Lawyers see AI as a force for good, but worry their firms aren’t adapting fast enough
New research has found that four in five (79%) UK lawyers believe AI will have a major or transformative impact on the legal profession within the next five years. That’s an 11 percentage point increase from 2023.
Thomson Reuters’ Future of Professionals 2024 report highlights the positive impact of artificial intelligence on the sector, but also reveals growing concerns about the pace of development.
Strikingly, the research shows that almost one in three (29%) are concerned that their company is moving too slowly to implement AI.
Lawyers prepare for the transformative benefits of AI
British lawyers have already seen AI have a dramatic impact on legal services, with those using such tools noting improved customer service and improvements in time efficiency. According to research by Reuters, British lawyers could lead the world in AI adoption.
Three quarters (73%) see AI as a force for good, with an overwhelming majority (92%) believing it is ethically acceptable to use AI for basic concepts. This is a higher acceptance rate than any other region surveyed.
Half (54%) expect their work to use AI tools within the next five years. However, despite the optimism, UK lawyers are more concerned about their US and Canadian counterparts when it comes to their firms’ readiness.
Kriti Sharma, Chief Product Officer for Legal Tech at Thomson Reuters, sums it up: “As a profession, lawyers are acutely aware of the potential of AI. UK lawyers are among the most enthusiastic, with many keen to see their firms embrace AI more quickly.”
Sharma indicated that AI technologies will complement rather than replace human workers: “It has quickly become clear that lawyers will not lose their jobs to AI, but they may lose their jobs to another lawyer who uses AI.”
Looking ahead, it is clear that companies, both inside and outside the legal sector, must move quickly to implement AI tools or risk being left behind.
