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Survey Reveals Growing AI Adoption in Legal Practice Amid Concerns
March 7, 2025, 1:20 pm CST
AI is altering the legal landscape, with firms exploring its potential while acknowledging its limitations. (Image from Shutterstock)
The landscape of legal practice is shifting as artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly finds its place in the workspace. According to the 2024 Legal Technology Survey Report from the American Bar Association (ABA), while AI is not poised to replace attorneys, it is reshaping their workflows in significant ways.
Growing Acceptance of AI
The survey indicates a notable increase in the acceptance of AI within the legal profession. Currently, 13% of lawyers consider AI mainstream, a substantial rise from the 4% reported in 2023. Furthermore, 45% anticipate that AI will reach mainstream status within the next three years.
AI Adoption Rates Across Different Firm Sizes
Data from the report reveals that 30% of attorneys are currently implementing AI in their practices. The adoption rates vary significantly among law firms based on size:
- 46% of firms with 500 or more attorneys
- 30% of firms with 10-49 attorneys
- 18% of solo practitioners
Barriers to Implementation
Despite the growing use of AI, many lawyers remain cautious. The primary concern cited—by 75% of respondents—is the perceived inaccuracies of AI, often described as “hallucinations.” This skepticism poses a barrier to broader adoption.
Expert Insights on AI Integration
Emily Colbert, Senior Vice President of CoCounsel Litigation at Thomson Reuters, emphasizes the need for responsible AI usage: “This shows that firms are taking AI seriously and understand the importance of verification and responsible implementation. The firms successfully using AI today aren’t waiting for perfection; they’re pairing AI with human oversight, applying guardrails and ensuring reliability.”
Methods of Learning and Implementing AI
To enhance their understanding and utilization of AI, many law firms are turning to continuing legal education (CLE) seminars and webinars. This is particularly true for smaller firms, with 68% of firms consisting of two to nine attorneys seeking out such educational resources.
Popular AI Tools Among Law Firms
Different tools are being explored across the industry, with over half (52%) of firms contemplating or actively using ChatGPT. Other notable applications include:
- Thomson Reuters CoCounsel at 26%
- Lexis+ AI at 24%
Billing Practices Remain Unchanged
Despite the transformative potential of AI, 67% of law firms continue to adhere to traditional hourly billing practices. This suggests a historical reluctance to abandon established methods, even in the face of innovation.
The Need for Technological Adaptation
Patrick Wright, a partner at The Wright Firm, notes a trend among larger firms: “Normally, early adoption of tech starts at smaller firms because they lack the bureaucracy that larger firms have. However, larger firms are now attracting younger attorneys who are comfortable and proficient with AI technology.”
AI is being employed by firms for a variety of purposes, with 54% acknowledging its role in enhancing efficiency, while 9% appreciate its benefits in document management and review. However, reliability and security remain prevalent concerns that inhibit full trust in AI systems.
Looking Beyond AI: Additional Legal Technologies
Law firms are also reporting high engagement with other legal technology solutions. Westlaw, including its Westlaw Precision with CoCounsel, is utilized by 46% of respondents, while Lexis/Lexis+ follows with 25%.
Moreover, communication through social media platforms persists, with LinkedIn being the preferred choice among firms. Although Facebook remains popular, X (formerly known as Twitter) has seen a decline in use among larger firms, dropping from 39% in 2023 to 21% in 2025. Interestingly, solo practitioners are increasingly utilizing X, with 28% reporting usage compared to 24% in 2023.
The Road Ahead for Legal Technology
Wright insists that the legal industry still has much ground to cover in embracing technology: “We’re basically in the 1990s for the internet… with each passing day, new advancements emerge, and firms will eventually recognize the value of these innovations.”
