Exclusive Law.com Panel: What to Expect at Legalweek 2025
A 2024 survey found that while 34% of law firms plan to adopt GenAI tools this year, that number soars to 84% among M&A professionals. This rapid evolution in legal technology presents both opportunities and challenges—forcing firms to refine implementation strategies, manage client expectations, and optimize operational efficiencies.
To help legal professionals navigate this transformation, industry experts from leading law firms, Litera, and Law.com came together for an exclusive panel discussion ahead of Legalweek to share real-world AI applications and emerging technologies. Below are a few highlights of what was shared, and what you can expect from Litera at Legalweek.
Real-World Applications of AI in the Legal Industry
The panel session provided a wealth of insights into how AI, particularly generative AI, is being applied in real-world legal workflows. These applications are actively transforming the way law firms operate, enhancing efficiency, and improving client service, including:
- Document Drafting and Review: AI tools automate the creation of first drafts of legal documents, significantly reducing the time lawyers spend on this task
- Client Billing and Email Management: AI tools automatically categorize and summarize emails, making it easier for lawyers to stay on top of their communications
- Legal Research and Summarization: AI-powered tools quickly sift through vast amounts of legal texts, case law, and statutes to find relevant information and summarize complex legal documents
- Client Relationship Management: AI tools analyze client interactions and feedback to identify patterns and trends, helping law firms tailor their services to better meet client expectations
- Litigation Support: AI automates the drafting of responses to pleadings and other court documents, speeding up the process and ensuring accuracy
- Training and Development: AI-powered tools provide personalized training programs based on individual lawyer's needs and performance
By embracing these technologies, law firms can enhance efficiency, improve client service, and stay ahead of the competition.
Client Expectations and Technology Integration
As technology continues to evolve, client expectations are also shifting. Clients are increasingly looking for law firms to leverage legal AI to improve operational efficiencies and deliver faster, more accurate results.
Rachel Merrick Maggs, Vice President of Growth and Product Marketing at Litera, highlighted the importance of meeting these expectations: "Clients are expecting law firms to be more efficient and to use technology to drive down costs while maintaining high-quality service."
Clients are not just passive observers in this technological evolution; they are active participants who demand more from their legal tech vendors. They expect law firms to adopt AI tools that can streamline processes, reduce turnaround times, and enhance the quality of legal work. This shift in expectations is driven by the clients' own experiences with AI in other industries, where they have seen firsthand the benefits of automation and intelligent systems.
Moreover, clients are increasingly aware of the potential for AI to uncover deeper insights and provide more comprehensive analyses. They expect law firms to use AI to analyze large volumes of data quickly and accurately, providing them with actionable insights that can inform their business decisions. This expectation is not limited to large corporations; even smaller clients are looking for law firms to leverage technology to offer more value at a lower cost.
Strategies for Keeping Up with Evolving Tech Trends in Legal
Keeping up with the rapid pace of technological change can be challenging. Tim Zgraggen, Technology and Training and Digital Adoption Consultant at Linklaters, emphasized the need for continuous learning and adaptation: "It's crucial to find ways to integrate new technology naturally into existing workflows and to constantly reinforce its benefits through training and support."
Law firms must adopt a proactive approach to stay ahead of evolving tech trends. This involves several key strategies:
- Continuous Learning and Training: Law firms should invest in ongoing training programs to ensure that their lawyers are up-to-date with the latest technological advancements.
- Integration into Existing Workflows: New technologies should be integrated seamlessly into existing workflows to minimize disruption and maximize adoption.
- Engaging Evangelists: Identifying and engaging tech-savvy lawyers within the firm who can champion new technologies is crucial.
- Client Collaboration: Collaborating with clients to understand their needs and expectations can help law firms tailor their technology adoption strategies.
- Feedback and Iteration: Continuously gathering feedback from lawyers and clients about the effectiveness of new technologies is essential.
What’s Coming at LegalWeek 2025?
With Legalweek just around the corner, Litera’s excited to share what we’ve been up to, including the announcement of our new cloud-based Microsoft add-ins for Word and Outlook, which has been rigorously tested by 30+ global law firms in Beta.
If you’re attending Legalweek, don’t forget to join our CEO, Avaneesh Marwaha for our exclusive Company Update and Product Roadmap Session on Tuesday, March 25, 3:30 PM EST at Madison Room, 2nd floor, NY Hilton Midtown.
You can watch the full recording of the panel here and learn where to find Litera at Legalweek here.
