TLDR: A recent Thomson Reuters report indicates a growing embrace of Artificial Intelligence by legal professionals, who are leveraging AI tools for tasks like document review, legal research, and drafting, potentially saving hundreds of hours annually. While optimism is high regarding efficiency gains and enhanced client value, concerns persist around ethical use, data security, and the need for continued human oversight.
Legal professionals are increasingly embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a transformative force within the industry, according to findings from the 2025 Thomson Reuters’ Future of Professionals Report. The report, which surveyed 2,275 professionals globally, predominantly from the legal sector, highlights a significant shift in sentiment, with lawyers becoming more optimistic about AI’s positive impact on their practices.
AI is no longer a theoretical concept in law; it is actively being integrated into daily workflows. The report reveals that AI is driving substantial productivity gains in routine legal tasks. Specifically, among legal professionals currently utilizing AI tools, 77% use it for document review, 74% for legal research, 74% for summarizing documents, and 59% for drafting briefs or memos. These applications are not merely back-office efficiencies but are becoming trusted partners in core legal workflows. The potential benefits are considerable, with AI tools capable of saving lawyers nearly 240 hours per year, freeing up valuable time for more expertise-driven legal work.
This technological advancement is also reshaping how legal services deliver value to clients, necessitating adaptations to traditional business models. A 2024 Thomson Reuters Institute report on legal sector client relationships noted that technological advancements and shifting demographics are compelling law firms to evolve to meet changing client demands. Many legal professionals express a desire to dedicate more time to complex, strategic legal work in the coming years, a goal that AI can help facilitate by automating repetitive tasks.
Despite the widespread adoption and optimism, concerns remain. The 2025 report points to the ethical use of AI-powered technologies as a significant issue. Respondents emphasize the need for substantial human oversight and clearly defined boundaries for AI usage. Among professionals yet to adopt AI tools, 50% voiced concerns about the quality and usefulness of AI output, while 13% worried about data security implications. The issue of ‘hallucinations’—where AI generates fictitious information or citations—has also been a notable concern, underscoring the critical need for lawyers to validate all AI-generated content.
Looking ahead, it is clear that legal professionals must stay abreast of new AI developments and terminology, including agentic AI and generative AI (GenAI). The legal profession is not expected to be ‘destroyed’ by AI; instead, it will evolve. While AI can automate tasks like creating first drafts of briefs or contracts, human lawyers will remain indispensable for analyzing results, strategic thinking, and client advising. Law school curricula are also anticipated to adapt, keeping pace with changes in technology law, ethics, and data science.
Also Read:
- Bloomberg Law Unveils Comprehensive Report on AI’s Transformative Influence on the Legal Sector
- Small Business AI Adoption Soars, Driving Efficiency and Workforce Growth
Thomson Reuters itself is at the forefront of this transformation, continuously tracking AI’s impact on law and issuing annual research reports. The company has introduced advanced AI tools like CoCounsel Legal, designed to emulate a qualified legal professional’s research process by navigating extensive databases like Westlaw. These tools aim to provide comprehensive and nuanced research reports, while the company actively works to mitigate hallucination risks and encourages users to verify all information. Thomson Reuters’ investment in AI and cloud development, including integrating generative AI across its product suite, signifies a commitment to revolutionizing legal research and drafting for greater efficiency and accuracy.
