A Kogarah law firm has implemented AI-powered document review tools that have significantly accelerated property transaction processing, giving their clients an edge in Sydney’s competitive real estate market.

Mitchell & Associates, which has provided conveyancing and property law services from Railway Parade for 30 years, adopted the technology after recognising that transaction speed has become crucial in the current market.

“Properties sell fast. Contracts need to be reviewed fast,” explained principal solicitor Rebecca Mitchell. “Buyers who can move quickly have a significant advantage. We needed to support that.”

The Challenge

Traditional document review for property transactions involves solicitors manually reading contracts, identifying issues, checking compliance, and advising clients. A standard contract review might take 2-4 hours of professional time.

“Every contract is different, but a lot of the review is systematic,” Mitchell explained. “Checking standard clauses, identifying unusual conditions, flagging potential problems. Important work, but repetitive.”

Clients waiting for reviews faced delays that sometimes cost them properties, particularly in multi-offer situations where vendors favoured buyers who could move quickly.

AI Implementation

The firm implemented AI tools that analyse contracts and supporting documents, flagging issues for solicitor review rather than requiring reading from scratch.

The system:

• Compares contracts against standard templates, highlighting deviations
• Identifies unusual or potentially problematic clauses
• Checks disclosed information against public records
• Generates preliminary reports for solicitor review and client discussion

“The AI does the first pass,” Mitchell explained. “It shows me where to focus attention. I still review everything personally, but I’m looking at what matters rather than wading through boilerplate.”

Results

Since implementation, the firm has reduced average contract review time from 3 hours to 75 minutes. This translates to faster turnaround for clients and lower costs.

“We’ve cut our conveyancing fees by 20%,” Mitchell noted. “We’re not working less hard; we’re working more efficiently. Passing those savings to clients makes us more competitive.”

The firm has seen a 35% increase in conveyancing matters over the past six months, attributed partly to word-of-mouth about their faster service.

Maintaining Quality

Mitchell emphasised that AI hasn’t replaced professional judgment. Every document is still reviewed by a qualified solicitor, and all advice is provided by humans.

“AI finds things. Lawyers understand what those things mean. A clause that’s unusual isn’t necessarily problematic; context matters. That’s where legal expertise comes in.”

The firm has also invested in additional professional development to ensure staff understand both the AI tools and their limitations.

Client Response

Clients have responded positively to faster service, often without knowing AI is involved.

“I just know my solicitor gets back to me quickly with thorough advice,” said recent client James Chen. “Whether they use AI or carrier pigeons, I don’t really care. The results are what matter.”

When clients do ask about the technology, Mitchell is transparent about its role while emphasising the continued importance of professional oversight.

Industry Adoption

Legal AI tools are gaining traction across the profession, though adoption varies. Larger firms have resources for sophisticated implementations, while smaller practices often lack technical expertise.

“We’re in a middle ground,” Mitchell observed. “Big enough to invest in technology, small enough to implement it quickly. That’s actually an advantage.”

The firm is now exploring AI applications for other practice areas, including wills and estates documentation.