UK Lawyers Embrace AI, but Firm Culture Slow to Change
LexisNexis®, a leading global provider of legal information and analytics, released a new report, The AI Culture Clash. The findings show that adoption of AI tools is accelerating rapidly, with 61% of lawyers now using AI in their day-to-day work compared to 46% in January 2025. At the same time, the proportion of lawyers with no plans to adopt AI has dropped from 15% to just 6%.
While adoption is surging, confidence and culture are lagging. Only 17% of lawyers say that AI is fully embedded in strategy and operations, with two-thirds reporting their organisation’s AI culture is slow or non-existent.
Among those already using AI, just over half (51%) have chosen tools designed specifically for the legal sector, with adoption particularly high among medium-sized firms (70%). Confidence in AI rises significantly when it is grounded in trusted legal sources: 88% of those using legal AI exclusively said they feel more confident in its output.
Private practice lawyers are using the time saved by AI to both drive commercial outcomes and improve well-being. Over half (56%) reported spending the extra time saved through AI to increase billable work, while 53% said they have used the time to enjoy a better work-life balance.
Priorities differ by firm size and role. Large firms focus on commercial gains, while smaller firms value well-being more highly. Across all firm sizes, associates are prioritising billable hours over work-life balance.
AI is also accelerating changes to billing models. Almost half (47%) of lawyers now agree AI will transform law firm billing models, up from 40% earlier this year. Law firm leaders and general counsel are particularly attuned to this shift, with 55% and 49% respectively expecting billing models to change.
The findings also suggest a clear talent retention risk for firms that lag behind. Nearly one in five (18%) private practice lawyers and in-house counsel (19%) said they would consider leaving their organisation if it failed to adequately invest in AI. This figure rose to 26% among those at large law firms.
Career concerns are significant: 39% of private practice lawyers and 49% of in-house counsel believe failing to engage with AI would harm their careers.
Commenting on the findings, Dylan Brown, the report’s editor, said: “Most lawyers now understand why AI matters. The real questions are when, where, and how to use it. The challenge is balancing speed with accuracy, boosting billables without adding to workloads, and delivering more value without undermining expertise.”
“Yet stigma remains. Too often, lawyers worry that using AI will be seen as cutting corners. Leaders must permit their teams to use it, experiment with it, and discuss it openly. Firms that treat AI as a strategic investment, not just an efficiency tool, will break down cultural barriers and gain a decisive edge.”
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