First-pass contract review
Legal Professional · Paralegal
“First-pass contract review” (Legal Professional) was largely replaced by AI in 2026, after AI entered in 2022.
What this task is
A first read of a contract to flag missing clauses, unfavorable wording, risks and deviations from the company's standard template, producing suggested edits for a lawyer to review.
How AI replaces it
After 2022, contract-review tools built on large language models began checking clauses against preset playbooks, flagging risks and proposing redlines automatically. By 2026, first-pass review of standard commercial contracts is largely handled by such tools.
What stays human
Lawyers concentrate on non-standard terms, the business trade-offs behind each deal and negotiation with the other side, and they remain responsible for the final text that gets signed.