AI gets all the attention in legal tech right now. It’s in every headline, keynote, and product launch. It’s interesting. It’s valuable. But while everyone’s talking about AI, the real work of keeping a law firm running is still happening in the background.
That work isn’t flashy. It’s billing. Collections. Document workflows. Client payments. Intake. Trust accounting. The plumbing. Sometimes, even using AI (just not flashy AI).
The plumbing keeps the firm running
Every firm depends on systems that move work forward. When they break or stall, people notice. A bill doesn’t go out. A payment doesn’t come in. A document gets lost. A check gets held up.
You can’t build a modern firm without solid infrastructure. You can’t layer AI on top of bad workflows and expect good results. That’s like putting a smart thermostat in a house with a broken furnace.
These projects have clear value
Improving plumbing isn’t theoretical. It shows up in the numbers.
- Automate billing, and bills go out faster.
- Add online payments, and collections improve.
- Use credit analysis, and you get fewer write-offs.
These aren’t guesses. They’re facts. You can measure the before and after. And the return on investment tends to be fast.
You don’t need a PhD to understand them
Most infrastructure projects are straightforward. You don’t need to experiment or run pilots for a year.
Instead, you look at the workflow. What’s manual? What’s slowing things down? What’s getting missed?
Then you fix it. The result is better cash flow, less frustration, and more time for legal work.
AI belongs in the plumbing
There’s nothing wrong with AI. But the best place for it—at least right now—is inside the plumbing.
- AI can help clean up pre-bills.
- It can flag risky clients based on past payment behavior.
- It can highlight anomalies.
This kind of AI isn’t a headline. But it helps people get their jobs done.
Plumbing isn’t exciting. But it works.
No one wins awards for improving the billing process (although they should!). But firms that focus on it get paid faster and spend less time chasing payments. That’s real value.
While AI gets the spotlight, the firms that fix their plumbing come out ahead. They’re more efficient. They have better margins. And they are ready for whatever comes next.
