At the start of last month, Shoosmiths, a British law firm with 1, 500 employees, announced a £1 million bonus pool to be shared among staff if they collectively adopted Microsoft’s AI tool, Copilot, in their workflows. This financial incentive aimed to accelerate AI integration in their daily operations. CEO David Jackson emphasized that AI is not a fleeting trend but a transformative force reshaping the legal profession, urging staff to embrace AI tools to boost productivity and remain competitive in a digital legal landscape. To support this goal, Shoosmiths committed to closely tracking AI usage across the firm. The firm views Copilot as a “powerful enabler” that complements legal skills rather than replaces them. Before this, AI use in law firms was rarely publicized, but Shoosmiths saw an opportunity to lead in AI adoption as part of their digital transformation. Their decision was informed by research revealing patterns in workplace AI adoption. Studies showed that while about 77% of evaluators could identify AI-assisted documents, managers often were unaware these were AI-generated. Interestingly, managers rated these AI-assisted documents positively even without knowing AI’s involvement.

This indicates a phenomenon called “shadow adoption, ” where employees use AI privately without informing management, causing uneven technology uptake. Besides tracking adoption, firms face challenges like employee concerns over AI “hallucinations”—errors from AI producing incorrect information—and privacy issues related to monitoring AI use. Detecting unauthorized or unreported AI usage raises managerial difficulties. Shoosmiths’ strategy pairing Copilot’s rollout with a financial bonus is innovative in preventing pitfalls of uneven or secretive AI use. The incentive creates a collective commitment to AI adoption rather than isolated experimentation. Experts like Restrepo Amariles commend such bonuses as a “very smart” way to promote widespread adoption and reduce resistance. Shoosmiths reports that progress toward the £1 million bonus is “broadly on track. ” Jackson praised the initiative, noting even one partner has fully embraced AI’s capabilities. He believes AI will not replace lawyers but enhance their work as a valuable asset. This example highlights AI’s growing role in professional services and shows how strategic incentives can speed its integration. By encouraging transparency, fostering collective engagement, and proactively addressing concerns, firms like Shoosmiths are paving the way for thoughtful and effective AI use in the workplace.