According to the 2024 Generative AI in Professional Services report by the Thomson Reuters Institute, legal professionals are increasingly exploring the potential of generative AI (GenAI) in their work despite hesitations about its responsible use.
The report reveals that 81 percent of professionals believe GenAI can be applied to their industry, with this sentiment higher in law firms and corporate legal departments (85 percent) and slightly lower in government agencies (77 percent). However, the figures show more hesitance regarding whether GenAI should be used. Over half of respondents support its application in their industry, while 30 percent remain unsure.
Corporate legal departments show the strongest support for GenAI, with 62 percent endorsing its use, compared to just over half of law firm professionals. This discrepancy may lead to pressure on law firms from clients seeking the efficiency benefits GenAI promises. Government law agencies and courts are more skeptical, with only 40 percent and 47 percent, respectively, believing in GenAI's applicability.
Advocates for GenAI highlight its potential for significant cost savings and improved efficiency. It allows legal professionals to focus on high-value tasks and improves quality control. A law firm partner noted, “It will if used correctly, make it possible to provide more efficient legal services and advice at a higher quality and speed. Access to justice has been a growing problem since I started practice over 20 years ago, and this could be a game changer.”
However, concerns about the reliability and accuracy of GenAI solutions persist. Professionals emphasize the need to use trusted sources and verify information generated by these tools. AI-Assisted Research from Westlaw Precision, for example, provides detailed summaries and case recommendations, ensuring transparency in its sources.
There is also apprehension about the lack of human touch in GenAI tools. One law firm partner stated, “Much of what we do is a function of feel, circumstances, personality, etc., which I believe is difficult to replicate with a computer.” While GenAI can streamline tasks like sifting through cases and contracts, human oversight remains crucial for strategy development and stakeholder engagement.
Survey respondents identified several practical applications for GenAI, including legal research, document review, and document summarization. Law firms, courts, and government agencies see its utility in drafting briefs, memos, and correspondence, while corporate legal teams value its role in contract drafting and data extraction. Thomson Reuters products like AI-Assisted Research on Westlaw Precision and CoCounsel Drafting integrate GenAI to enhance these functions.
Despite the promising potential, widespread GenAI adoption is still on the horizon, with only 12 percent of surveyed organizations using it regularly. As more legal-specific tools enter the market, this number is expected to grow, potentially reshaping the careers of many legal professionals. This period of cautious experimentation is likely to drive significant growth and evolution in the legal industry.
The 2024 Generative AI in Professional Services report from the Thomson Reuters Institute provides a deeper dive into these trends, exploring attitudes toward governance, business impact, and client relationships.