Use Zoom AI Meeting Summaries for Depositions and Client Calls

What This Does

Zoom's AI automatically generates a summary of what was discussed in any Zoom meeting, including client calls, deposition prep sessions, and internal attorney meetings, so you never have to take frantic notes again.

Before You Start

• You have Zoom installed (desktop app)
• Your firm's Zoom plan includes meeting summary (included with eligible paid Zoom Workplace plans, Pro and above; may need account admin to enable)
• You're a meeting host or co-host (starting the AI summary requires host-level access)

Steps

1. Start the meeting summary

Once the meeting has started, hover over the AI icon in the meeting controls toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Select the Meeting summary checkbox, then click Start Zoom AI. Participants will see a notification that AI summary is active. Zoom used to call this "AI Companion" and dropped that name in 2026, so older help articles and colleagues may still use the old term.

2. Run your meeting normally

Conduct the meeting as you normally would. Zoom's AI runs in the background, processing the audio and generating a live transcript.

3. Access the summary after the meeting

When the meeting ends, Zoom sends you an email with the meeting summary. You can also find it in Zoom's web portal under recordings, in the AI section. The summary includes: key discussion points, decisions made, and action items identified.

4. Review and file the summary

Read through the summary for accuracy. Copy the action items into Clio or your case management system. Save the summary as a case note or attach it to the matter file. For deposition prep sessions, the action items and attorney instructions captured here are valuable reference material.

Real Example

Scenario: A 45-minute call with the supervising attorney and client to prepare for an upcoming deposition.

During the meeting: Normal conversation, you don't take separate notes.

What you get after: Summary: "45-minute deposition prep call for Smith matter. Key points: (1) Client will testify about the July 2023 contract signing. attorney wants client to focus on the in-person negotiation details; (2) Attorney flagged that opposing counsel will likely ask about the email chain from August 2023. client instructed how to respond; (3) Action items: paralegal to pull August 2023 emails before deposition; client to review contract exhibits; final prep call scheduled for Friday."

Tips

• Inform all participants at the start that AI summary is active. this is required ethically and professionally
• Do NOT enable AI recording for attorney-client privileged calls without clearing it with the supervising attorney first. check your firm's AI policy
• Review the summary immediately after the call while your memory is fresh. AI occasionally misattributes who said what in group calls

Tool interfaces change, if a button has moved, look for similar AI/smart options in the same menu area.