In this series of tips, we will explore how Microsoft 365 can help law firms be more efficient, secure, and efficient. Your firm’s software and service subscriptions are a valuable business resource that you should understand, just like your firm’s operating and trust accounts. Be sure to read our previous posts about Microsoft365 to be sure you are using the best account type for your law practice and understand which Microsoft subscription you are using. In this post, we will discuss your options for using and subscribing to Microsoft Copilot.
Understanding Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot is an AI service that can be used as a standalone AI assistant or can be integrated into your Microsoft 365 account — where it accesses and works within your own email and your own documents. To use Copilot within your own data, you must have a Microsoft Business account and add a Copilot Pro subscription to your account ($30/month per user). Let’s begin by understanding the difference between the free versions of Copilot and the paid/subscription version.
Copilot For Free
Anyone can access limited features of Copilot using its home on the web: https://copilot.microsoft.com. There is no need to log in, but access is limited. If you use or create a Microsoft account, you will be able to ask more questions, have longer conversations, and save your queries. As with many other AI tools, you can use text, voice, and images in a conversational format to search for and generate information.
Copilot is built into Windows 10 and 11 (assuming you keep it updated) and is available for macOS and iOS. There is even an Android app that can be used using the same rules above.
Microsoft Copilot Pro
For business users (*ahem* attention attorneys), Microsoft offers Copilot Pro as part of a business/work Microsoft 365 subscription. It’s $30 a month per user and you must add it as a service to your account. Its features are the same as the free version with a couple of notable exceptions: data protection and access to your own work.
Commercial data protection ensures the security and privacy of your data. This means your data is protected from unauthorized access and handled according to the highest industry standards. Furthermore, Microsoft Copilot Pro’s data protection capabilities extend across all devices (remember to be logged in to your business account), ensuring secure access to your data whether you’re on a desktop, laptop, or mobile device. This comprehensive approach to data protection provides attorneys with peace of mind, knowing your data is secure in the digital landscape.
Copilot Pro is available in Word, Excel (currently in preview), PowerPoint, and Outlook. You can use Copilot to create drafts, swiftly summarize long emails, and easily design beautiful slides on any topic. New capabilities coming in April will help you quickly retrieve information from files in your OneDrive. Once released, it will appear as a sidebar where you can ask questions about OneDrive files using a conversational format. Watch this video Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot with Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote.
Copilot Pro in Word can help you generate drafts, provide document or section summaries, rewrite your content, or change the tone of a paragraph or sentence. Watch this video on YouTube to learn more about How To Use Microsoft Copilot in Word.
Copilot Pro in Outlook summarizes long threads, offers suggested replies, and helps you draft emails with the tone you choose. Watch this video to see some examples of how Outlook may be able to help you save time when working on emails.
If you are a member of the SDCBA and need help with Microsoft Copilot or if you have any other questions, please make a free appointment to meet with the SDCBA’s Technology & Practice Management Advisor, Adriana Linares.