The legal field, like most professions today, is undergoing a massive shift thanks to AI and other emerging tech. Our in-house legal professionals are taking that opportunity to rewrite the playbook and set the standard for cutting-edge practice with a first-of-its-kind team called LegalEdge.
“The legal group’s reputation as a whole was already second-to-none,” LegalEdge Attorney Ben says.
“It’s a great combination of complex work and a culture that encourages us to question how things are done” adds fellow LegalEdge Attorney Laurel. “AT&T rewards innovation and the continuous pursuit of better ways to serve our customers.”
Taking the first pen
Such a sweeping mission calls for a team that can do it all. Our legal team is unique in that there are few areas of law we don’t touch.
For LegalEdge to succeed, our attorneys need to be exposed to the breadth of practice areas within the Department and be comfortable handling any aspect of any type of case. Laurel says, “We are consistently taking the first pen and playing a meaningful role in case strategy. That level of involvement has been particularly rewarding.”
Some jobs are straightforward: you are given a question and answer it. Others see LegalEdge attorneys embedded in a team as a key player from start to finish.
Ben says of the workflow, “I get to help shape high-level strategy in many of my cases. The trust placed in us by leadership boosts my confidence and empowers me to do my best work.”
One-of-a-kind culture
“We’re not aware of anyone else that has tried to create a team like LegalEdge,” Ben continues. “Leadership had the foresight and the courage to run with it, and we’re already seeing the results. Now, we’ve actually had other companies coming to us asking how they can do the same thing.”
The widespread implementation of AI means there’s never been a better time to reconsider legacy practices. As Laurel explains, “the practice of law is undergoing a major transformation, and we’re embracing it.”
LegalEdge attorneys are expected to experiment. Both Ben and Laurel found this approach to be totally unique. “What makes this role different is that we have the freedom to experiment, learn and improve,” says Laurel.
“There’s definitely an entrepreneurial spirit that underlies everything we do. If we think of something, anything, that might bring our work to the next level, we are encouraged to follow that idea wherever it leads.”
Both attorneys were surprised by how effectively LegalEdge’s principles of experimentation and collaboration are realized.
“We feel like one big team,” Ben says. “My wins are your wins. Setbacks aren’t fatal, but learning experiences.”
Further illustrating that culture, Laurel points to her supervisor’s thoughtful approach. “Leadership regularly asks, ‘How can I help you succeed?’ That level of support really stands out.”
Less busywork, more impact
The culture supports real innovation, and the team is already making great strides. With the power of AI, Laurel and Ben are spending less time on tedious tasks and more on the ones that lawyers are best suited to handle.
Ben had experience with some of the tools used by LegalEdge before joining the company, but his understanding of AI has rapidly increased thanks to the freedom offered by LegalEdge. “Since coming here, I’ve been able to experiment with various AI tools, and it’s completely revolutionized how I practice law. I’m completing certain tasks in a fraction of the time it used to take me—and even creating my own autonomous agents.”
Laurel has also made impactful discoveries. “AI can help us manage a complex case with multiple workstreams by assisting in the development of a case management plan that evolves as the matter progresses.”
Agentic AI is a key area of interest for Laurel and Ben, and they’ve both found it extremely helpful in building chronologies and summaries.
“Many important legal tasks need to get done, but they don’t all require a lawyer’s highest-level analysis,” says Laurel.
Conducting interviews and providing a summary memo has long been a part of legal work. Distilling notes into a clear, professional document is time consuming. That time could be better spent analyzing instead of merely organizing. Laurel has built an agent to assist with drafting the summary and already feels she has more time to focus on elements of the cases that require higher-value legal judgment.
Chronologies are another historical source of tedium. Both attorneys recall spending hours poring over document after document, recording dates and other important details by hand. Using AI tools developed by LegalEdge, attorneys can streamline the process of building chronologies, while continuing to review the work and apply legal judgment.
Facing the future
The scope of the work, the openness of the culture, and the dedication of everyone on the LegalEdge team is what makes it standout. And standout is exactly what we want to do.
“Our goal is to do good work as a team and make AT&T a better company. From the top down, we’re all on the same page,” says Ben. “It’s still early, but it’s easy to tell we’re building something special here.”
Another rarity: being able to have an impact like this from day one. “LegalEdge offers something unique: substantive work, real responsibility and the freedom to innovate,” Laurel says.
“Nothing is going to be the same in five or 10 years. We’re on the cutting edge of everything, and being part of that is amazing,” says Ben, who’s recommended the job to several former colleagues already.
“LegalEdge puts you on the ground level of what’s next in the practice of law. It’s an incredible opportunity to help shape the future of the profession,” Laurel concludes.
Learn more about LegalEdge opportunities
