What AI agents can – and can’t – do for lawyers, procurement specialists, and administrative professionals

AI agents are reshaping professional work; automating repetitive tasks, surfacing insights from data, and making processes faster and more reliable. According to a recent study by Icertis, 90 % of procurement leaders have already considered or are using AI agents in their operations.

For lawyers, procurement specialists, and administrative professionals, it’s not about whether AI agents will arrive – it’s about how to use them effectively. Each role benefits differently, but all rely on one constant: human judgment.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• Why AI agents are accelerating change in legal, procurement, and administrative work
• What AI agents can do – and what they can’t – for these professionals
• Why CLM (contract lifecycle management) software remains critical in the era of AI agents

1. Lawyers: From document review to strategic advisor

AI agents are becoming an indispensable part of legal operations, taking over repetitive, data-heavy work so lawyers can focus on strategy and client relationships.

AI agents can:

• Automate contract review and drafting using standard templates
• Speed up legal research with intelligent document search and summarization
• Provide predictive analytics to estimate outcomes or risk exposure
• Ensure consistency and compliance through automated document workflows

However, legal work often requires contextual understanding and nuance that even advanced agents can’t replicate.

AI agents cannot:

• Interpret legal nuances or client-specific contexts
• Provide custom legal advice that requires human judgment
• Handle complex negotiations or advocacy that rely on persuasion and empathy

💡 AI agents are the tireless associates, reviewing, organizing, and analyzing, while lawyers bring the strategy, judgment, and empathy.

2. Procurement Specialists: From paperwork to partnership building

Procurement teams increasingly rely on AI agents to process supplier data, identify savings, and manage risks in real time.

AI agents can:

• Automate supplier evaluation and compare bids
• Identify spending patterns and opportunities for cost savings
• Automatically generate and track purchase orders and contract milestones
• Monitor supplier risks via real-time data and alerts

But relationship-building and strategic sourcing decisions still depend on people.

AI agents cannot:

• Build long-term supplier relationships based on trust and rapport
• Make strategic sourcing decisions that consider business goals and market dynamics
• Resolve complex disputes where human diplomacy is key

💡 AI agents crunch the numbers; procurement professionals build the partnerships.

3. Administrative professionals: From scheduling to strategic support

In administrative roles, AI agents act as proactive digital assistants that keep operations running smoothly behind the scenes.

AI agents can:

• Automate calendar management, email sorting, and routine communication
• Organize and retrieve documents with intelligent tagging
• Handle expense reporting, reminders, and task tracking
• Analyze workflows and suggest process improvements

But there are limits to what agents can anticipate or decide.

AI agents cannot:

• Exercise judgment in prioritizing sensitive or complex tasks
• Provide emotional intelligence in interpersonal or HR-related matters
• Shape company culture and ensure the “human touch” in daily operations

💡 AI agents handle the routine; people bring empathy, adaptability, and connection.

🔑 Key takeaways: Human + AI agents = amplified performance

• AI agents enhance, not replace. They handle repetitive, data-heavy tasks, allowing professionals to focus on strategy, relationships, and creativity.
• Each role benefits differently. Lawyers gain efficiency and accuracy, procurement specialists gain visibility and insights, and administrative professionals gain time and focus.
• Human intelligence remains essential. Judgment, empathy, and strategic thinking are what turn automation into real business value.
• The future is collaborative. Success belongs to teams that combine trusted AI tools with human experience and responsibility.

Interested in learning more about AI agents and CLM? Read this article about AI agents and data security.

If you’re looking to build AI readiness in your legal team, watch this on-demand webinar to discover how to turn your organization’s data into a foundation for AI.