Top 10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing Legal AI Software (+ How Frith Answers Them)
Ten essential questions to ask any legal AI vendor — on security, governance, accuracy, integration, and cost — with how Frith answers each.
Frith Editorial
Editorial team covering practical legal technology, AI workflows, and law firm operations.
Buying legal AI software without the right questions is how firms end up with shelfware or, worse, a confidentiality problem. The questions below cut through demos to what actually matters: security, governance, accuracy, and fit. Use them with any vendor; the "how Frith answers" notes show one platform's responses so you can compare. Always verify vendor answers against current documentation.
The ten questions
- Where does our data go when we use AI? Ask about providers and data handling. Frith: BYOK lets firms control the AI provider where relevant.
- Can we govern which AI provider is used? Frith: Yes, via BYOK, aligning AI use with firm policy.
- Is AI built in or an add-on? Frith: AI-native — the AI Terminal and templates are part of the platform.
- Does AI work with our matter context? Frith: Yes — AI runs beside the open matter.
- How do you handle accuracy and hallucination risk? Frith: Human-in-the-loop by design; output is a draft for lawyer review.
- What practice management does it include? Frith: Matters, billing, trust accounting, communications, calendar, tasks, analytics.
- How does it integrate with our existing tools? Frith: API-first with a growing integration catalog — confirm specifics.
- What security and access controls exist? Frith: Access controls and a matter-centric audit trail; confirm certifications directly.
- How is it priced, and what is the total cost? Frith: All-in-one pricing that can replace several tools — verify current pricing.
- How fast can we adopt it? Frith: Designed for fast adoption without a long implementation.
Why these questions matter
The first five questions are about risk — confidentiality, governance, and accuracy — which are the areas where legal AI can do real harm if mishandled. The next five are about fit and value — whether the tool actually integrates into how your firm works and whether it pays for itself. A vendor that answers the risk questions vaguely deserves extra scrutiny, regardless of how impressive the demo looks.
Questions and answers at a glance
| Question | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Where does data go? | Clear provider/data handling; BYOK is a plus |
| Provider governance | Firm control over AI use |
| Built-in vs add-on | AI in the core workflow |
| Matter context | Grounded, relevant output |
| Accuracy handling | Human-in-the-loop review |
| Practice management | Coverage of daily work |
| Integration | Connects to your stack |
| Security | Access controls, audit, certifications |
| Total cost | Tools replaced, not list price |
| Adoption speed | Fast time to value |
The accuracy point deserves emphasis
No legal AI is reliable without review. The right answer to the accuracy question is never "our AI is always correct" — it is "the workflow keeps a qualified human in control." Frith treats AI output as a draft for lawyer verification against primary sources, with jurisdiction-specific judgment. Any vendor claiming AI you can trust unverified is a red flag.
Who this is best for
Any firm evaluating legal AI should use these questions, but they are especially valuable for firms formalizing AI governance and for those without technical staff who need plain answers. Larger firms will add procurement and security-review questions on top.
FAQ
What is the single most important question?
"Where does our data go?" Confidentiality is foundational; a vague answer is disqualifying.
Why does built-in vs add-on matter?
Built-in AI runs against matter context in the workflow; add-ons often mean more tools, configuration, and paste-in/paste-out.
How should accuracy be handled?
With human-in-the-loop review. Treat AI output as a draft to verify, never a final product.
Does BYOK really matter for buyers?
For firms formalizing governance, yes — it gives control over the AI provider and terms.
How do I compare total cost?
Count the tools a platform would replace, not just its list price.
Is there a free trial?
Frith offers a no-credit-card 14-day free trial.
Next step
Take these ten questions into your next vendor demo. Then start a free Frith trial or book a demo to see how the answers hold up on your own work.