Why Law Firms Must Prioritize AI Adoption

Why Law Firms Must Prioritize AI Adoption

Joan Feldman, Editor-In-Chief of Attorney at Work, cites the Thomson Reuters 2025 Future of Professionals Report in an article that says law firm leaders who are still undecided on artificial intelligence (AI) will fall behind and risk irrelevance within three years. 

Drawing from responses from over 2,200 global professionals, the report outlines a widening competitive gap between firms that have a clear, goal-aligned AI strategy and those that do not. Firms with structured approaches are not only 3.9 times more likely to see tangible benefits from AI, they’re also nearly twice as likely to report revenue growth compared to those using AI in an ad hoc manner.

The data points to a $32 billion annual efficiency opportunity in the US legal and CPA sectors alone. Yet many firms remain slow to act, often hindered by concerns around AI accuracy, security, and a lack of internal expertise. Notably, 91% of professionals believe AI outputs should exceed human accuracy, and 41% expect near-perfect precision before trusting AI independently.

Importantly, the report introduces the “AI Success Pyramid,” highlighting four strategic pillars—leadership, strategy, operations, and individual users—that must align for successful adoption. Law firms must not only modernize workflows and governance structures but also invest in people. Upskilling professionals through diverse learning methods and empowering them to experiment is essential.

For managing partners, treating AI adoption as tomorrow’s problem invites a decline in relevance. A deliberate, firm-wide AI strategy, grounded in operational change and professional development, is the path to resilience and growth.