In a significant move for the legal sector, the international law firm Ropes & Gray has announced the European rollout of a pioneering initiative that grants junior lawyers a substantial portion of their billable time to work with artificial intelligence.
TrAIlblazers Programme Crosses the Atlantic
The firm's 'TrAIlblazers' programme, first trialled in its US offices last year, is now being implemented for newly qualified (NQ) lawyers and trainees in its European bases, including its prestigious City of London office. The core of the scheme is a notable allowance: participants can dedicate 20 per cent of their billable hours to hands-on experimentation with generative AI tools.
This dedicated time is designed for junior staff to rigorously test the firm's suite of AI applications, pilot new workflows for actual client matters, and develop best practices that will be disseminated across the global firm. Their direct feedback is expected to be crucial in shaping how Ropes & Gray integrates AI into both client service and internal professional development.
Structured Support and Real-World Application
The programme is not a simple free-for-all. To ensure effective learning and application, all participating staff will receive a blend of formal and on-demand training. They will also join mentoring circles led by senior partners and collaborate in peer cohorts to tackle genuine client challenges, ensuring the AI exploration has practical, value-driven outcomes.
Ropes & Gray utilises a variety of specialised AI tools, including:
- Hebbia for deep transactional analysis.
- Intelligent Legal Solutions' (ILS) ProVision for managing side letters.
- Harvey for general generative AI tasks.
Jane Rogers, a partner at the firm, commented on the expansion: "Our TrAIlblazers programme – successfully piloted in the US and now introduced in Europe – provides our early-stage lawyers with a strong foundation in the transformative potential of AI, and ensures they have dedicated time to develop proficiency with these critical technologies."
Investing in the Future of Legal Work
The initiative represents a major investment in the firm's future talent. At Ropes & Gray's City office, newly qualified lawyers, the most junior rank, command a base salary of £165,000 per year, plus bonus. Allocating a fifth of their chargeable time to AI upskilling underscores the strategic importance the firm places on technological adoption.
"Our NQs and trainees are integral to the firm’s success," Rogers added. "By enabling them to harness these advancements, we empower them to deliver greater value for our clients and enhance their own professional growth."
This development follows other notable tech-driven incentives in the UK legal market, such as Shoosmiths awarding staff an extra £1 million in bonuses after lawyers hit a firm-wide target of one million Microsoft Copilot prompts, signalling a broader industry trend towards actively embedding AI into legal practice.
