Shoosmiths announces £1 million bonus pot to reward AI use

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Shoosmiths has launched a new scheme to increase AI use, encouraging staff to use Microsoft Copilot AI to unlock a £1 million bonus pot.

The extra bonus will be awarded once employees collectively reach one million Copilot prompts. All staff, except partners and business services directors, will benefit. The firm has stated that the target is achievable as it’ll be reached if each employee uses Copilot just four times per working day.

This is one of many steps the firm has taken to increase AI use. The scheme, which is backed by a partnership with Microsoft, also includes training and a firmwide “knowledge hub”, where teams can share AI use cases and success stories. Shoosmiths has also created new internal roles, such as a new head of innovation and a team of innovation leads.

Shoosmiths CEO David Jackson emphasised the firm's stance on new technology, stating: “We don’t fear AI.” The firm hopes that increased AI use will enable lawyers to spend more time on “the human-to-human work that really matters: solving problems, building trust and supporting clients through complexity.” The firm assured that AI “won’t replace” any staff. It’s also stated that its working to manage “upstream emissions from AI” as part of its goal to reach net zero by 2040.

Shoosmiths isn’t the only firm creating new AI strategies. Recently, magic circle law firm A&O Shearman introduced a new innovation tool aimed at tasks usually performed by senior lawyers and Kingsley Napley LLP  has announced that it’s developing a new AI knowledge amplification tool.

Shoosmiths is also embracing AI at the application stage. Check out this video to discover more.