LexisNexis Legal & Professional, a leading global provider of legal information and analytics, has released a new report entitled, Generative AI and the future of the legal profession, which highlights a disconnect between in-house counsels’ and law firms’ expectation of generative AI adoption.
Forty-nine percent of in-house counsel expect their law firms to be using generative AI in the next 12 months, and of that percentage, 11% expect firms to be already using the technology. Only 8% didn’t want AI used on their work. In contrast, 24% of firms believe their clients would not want them to use AI.
The survey of 1,175 UK legal professionals, conducted in May to June 2023, finds 87% are aware of generative AI tools, and of that group, 95% agree these tools will have an impact on the practice of law (38% said it will have a significant impact,11% said it will be transformative and 46% thought it would have ‘some impact’). Nearly three-quarters (70%) of in-house counsel agree or strongly agree that law firms should be using cutting edge technology, including generative AI tools.
While only 36% of respondents have ever used generative AI in a personal or professional capacity, adoption rates are likely to accelerate in the coming months, with 39% saying they are currently exploring opportunities. This rose to 64% when analysing responses from large law firms alone, and to 47% when looking at responses from in-house lawyers.
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