Law firm Shoosmiths has linked its employee bonus scheme to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its commitment to innovation in its people-first culture.
The firm has adopted Microsoft’s Copilot tool across its operations to form part of its multi-million collegiate bonus pool, which is available to all staff.
It has set an annual target of one million prompts to unlock a £1 million bonus pot to share with staff in its new financial year, which it stated could be exceeded if every employee uses the programme four times each working day. Usage will be tracked and shared across the organisation, with monthly updates provided to encourage employee collaboration, learning and momentum.
The rollout will be accompanied by an engagement programme, which includes drop-in sessions, hands-on workshops, and an internal knowledge hub for the sharing of practical use cases, tips and success stories.
The aim of the new incentive is to use AI to make a meaningful difference in the work Shoosmiths’ employees do to shape its future and the service they provide. It will also embed AI into the judgement, creativity and insight of its lawyers and business teams by providing new digital tools.
David Jackson, chief executive officer at Shoosmiths, said: “We believe AI is a powerful enabler, one that can help us deliver smarter, faster, better results for our amazing clients beyond what any other law firm is doing. This initiative is about creating a culture where everyone plays a role in embracing change and using technology to raise the bar on client service.
“We don’t fear AI, it won’t replace our people. Instead, it frees them to spend more time on the human-to-human work that really matters: solving problems, building trust, and supporting clients through complexity. We’re giving our people the tools, the space and the encouragement to explore what’s possible together. And that’s where the real power lies.”
