#0172: (CT) ILTA Just-In-Time: Incorporating Copilot in a Late Follower Law Firm
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In this first episode of a three-part 'Just in Time' series from ILTA Voices, host Aaron Barby and guest Jonathan Woolley, Senior AI Solutions Architect at Hush Blackwell, challenge the common perception that being a 'late follower' in adopting Microsoft Copilot is a disadvantage. Instead, they argue that a strategic delay allows law firms to learn from early adopters’ mistakes, refine governance, and avoid the rapid, disruptive changes that come with being first. Drawing on their experience with Copilot’s evolution since its pre-release pilot, they emphasize the importance of thoughtful rollout planning, including selecting diverse champions, setting clear expectations, and managing the 'human in the loop' reality of AI hallucinations. The discussion highlights how poor data hygiene—like misconfigured SharePoint sites—can be exposed by Copilot, making pre-implementation data audits critical. They also stress the need for cross-functional governance councils that include attorneys, IT, and business professionals to ensure balanced, effective adoption. The episode concludes with a preview of the next installment, which will dive into technical infrastructure like Microsoft Graph and data security controls. Key takeaways include: 1) Being a late follower can be a strategic advantage by allowing firms to learn from others’ mistakes and avoid early instability; 2) Success hinges on selecting diverse, thoughtful champions and setting clear expectations around AI’s limitations; 3) Governance must be proactive—especially around data access and sharing—before licensing is rolled out; 4) Training should focus on 'why' and 'how' rather than just 'what'; 5) A cross-functional AI committee is essential for alignment and faster decision-making; 6) AI adoption is a shared learning journey, not a one-time deployment; 7) Avoid the 'squeaky wheel' trap by not assigning licenses to only the most vocal users; 8) Celebrate and share early wins to build momentum and trust.
Being a late follower in AI adoption can be a strategic advantage by allowing firms to learn from early adopters’ mistakes and avoid rapid, disruptive changes.
Success with Copilot depends on selecting diverse, thoughtful champions and setting clear expectations about AI’s limitations and the need for human oversight.
Governance must be proactive—especially around data access and sharing—before licensing is rolled out to prevent exposure of misconfigured systems.
Training should emphasize the 'why' behind AI adoption, not just the 'how,' to build buy-in and reduce resistance.
A cross-functional AI committee including attorneys, IT, and business professionals is critical for balanced, effective rollout and faster decision-making.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Why Being a Late Follower Can Be a Strategic Advantage
“Being late doesn't necessarily mean you're behind. It just means that you're being conscious and you're being strategic and you want to see if this product is going to stick around.”
The Risks of Rushing: Governance, Data Hygiene, and Early Adoption Pains
“Copilot tends to surface sharing issues that already exist... It was the underlying group structure, right? That SharePoint piece or that SharePoint site that was not set correctly.”
Building a Successful Rollout: Champions, Context, and Expectation Setting
“Setting the expectations up front. They need to know that it's going to hallucinate. They need to know to use the phrase that everybody uses. There has to be a human in the loop.”
The Role of Training and the 'Human in the Loop' Mindset
The conversation explores how attorneys may feel intimidated by AI, likening it to the early days of Microsoft Word. The need for safe, non-judgmental training environments is stressed, along with the importance of guiding users from basic prompts to advanced use.
Creating a Cross-Functional AI Committee for Sustainable Adoption
Barby and Woolley discuss the value of a balanced AI committee that includes attorneys, IT, and business professionals. This ensures diverse perspectives, faster decision-making, and the ability to turn early adopters into internal champions.
“Copilot tends to surface sharing issues that already exist... It was the underlying group structure, right? That SharePoint piece or that SharePoint site that was not set correctly.”
“Setting the expectations up front. They need to know that it's going to hallucinate. They need to know to use the phrase that everybody uses. There has to be a human in the loop.”
“Being late doesn't necessarily mean you're behind. It just means that you're being conscious and you're being strategic and you want to see if this product is going to stick around.”
Host
Guest
Microsoft Copilot
product
Jonathan Woolley
person
Aaron Barby
person
SharePoint
product
Hush Blackwell
organization
Thompson Coburn
organization
Teams
product
ILTA Voices
media
Microsoft Graph
product
Artificial Intelligence Committee
organization
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