500,000 in recruitment, training and lost productivity. But that survey was in 2017. Factor in inflation and the high end of that could be as much as $640,000 today.
Beyond the dollars, there’s a risk of damaging client relationships and team morale when key people leave.
As previously mentioned, though, AI also brings challenges. One of those is that clients will increasingly expect higher-value services rather than routine processes. Legal professionals will need to understand how to harness AI to deliver innovative solutions and maintain their relevance in a rapidly changing industry.
One thing AI won’t change is that law firms can’t afford to ignore employee concerns if they want to make sure top performers stick around. A number of strategies can help with understanding employees’ needs and identifying where the firm can improve, such as anonymous employee-satisfaction surveys or focus groups that provide a forum for deeper discussions and allow employees to share their experiences openly.
The National Association for Law Placement conducted a survey that showed replacing an associate can cost firms between $200,000 and $500,000 in recruitment, training and lost productivity. But that survey was in 2017. Factor in inflation and the high end of that could be as much as $640,000 today.
AI can assist here as well, gathering and analyzing employee feedback efficiently, identifying patterns in survey responses or focus group discussions, and highlighting areas of concern faster than traditional methods can.
USING INSIGHTS TO DRIVE EXPERIENCE-LED TRANSFORMATION
Understanding employees’ needs is only part of the equation. Turning those insights into meaningful action is where real transformation begins. Law firms have an opportunity to address retention challenges and reimagine how they empower their teams by creating an environment where people feel valued, successful and future ready.
Here are ways firms can use what they learn to foster growth and build loyalty:
- Elevate Professional Development: Insights gathered through employee feedback can help inform personalized training programs that align with individual aspirations and organizational goals. One critical area to focus on is AI literacy. Empowering employees with prompt-engineering skills or AI-focused courses (as examples) doesn’t just make them more efficient — it signals that the firm is committed to staying ahead of the curve.
- Redefine the Employee Experience: By reducing the burden of mundane tasks, AI enables teams to focus on work that engages and inspires them. But retention isn’t just about eliminating pain points; it’s about creating moments that matter. Flexible work arrangements, more reasonable billable-hour targets, and collaborative tools that make workflows seamless all contribute to a culture where employees thrive.
- Cultivate a Modern Workplace Identity: A law firm that effectively integrates AI and other emerging technologies becomes more than a workplace — it becomes a statement about what it means to work in your firm and the industry in general. When employees feel that their organization values innovation and prioritizes their growth, it boosts morale and attracts like-minded talent.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
When law firms invest in their people — by listening, acting and transforming the work experience — they set the stage for sustained success. The integration of AI can deliver more than just operational efficiencies; it can redefine how employees engage with their work, their clients and their careers.
In the end, technology is not a threat to the legal profession — it’s a tool for progress. Law firms that embrace this shift, prioritizing their employees’ experience and harnessing AI as an enabler of growth, will stand out not just as places to work but as places to build meaningful, future-ready careers.
