New survey finds over half of in-house lawyers use generative AI in their practice
A recent survey of more than 650 in-house legal professionals found that more than half are already using generative artificial intelligence tools in their legal practice, while the few abstaining from using the same tools are citing concerns about their reliability and how inputted data will be used.
According to the survey, 53 percent of respondents across 30 countries have incorporated generative AI tools into their practice.
Another 14 percent are working with those tools via beta products, proof of concept applications, or testing environments, while 17 percent of respondents are actively planning to use the tools in the future by evaluating options and talking to vendors.
Fourteen percent of respondents said they are passively planning to use generative AI in the future. Two percent are neither using those tools nor have plans to use them in the future.
The Association of Corporate Counsel and legal tech company Everlaw conducted the survey in June and July. Respondents spanned 657 in-house counsel and legal operations professionals who are ACC members in 30 countries, including the US and Canada.
Among those respondents who are not using generative AI tools and do not plan to use them moving forward, 82 percent said they did not trust the tools’ quality or reliability. Fifty-five percent reported concerns about how the data they plug into generative AI tools will be used, while 45 percent said they did not do work that generative AI could improve.
However, those respondents also reported barriers preventing them from using generative AI tools. Forty-five percent said generative AI is not a priority or initiative at their workplace. Thirty-six percent said they did not have the budget for the tools, while nine percent reported company policies banning the use of generative AI for work matters.
Respondents who already use the technology identified drafting advice, contracts, and policies, conducting legal research, and communicating and collaborating with their teams as the types of legal work that have benefited most from using generative AI tools.
Survey respondents also reported benefits they believe they’ll see soon. Sixty-four percent of respondents said generative AI tools will likely help them reduce their reliance on third-party providers for routine tasks, while 50 percent said they anticipate spending less money on third-party services like outside counsel or managed service providers.
Veta Richardson, ACC president and CEO, told Canadian Lawyer by email this week that her biggest takeaway from the survey is that in-house lawyers are becoming increasingly comfortable with generative AI tools.
Adoption of those tools “has accelerated across in-house legal teams,” Richardson said.
“Across the board, GenAI users tend to be more optimistic about the technology,” she added. “Those who actively engage with GenAI are developing greater trust in the tools, recognize their potential, and express fewer concerns about possible negative impacts.”
Richardson also noted the survey’s findings that generative AI has catalyzed many respondents to want to push for changes in how legal services are delivered and priced.
“This reflects a growing willingness among in-house teams to challenge traditional models and explore new approaches,” she said.
