Challenge:

A mid-sized legal services firm in Singapore struggled with the growing volume of client contracts and case files. Lawyers were spending several hours per document manually reviewing repetitive clauses, extracting key points, and preparing client-ready summaries. This repetitive work slowed client delivery, increased operational overheads, and restricted the firm’s ability to scale without hiring additional staff.

Dextralabs’ Approach:

Through workshops and discovery sessions, Dextralabs identified three core areas where AI could deliver the most impact: contract summarization, clause extraction, and semantic search. Given the firm’s sensitivity around client data and compliance obligations under Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), Dextralabs recommended a private cloud-based LLM deployment that balanced scalability with strict data governance.

Implementation Steps:

1. Model Selection & Proof of Concept
   Multiple LLMs, including GPT-based and open-source models, were evaluated for their ability to handle complex legal text. A proof of concept was developed to demonstrate value before full rollout, and the team chose a hybrid fine-tuned model that offered both accuracy and cost-efficiency.
2. Data Preparation & Fine-Tuning
   Thousands of anonymized contracts and past case files were curated to fine-tune the model. This ensured the AI could recognize industry-specific terminology, common contractual structures, and legal phrasing, improving reliability of outputs.
3. Workflow Integration
   APIs were developed to connect the Document AI tool with the firm’s existing document management system (DMS). This allowed new contracts to be automatically ingested, summarized, and tagged, reducing manual work for paralegals and associates.
4. Governance & Security
   To meet PDPA standards, strict encryption protocols, role-based access controls, and detailed audit logs were implemented. This gave partners confidence that sensitive client data remained protected at all times.

Outcome & ROI:

• Contract review time dropped by 50–60%, with many documents now summarized in less than an hour.
• Associates reported saving an average of 15–20 billable hours per week, freeing up time for higher-value legal work.
• Estimated financial impact: USD 12,000–15,000 in additional billable capacity per month, and USD 90,000+ annually in reduced reliance on support staff and outsourcing.
• Clients benefited from quicker turnaround, leading to higher satisfaction scores and a measurable 10% increase in repeat business within the first year.