New survey shows exponential growth in legal sector’s use of AI tools for core legal work
The legal profession’s embrace of generative AI has accelerated dramatically over the past year, with more than one in four professionals now actively using the technology, according to a major new study by Thomson Reuters.
The 2025 Generative AI in Professional Services Report surveyed 1,700 legal and professional services experts from the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. It revealed that 26% of respondents in law firms and in-house legal departments are now using Gen AI—up sharply from 14% in 2024.
That growth mirrors a shifting mindset across the industry. Fifty-nine per cent of law firm respondents now say AI should be used for legal work, up from 51% last year, while a third say they use Gen AI tools daily. Client pressure is also a key factor—59% of in-house legal teams want their external firms to adopt the technology, with 8% going as far as to mandate its use in tender documents.
Steve Assie, general manager for global large law firms at Thomson Reuters, believes the shift is being driven by both demand and performance. “Clients see improved productivity that Gen AI can deliver as being in their best interest,” he said.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe report shows how Gen AI is rapidly becoming embedded in legal workflows. Among law firm users, 77% use it for document review, while the same proportion apply it to document summarisation. A further 74% turn to AI for legal research, 59% for drafting briefs or memos, and 58% for contract drafting.
However, despite its growing use, most firms have not yet developed formal ways to track the value of their AI investments. Just 20% are measuring return on investment (ROI). Of those who do, 79% track cost savings, 64% monitor usage, 51% gauge employee satisfaction, and only 38% assess client satisfaction.
The study also highlights unease about the risks associated with the technology. The most commonly cited threat—raised by 36% of respondents—is the unauthorised practice of law. Lawyers worry about AI or non-lawyers offering unregulated legal services. Interestingly, only 15% expressed concern about job losses.
“A consensus is building,” said Assie, “that Gen AI is not going to replace lawyers. It’s a tool, not a substitute. Human expertise remains essential to review and verify its output.”
This view was echoed earlier this year by Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos, who told the LawtechUK Generative AI Event in London that lawyers and judges have “no real choice” but to adopt AI. He noted that the rise of AI will itself create major new fields of legal work—particularly around regulation, intellectual property, and liability.
The report paints a picture of a profession in the midst of digital transformation. While most legal professionals remain cautious, the evidence is clear: generative AI is rapidly becoming integral to legal practice, and the pressure to adopt it—from clients, courts, and competitors—is only set to intensify.
