The last time I saw a shift this big was when the e-discovery rules rolled out. Overnight, “nice-to-have” became non-negotiable. By 2015, you couldn’t land a top litigation paralegal role without e-discovery skills. We’re here again. This time, it affects all paralegals, not just litigation. Thanks to AI.
I’ll be honest: I didn’t plan to teach AI. For 15 years, I’ve taught litigation skills, billable hours, and personal injury. Then I started using AI. First a dabble, then daily learning, then courses, then real results. And I realized: paralegals who learn AI early will move faster, solve bigger problems, and become the people firms rely on.
Below is the same 3-step plan I teach in my session, designed to work whether your firm is “AI-approved” or not.
Step 1: Decide
Career Security > Current Job Skills
“Your company owns your job. You own your career.”
Deciding is about choosing long-term career security over “what my job requires today.” Don’t let your tech skills match the comfort level of the oldest partner. If your firm is years behind on software versions or nervous about AI, your skills shouldn’t be.
And if your firm hasn’t rolled out AI yet? Learn it anyway.
I’m not telling you to violate policy; I’m telling you to develop your skills so that when your firm is ready, you’re already the person who can lead responsibly. Use AI at home for practice. Use it to draft thoughtful responses, clarify complex tasks, or cross-train into new practice areas.
AI is your shield — the thing that makes you valuable in any market.
Micro-wins you can decide on today:
✅ Install a reputable AI tool on your phone.
✅ Save 3 prompts you’ll reuse (e.g., “Write a calm, professional reply to my attorney’s email…” or “Summarize this meeting with timestamps
✅ Create a private “AI Wins” doc to track time saved on general tasks that don’t involve client work.
Step 2: Commit
Non-Negotiable: 20-30 minutes/week
AI tools update monthly. The learning curve is real, and it’s worth it. Block 20–30 minutes per week and protect it. That small, steady cadence compounds fast.
A realistic cadence:
- Weeks 1–2: Basics and ethics (confidentiality, no client data in public tools, firm policy).
- Weeks 3–4: Prompting fundamentals + your first repeatable workflows (summaries, checklists, outlines).
- Weeks 5–6: Cross-training use cases (e.g., “Act as a 20-year [practice area] paralegal and walk me through…”).
- Weeks 7–8: Simple automations or templates (your go-to prompts turned into SOPs).
Put a sticky note on your monitor (or a phone reminder).
Step 3: Implement the CAM Framework
CAM = Career Accelerator Method
Learning is step one. Leveraging is how you future-proof your paralegal career.
Use CAM:
1️⃣ Learn it now, not later
Get the basics down so each new release feels like an upgrade, not a complete reset that you have to learn from scratch.
2️⃣ Use it strategically to solve problems
Don’t just “replace Google.” Pick a pain point and fix it.
- Personal growth problem: Communication, organization, or learning a new area? Build prompts that coach you through it.
- Firm pain point: Bottlenecks in summaries, chronologies, exhibits, templates, or intake? Pilot an AI-assisted workflow (within policy).
3️⃣ Demonstrate value
Track results. Time saved = Money saved + Errors avoided.
If AI helped you produce a better result faster, you created that outcome by directing the tool, just like delegating to a junior. Keep a simple log (date, task, old time, new time, delta, notes). Those metrics power your reviews, raise conversations, and job searches.
Real-World AI Prompts You Can Steal
🤖 Professional reply coach
“Act as my world-class career coach. Draft a concise, professional reply to this email from a partner. I want to sound cooperative, clarify competing priorities, and propose a deadline. Keep it warm but firm.”
🤖 Cross-training guide
“Act as a 20+ year real estate paralegal. I’m a litigation paralegal helping with a buyer-side commercial closing. Walk me through the process and provide a checklist.”
🤖 Meeting/Document summary
“Summarize this transcript for busy students. Use these sections: 1) Topics by Ann with timestamps, 2) Key takeaways, 3) Action items, 4) Resources mentioned.”
Or “Summarize this _____ document paying attention to these sections: (termination clause, notice clause, etc.). In the summary, identify these areas of concern: “
AI Boot Camp for Legal Professionals
Master the essential AI skills you need to thrive in today’s legal industry in just 4 weeks – without getting lost in technical jargon! Don’t let another week go by feeling uncertain about AI’s impact on your career. Take the lead and become the firm’s “go-to” AI person.
Choose Your Path
You don’t need to wait for a firm-wide rollout to build your edge. I created a DIY Workbook with a starter path so you can begin right away without overwhelm.
📘 Download the free DIY Workbook: Get a copy now
The workbook includes ethics basics, beginner exercises, and a guided checklist to build skill, not just curiosity.
When you’re ready to go further and learn how to use AI in real paralegal workflows, from prompting to quality control to showcasing ROI.
The next step is my comprehensive training:
👉 Enroll in the AI Boot Camp for Legal Professionals: AI-BootCampTraining.com
Meet the Author
Ann Pearson is the Founder of the Paralegal Boot Camp, and host of the Paralegals on Fire! Podcast Show, and passionate about promoting the paralegal profession.
Ann spent 20 years working as a paralegal manager and a litigation paralegal before opening the Paralegal Boot Camp in 2010.
Ann’s training programs focus on adding immediate value to a paralegal’s career and bridging the gap between what a paralegal learns in school and what they actually do on the job.
Visit the About Us Page to learn more about why Ann started the Paralegal Boot Camp.
