When discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) arise in the legal field, they tend to swing between extremes of hype and fear. Yet, in the practical realms of daily operations, AI represents a crucial business decision. This is particularly true for lean legal departments seeking efficiency without sacrificing quality.

The Hanna Center, a nonprofit organization, provides a compelling case study of AI as a workflow solution rather than a sensational headline. In 2025, the center implemented ChatGPT Enterprise accounts for 50 of its staff, aiming to optimize processes and extend its limited resources. This strategic deployment demonstrates how a thoughtful approach to AI can yield significant, measurable benefits in a mission-driven environment.

The engagement with Hanna Center began with identifying the core issue: excessive manual labor draining essential time from the small team. By focusing on the value rather than the allure of new tech, a clear strategy was formed. This involved a detailed workflow audit which pinpointed nine key use cases varying in complexity. This roadmap facilitated a phased adoption of AI, starting with the simplest tasks to tackle high-friction points efficiently.

The initial pilot phase targeted tasks like automating data extraction from documents and aiding in drafting policy updates, ensuring that AI integration directly alleviated administrative burdens. This approach not only saved time but also fostered an environment where staff could engage in more strategic, high-impact work.

By the time the full rollout of ChatGPT reached all designated staff, the structured implementation had already started showing results. An evaluation involving surveys and focus groups revealed that staff were saving an average of 4.13 hours per week, which translated to a monthly saving of approximately $22,767 across the departments. More than just time, the AI applications enhanced team autonomy, sped up report generation, and decreased dependency on external consultants.

Moreover, the project inspired over 50 new ideas for future AI applications within the center, underscoring the creative potential that structured AI implementation can unlock. These ideas ranged from creating automated dashboards to generating detailed impact reports that integrated survey data with narrative insights.

The success story of Hanna Center is a testament to the power of starting small and scaling with intention. By treating AI as an operational tool rather than a disruptive force, the organization not only achieved significant efficiencies but also enhanced its internal capabilities, allowing teams to address problems more independently.

This case exemplifies that the future of work, particularly in fields like legal operations, will not be dictated by automation alone but by how we harness technology to support and strengthen organizational goals through deliberate and thoughtful application. In the case of Hanna Center, AI was not a replacement for human effort but a catalyst for better, more focused work.