Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad AI Wolf? Reflections from NAMWOLF’s Annual Conference

Last week, I had the privilege of moderating a dynamic panel at the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) Annual Meeting: “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad AI Wolf?” As a first-time attendee, I was thrilled to join a powerhouse group of panelists—Akilah Booty from Sanders Roberts, Megan Cosby from lululemon, Jennifer Pak from Meta, and Iman Wells from Nukk-Freeman & Cerra to demystify artificial intelligence for legal professionals and share actionable strategies for adoption.

Setting the Stage: Courage Over Fear

We kicked off with a quote from Nelson Mandela: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” This set the tone for our session: AI is not something to fear, but a tool to embrace with transparency, training, and preparation. As the legal landscape evolves, avoidable ignorance is no longer a defense. Courts are clear: technological advances must be understood and responsibly adopted.

Staying Competitive: Building Your Tech Stack

Our panelists agreed that small and mid-sized law firms can stay competitive by mastering their existing tech stack. Akilah emphasized the importance of leveraging tools you already pay for, like using OneNote for real-time transcription, a feature often overlooked in the Microsoft Office suite. She encouraged firms to create a one-pager listing available technologies, use cases, and internal experts to foster adoption across all generations of attorneys.

Securing AI Adoption: Buy-In and Governance

Adoption starts with excitement and education. Megan recommended championing AI internally and organizing hands-on training opportunities to demonstrate time and cost savings. Akilah shared her strategy of piloting new tools on low-stakes matters and presenting cost-benefit analyses to partners, showing how AI can deliver accuracy and predictability for clients.

Governance was another key theme. Iman described forming an AI governance committee to set parameters and safeguard client data. Monthly meetings and beta testing keep law firms agile and responsive to rapid changes in AI technology. The consensus: measured adoption, guided by policy and ongoing training, is essential for security and compliance.

Practical Tips, Pitfalls, and Case Law

We explored real-world use cases—from drafting emails and talking points to document review and predictive coding. Iman highlighted landmark decisions by Judge Andrew Peck endorsing technology-assisted review (TAR) for eDiscovery and warned of recent sanctions against attorneys for submitting briefs with AI-generated “hallucinated” case law. The lesson: AI is a partner, not a replacement. “Trust but verify” must be the mantra—human oversight remains critical.

We also discussed the importance of distinguishing between open-source and closed-loop AI tools, especially when handling confidential client data. Protective orders and clear agreements with opposing counsel about AI usage are vital to prevent inadvertent data exposure and ensure ethical compliance.

AI Beyond Litigation: Business Intelligence and Compliance

On the corporate side, AI is transforming contract analytics and business intelligence. Tools can now scan thousands of documents for relevant clauses, track competitor activity, and flag compliance issues. Both Megan and Jennifer shared how their organizations use AI to enforce intellectual property rights, monitor market trends, and streamline due diligence investigations, all while maintaining a sharp focus on data security and privilege.

Formalizing AI Usage: Guidelines and Training

As AI becomes more interwoven into daily operations, formalizing usage parameters is crucial. Firms are developing toolkits, policies, and ongoing training sessions to ensure responsible adoption. The State Bar of Texas, for example, has rolled out an AI toolkit to help legal professionals navigate risks and opportunities. The key is to make resources accessible and user-friendly, encouraging experimentation while maintaining compliance.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Wolf

Our session closed with a reminder: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” AI is here to stay, and those willing to learn, adapt, and collaborate will reap the rewards. Whether you’re a small firm or a global corporation, the path forward is clear, embrace AI thoughtfully, build consensus, and never stop verifying.

Thank you to my fellow panelists and the engaged audience at NAMWOLF. If you have questions or want to continue the conversation, please reach out—we’re all in this together.

Kristen Floyd is a licensed attorney who advises Am Law 100 firms and corporate legal teams on eDiscovery, document review, and contract analytics. At Cimplifi, she blends litigation experience with legal tech expertise to drive client success and engagement through CLEs, speaking events, and strategic initiatives.