Only 2% of law firms and in-house teams require AI skills from new lawyers
updated on 16 December 2024
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Aspiring lawyers may not need to worry about having AI skills just yet, as only 2% of law firms and in-house teams require their new lawyers to have AI skills, according to Thomson Reuters Institute’s latest report on AI. However, as the use of generative AI continues to grow, it’s expected to become increasingly common for employers in the legal sector to hire candidates with AI familiarity and skills.
The report revealed that across all the surveyed industries, respondents working in the legal industry (85%) were the most likely to believe generative AI could be applied to their work. However, the respondents were more cautious when asked whether generative AI use should be an active part of regular job functions. Only 51% said it should be applied to their industry work, while 30% said they didn’t know.
The uncertainty is reflected on a structural level, as many law firms are still in the “consideration” phase. The survey revealed that only 14% of law firms are using generative AI, while 32% are considering whether to use it and 42% have no plans to use it at the moment.
Caution about the potential risks of the technology was reflected throughout the survey. The main concerns about using generative AI in work were fears about potential inaccuracies, scepticism about its potential to deliver promised results (as it’s in the early stages of development) and concerns with over-reliance on AI. In the legal industry specifically, respondents who were “fearful” of generative AI use were concerned about unethical and fraudulent uses of the technology.
Find out whether you should be using AI in law firm applications.
Despite the concerns, 52% of respondents from legal departments were “hopeful” about the future of generative AI. Of those who were hopeful, 40% cited efficiency as the primary reason for their optimism. In addition, legal industry respondents pointed to the technology’s potential to allow them to spend more time on high-value tasks and to aid in quality control checks.
As generative AI continues to gain prominence, it’s clear that proactive firms are willing and ready to embrace this technology and adapt alongside it.
“Ultimately, as powerful a tool as GenAI can be, it remains just that – a tool. The most successful organisations and professionals will be the ones that use GenAI to augment, not fully replace, what professionals do.”
