Why Human-Centered AI Adoption, Not Tech, Defines Legal Success

In an article on the Bloomberg Law website, Cooley’s Ruth Hauswirth reports that artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape legal departments. The greatest determinant of success, however, is human-centered AI adoption. It is dependent on organizational culture rather than technical sophistication.

Hauswirth has identified four components for successful AI adoption that support employee development during an organizational transition. First is approaching change mindfully. Leaders who acknowledge uncertainty while framing AI as an opportunity create space for learning and experimentation. This mindset encourages legal ops professionals to treat AI as a partner that expands capabilities. 

Curiosity and creativity are essential skills. They enable teams to leverage new tools imaginatively and combine technologies to solve complex challenges. Hauswirth says that AI training programs should foster curiosity, celebrate creativity, and reward experimentation. 

Experience-driven learning also plays a critical role. Traditional training models often fall short while hands-on experimentation and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing accelerate adoption and build confidence. 

Effective learning follows the 70-20-10 model: 70% comes from tackling challenging experiences, 20% from collaborative relationships, and 10% from formal training.

AI adoption should be viewed through a risk-management lens, ensuring rigorous checks, empowering talent retention, and developing compliance frameworks. 

With burnout on the rise among legal professionals, it is essential to implement a strategy that supports both organizational performance and professional well-being. Human-centered AI adoption requires blending technological readiness with empathy and cultivating legal teams that are not only efficient but also engaged, confident, and future-ready.