Modern, AI-Enhanced Case Management and Preparation as a Competitive Advantage in Litigation

10
Sep
2025

Kayann Fitzgerald

The convergence of two trends—rising generative AI (GenAI) adoption across law firms and exploding data volumes putting pressure on litigation teams—makes this an ideal moment for law firm leaders to reevaluate their technology infrastructure, particularly their case management and preparation solutions. 

Why is this a tipping-point moment?

Your competition has already adopted GenAI

Now is the time to evaluate how your firm can leverage this technology not just for efficiency, but to create a durable competitive advantage. While only 15% of law firm professionals say GenAI is currently central to their workflows, a striking 78% believe it will be within five years, according to the 2025 Generative AI in Professional Services Report by Thomson Reuters released in April. In recent months, other surveys have echoed this growing sentiment, including one released in June by Ironclad in which 96 percent of legal professionals surveyed agree that AI has helped them achieve business objectives more easily.

The growing volume and complexity of litigation data is presenting challenges 

The need for scalable systems has never been greater. I was recently interviewed as part of a research report from Ari Kaplan Advisors—Advancing Litigation Support to Fuel Growth in a Changing Legal Market. It found that 60% of respondents believe continued growth of case data volumes will present challenges for their litigation teams. Compounding the issue, 83% expect their case load to increase in the next 12 to 18 months as firms set ambitious litigation department revenue goals, illustrating why adapting to this surge in data is critical. 

For these reasons, modern case management, including solutions with integrated GenAI tools, is a critical technology consideration for litigation departments. At Davis Wright Tremaine, we recently upgraded to a modern case management and preparation solution that offers integrated GenAI. Used specifically for litigation management, this newest AI investment complements our growing suite of GenAI tools, including some we’ve created in-house.

We’re not alone, as the Ari Kaplan Advisors report showed: More than two-thirds (70%) of litigation departments reported using a dedicated case management platform. Yet two-thirds of those using case management said they wanted to upgrade, recognizing that outdated systems are starting to erode their teams’ effectiveness and strategic positioning. 

From filing system to competitive weapon

Case management and preparation systems have long played a behind-the-scenes role in litigation support—used to organize documents, manage deadlines, and centralize case information. But today’s litigation environment demands far more. Teams are often dispersed across multiple jurisdictions, matters are increasingly complex, and clients expect quick access to updates and insights.

Modern platforms, especially those designed specifically for litigation, are evolving in response. They now offer a centralized workspace where case teams can collaborate on pleadings, review depositions, manage timelines, assign tasks, and track strategy in real time. We’re also seeing better adoption rates as users find the interface of our new system more modern and intuitive. 

More importantly, with litigation cycles accelerating and teams handling more concurrent matters than ever, the ability to quickly understand the substance of a deposition or hearing transcript, without manual review, represents a real opportunity to work effectively and sharpen strategy. The team that finds critical evidence first often has the advantage. 

Half of the participants in the Ari Kaplan Advisors survey say the number of documents, records, or exhibits they use at trial remains the same, meaning that teams must dedicate more time to managing data to achieve the same results. By leveraging GenAI, litigation teams can uncover critical facts faster. Using modern case management, those crucial discoveries are instantly available to the broader team, who can then immediately start collaborating on trial strategy. Meanwhile, teams using outdated technology could still be sifting through discovery documents looking for clues or scheduling calls to discuss evidentiary findings.

Collaboration that drives better outcomes

In my experience, one of the most immediate benefits of modern case management and preparation is the impact on team collaboration. Litigation success hinges on coordinated execution—getting the right documents and insights contained in those documents to the right people at the right time.

When teams operate in silos or rely on email chains and shared drives, the risk of miscommunication and duplication rises. A centralized case platform gives us collaboration on steroids, it strengthens the communication chain by giving everyone, from partners to paralegals to litigation support staff, shared visibility into the same workspace.

This model also supports secure client collaboration. Many modern systems allow clients to log in to a portal to check the status of filings, track budgets, or access key documents. This level of transparency builds trust and allows client conversations to focus on strategy rather than updates.

With remote and hybrid work now standard in many firms, these collaborative capabilities aren’t just a convenience—they’re essential infrastructure.

Better decisions through institutional knowledge

Litigation departments generate a wealth of knowledge about opposing counsel, judges, expert witnesses, staffing models, and more. Yet without a structured, searchable system, that institutional knowledge is often lost when a case closes or a team member moves on.

Modern case management tools make it easier to retain and leverage this knowledge across matters. GenAI can add even more value by helping teams find patterns across past cases—such as how long similar matters lasted, if budget overruns occurred, or which staffing combinations proved most effective.

This ability to learn from the past isn’t just academic—it’s practical. When pitching for new work, planning litigation budgets, or assessing risk, teams that can draw on historical insights are better prepared and more credible in front of clients. 

Scalable infrastructure for growing litigation teams

The Ari Kaplan Advisors survey reports that 80% of respondents said their firm is prioritizing the growth of its litigation department. Modern case management platforms allow departments to scale more strategically. Routine tasks like document classification, case chronology drafting, or issue tagging can increasingly be handled or supported by AI, freeing attorneys and staff to focus on higher-value work.

With standardized workflows and templates, onboarding new team members becomes easier. New matters can be set up quickly using proven structures from past similar cases. And with smart task tracking, the risk of something falling through the cracks decreases, even as caseloads expand and team members change.

The time for action is now

Firms that treat GenAI as a distant concern or silo it within innovation teams may find themselves outpaced by competitors that integrate it into core systems like case management. And as client expectations shift, showing technological competence is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s becoming table stakes.

Modern, GenAI-enhanced case managements solutions offer a strategic on-ramp to AI adoption. It allows litigation teams to capture immediate operational wins—better coordination, faster insight, scalable workflows—while laying the foundation for deeper innovation in the future.

For law firm leaders responsible for litigation support, now is the time to ask:

• Are we equipped to handle the next wave of data-heavy matters?
• Can we collaborate across teams and offices without friction?
• Do we have the tools to analyze our performance and apply lessons learned?
• Are we ready to meet AI-driven client expectations for efficiency and transparency?

If the answer to any of those is “not yet,” upgrading your case management infrastructure may be the most strategic move your team can make.