'Embrace change' | UK law firm offers staff £1m bonus pot if they use AI

A major UK law firm has become the first in the country to tie a firmwide bonus to the use of artificial intelligence - offering employees a share of £1 million if they collectively log one million Microsoft Copilot prompts over the next financial year.

Shoosmiths, which employs over 1,700 people across 13 locations, is hoping the target will accelerate adoption of AI across its business. The initiative forms part of the firm’s collegiate bonus pool, available to all staff, and is designed to embed new technology into day-to-day workflows while improving client outcomes.

“A culture of embracing change”

If every Shoosmiths colleague uses Copilot just four times per working day, the goal will be exceeded, with usage tracked and shared monthly to build momentum. CEO David Jackson called the move a reflection of the firm’s long-term commitment to innovation, saying: “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.”

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He added: “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. It’s not just about how many times someone uses AI - it’s about how well we use it and the benefits it will have for our clients.”