AI Trends

UK law firms urged to adopt AI technology to stay competitive

Thursday, 23 January 2025 3:47PM UTC

As UK law firms face mounting pressure to integrate AI, industry experts highlight the importance of a proactive approach to harness the benefits and mitigate risks associated with this technology.

In 2025, UK law firms are facing significant pressure to incorporate AI technology as they strategise on its implementation to assess the associated risks and benefits. This insight comes from industry experts who have shared their predictions on the integration of AI into the legal sector, highlighting the urgency for firms to adopt a more proactive approach to avoid falling behind in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Stu White, the Product and Engineering Director at Access Legal, a prominent provider of software and services tailored to the legal market, has been a key voice in the dialogue surrounding AI's potential within law firms. White emphasised that AI's strength lies in enhancing productivity rather than replacing the indispensable legal advice provided by lawyers. “As more AI tools become available, it will become clear to lawyers that the technology is not a substitute for legal advice, and nor should it be," White said, adding that “the power of AI is in its ability to reduce the hours of tedious admin which detracts from the time which could be spent providing legal advice.”

The discussion took place during the launch of a blog titled ‘AI in the legal sector: ‘AI will replace admin - not legal advice’, which promises to provide further analysis on the subject. Legal experts, including Such Amin, a Senior Partner at Aequitas Legal and founder of the inCase app, expressed concern over the potential repercussions of delaying AI adoption. “If law firms don’t implement AI in a considered and strategic way now, they’ll be forced to adopt it quickly to avoid being left by the wayside in the future, which is far more risky,” Amin warned. He pointed out that while the UK grapples with a lack of legislation regarding AI and no defined guidelines from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), law firms should not be deterred from pursuing technological advancements.

Stephen Mayson, a barrister and honorary professor at University College London, encouraged firms to foster a ‘strategising mindset’. “All firms could benefit from using AI to make routine processes faster, cheaper and more predictable. To do so successfully, they need an AI strategy,” he noted. This sentiment was echoed by Clare Bonsall, head of product at Access Legal, who highlighted AI's potential for transforming routine tasks into efficient processes that benefit both employees and clients.

Further supporting this momentum, recent research by Access Legal revealed that 80% of legal workers believe their firms could gain from increased utilisation of AI technology. Notably, 44% of those surveyed reported already using AI in their roles, showcasing a growing trend towards integrating AI solutions in the legal profession.

As firms prepare for the changes that AI integration will bring, this ongoing dialogue underscores the necessity for law firms to establish strategies that align with emerging technologies. The publication marks the beginning of a series dedicated to exploring AI's role in the legal sector and how embracing such advancements can distinguish firms in an increasingly competitive environment.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.clio.com/uk/blog/ai-technology-trends/ - This article supports the claim that UK law firms are rapidly integrating AI into their operations, with 96% of firms already using AI and 62% planning to expand its use. It highlights AI's role in enhancing productivity and client service.
https://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/blog/future-of-law/the-future-of-ai-in-barristers-practice-a-2025-perspective - This article discusses the future of AI in barristers' practice, emphasizing its potential to enhance efficiency and client service. It notes that two-thirds of barristers are already using or planning to use generative AI.
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/ai-and-lawtech/partner-content/five-ways-to-get-ahead-with-ai-in-2025 - This article provides strategies for law firms to leverage AI effectively, addressing concerns about compliance and trust while highlighting AI's benefits in streamlining legal processes.
https://www.noahwire.com - This is the source of the original article discussing the integration of AI in UK law firms and the need for strategic adoption to remain competitive.
https://www.accesslegal.com - Access Legal is mentioned as a key provider of software and services for the legal sector, with insights from Stu White and Clare Bonsall on AI's role in enhancing productivity.
https://www.aequitaslegal.com - Aequitas Legal is mentioned as the firm of Such Amin, who expressed concerns about the risks of delaying AI adoption in law firms.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/people/stephen-mayson - Stephen Mayson is a barrister and honorary professor at University College London, emphasizing the need for law firms to develop an AI strategy to streamline routine processes.
https://www.sra.org.uk - The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is mentioned as lacking defined guidelines on AI, despite its growing importance in the legal sector.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2021%3A0206%3AFIN - This link refers to the EU AI Act, which is part of the broader regulatory landscape affecting AI adoption in law firms across Europe.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative references current trends and predictions for 2025, indicating it is relatively fresh. However, there is no specific mention of recent events or updates that would confirm its absolute timeliness.

Quotes check

Score: 6

Notes: Quotes from Stu White, Such Amin, and Stephen Mayson are included, but their earliest known references could not be verified online. This suggests they might be original or recent, but without further evidence, it's difficult to confirm.

Source reliability

Score: 5

Notes: The narrative originates from Legal IT Professionals, which is not a widely recognised publication like the Financial Times or BBC. While it may have some credibility within the legal technology sector, its general reliability is uncertain.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims about AI integration in law firms are plausible given the current technological landscape. The narrative aligns with common discussions about AI's role in enhancing productivity without replacing legal advice.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative appears to be relatively fresh and plausible, discussing current trends in AI adoption by law firms. However, the reliability of the source is uncertain, and quotes could not be verified against earlier references. Therefore, while the content seems plausible, further verification is needed to confirm its accuracy.

AI in law
legal technology
law firms