Artificial intelligence has never been more accessible. For attorneys who rely on Microsoft Word for most of their drafting, AI is now built directly into their daily workflow through Copilot – a powerful assistant integrated into Microsoft 365. The real question is not whether to use it, but how attorneys can leverage its capabilities to enhance their practice.
A free PracticeHQ webinar, presented by the New Jersey State Bar Association, explored the many ways Copilot can help draft documents, analyze data and manage communications more efficiently. Here are some quick tips from PracticeHQ, a free member benefit that provides information and guidance on practice-related issues. Visit the PracticeHQ Learning Library to view videos and program materials from prior seminars.
Where to find Copilot?
-Copilot is integrated into all the Microsoft products, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel. The Copilot icon is located on the Home tab. Be sure to sign in to your Microsoft account to access.
-Microsoft users can also access Copilot from their web browser. Go to Microsoft.com and sign in to your account. The Copilot icon is on the dashboard, usually on the left-hand sidebar or at the top of the screen near your profile picture.
What are the benefits of Copilot?
-Attorneys who regularly use Microsoft 365 tools can benefit from Copilot’s ability to simplify their workflows through automation, data integration and reduced time spent toggling between platforms.
-Because Copilot is built into Microsoft’s suite, users can easily access it to review and summarize documents without having to upload files manually.
What does Copilot do best?
-Generative AI models like Copilot are natural language computers that intuitively understand basic, language-based tasks.
-Copilot excels at searching, summarizing, timelining and translating documents.
Where does the tool need improvement?
-Copilot, and current AI systems in general, demonstrate remarkable language fluency but still struggle with complex reasoning and problem-solving.
-Be wary when asking AI to compare documents, draft agreements or contentions, extract structured data or review contracts.
-To get the best results, give the tool detailed instructions and parameters.