How are law firms implementing IT and AI to improve productivity and drive efficiency? The Brief finds out.

Information technology, when properly implemented, can have a huge impact on law firm productivity, with benefits both at a business-wide level and for individual lawyers, who are freed from having to carry out boring, repetitive and time-consuming tasks.

However, outdated or poorly implemented systems can act as a drag on efficiency and a major source of frustration for staff.

A survey of employees at larger legal firms by technology provider Workspace 365 found that 64 per cent would like their employer to invest in simplifying the digital workplace to improve productivity.

What’s more, only 57 per cent of legal professionals used most of the tools provided to them, and 29 per cent said many features were irrelevant to their roles. Overall, a fifth (21 per cent) felt overwhelmed by technology: more than double the cross-sector average.

Commenting on these findings, Erik Nikolai, CEO and co-founder of Workspace 365, says, “Our message is clear: legal leaders must simplify their workplace technology. Streamlined, intuitive platforms that are tailored to employees’ needs can drastically reduce digital stress, improve productivity, and help retain your top talent.

In a sector known for long hours, high standards, and relentless pressure, the last thing lawyers need is tech that gets in the way. The time is now for legal firms to get their digital house in order.

The backbone of firms

Not all firms are lagging behind, though. The legal sector, at least anecdotally, has been uncharacteristically quick to adopt AI, and more generally an increasing number of firms are investing in new, streamlined technology.

The Legal Software Suppliers Association (LSSA) represents firms with offerings ranging from cloud-based case management systems and tools that use artificial intelligence to digital conveyancing platforms.

“Legal IT is now the backbone of a modern, functional law firm,” says Kevin Horlock, CEO of the LSSA. “Whether you are a local conveyancer or part of a city firm dealing with litigation, the right systems reduce admin and let solicitors focus on their legal work.”

Integrated workflows

Jill Schornack, VP Product at Net Documents, says it is currently an “incredibly exciting” time for legal IT, as AI adoption accelerates across the sector, but warns that successful implementation depends on how firms integrate AI into legal workflows.

“If lawyers have to toggle between multiple applications, and spend considerable time checking outputs, any productivity benefits will be negligible,” she explains.

“AI can make lawyers more productive if firms take an embedded approach. By ‘bringing AI to their content’, rather than the other way around, firms can keep confidential information secure, eliminate workflow disruption, and accelerate adoption.

“It’s crucial to remain focused on the end user. We’re already seeing powerful use cases emerge – from automating repetitive tasks like document classification to supporting more complex processes such as drafting, comparing, or translating documents. AI can even act as a personal assistant, helping lawyers quickly find answers or summarise content, reducing their cognitive and administrative load.”

Streamlining referrals: Birchall Blackburn Law

Birchall Blackburn Law, a North West firm that employs more than 210 staff, has implemented the Nucleus Referral Integration tool from Rising Tide AI to optimise what was previously a time-consuming, manual referral process.

According to Iain McKeith, founder of Rising Tide, “Using Rising Tide’s Nucleus Referral Integration, the firm was able to automate repetitive admin, reduce errors, and scale its caseload without hiring additional staff.

“The solution integrated smoothly with their Microsoft-based systems and allowed their team to focus more on high-value legal work.

Since going live, Birchall Blackburn has processed more cases, saved significant time, and cut operational costs – all while improving accuracy.

Scanning the horizon

Something as seemingly straightforward as document scanning can also have an impact on the efficiency of firms, according to the managed workplace services provider Apogee Corporation.

Its VP of strategic business development, Julian Broster, says, “As legal teams grapple with growing volumes of paperwork, particularly in litigation, the latest advancements in outsourced scanning solutions are helping unlock speed, accuracy and agility at scale.

“By converting paper files into structured, high-quality digital formats, firms can integrate these documents directly into case management systems, eDiscovery platforms and AI-powered search tools – giving them much faster access to relevant information, fewer delays and less admin for fee earners.

In-house scanning, while well-intentioned, often can’t keep up, especially when high-stakes matters cause document volumes to spike. This leads to issues like skewed or unreadable pages, which can seriously disrupt digital workflows and render AI-driven tools ineffective.

“OCR (optical character recognition) can’t interpret inverted or low-quality scans, limiting the usefulness of conceptual search when time is of the essence.

“Outsourced scanning, on the other hand, is delivering the scale, legal compliance and precision needed to support high-performance legal teams. For smaller and mid-sized firms, this levels the playing field, enabling them to handle complex matters without bottlenecking productivity or overburdening staff.”

Bespoke document handling: Latitude Law

Specialist immigration firm Latitude Law was finding the inefficiencies of its legacy IT systems had become a barrier to productivity, in particular when preparing and submitting visa and immigration applications. Recognising a need to provide clients with a secure way to share sensitive documents, while also streamlining how its casework team manages them, the firm sought a solution.

Rather than adapting its processes to fit off-the-shelf software Latitude decided to invest in co-creating a solution designed specifically for immigration legal practices. In partnership with European visa processing firm G Solutions, it developed a bespoke document handling tool: Halcyon DocuMigrate.

Gary McIndoe, managing partner at Latitude Law, says, “After over two years of design, development and testing, the results were transformative.

“Our clients benefit from a secure portal and can easily track their document submission. Internally, the system has freed our team from time-consuming manual processes and enabled caseworkers to spend more time supporting clients and less time managing files.

“Crucially, it’s a cost-effective solution – helping us deliver greater efficiency without inflating operational spend. It’s also enhanced our competitive edge.

With cleaner workflows and demonstrable efficiency, we’re well positioned to compete with larger firms in tenders where technology, compliance and client experience are under scrutiny.

The tool was named a finalist in the 2023 LexisNexis Legal Awards for Legal Supplier Innovation.

Digital enablement: Burges Salmon

Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon recently launched its multidimensional “Digital Enablement Programme”. This brings together generative AI, data, processes and technology.

The firm has partnered with Wexler, a litigation focused solution with AI-powered fact extraction and document creation, with the Burges Salmon’s Dispute Resolution team using the technology for chronologies and fact analysis. To support lawyers with research, in the summer the firm also rolled out Search & Summarize Practical Law (previously Practical Law AI).

It has also focused on creating a firm-wide data culture and governance approach that promotes value and instils the integrity, accuracy, ownership, management, integration, security, and quality of data across the firm.

The Programme also involves Identifying, assessing, and prioritising opportunities to optimise the firm’s internal processes to enhance organisational efficiency. This optimisation will, Burges Salmon says, lead to faster turnaround times and more streamlined processes, directly benefiting clients through quicker and more efficient service delivery.

Burges Salmon’s Managing Partner, Roger Bull, says, “By integrating GenAI technologies and fostering a robust data culture, we are preparing for the future and also ensuring that we continue to deliver exceptional service to our clients. This initiative underscores our continued commitment to innovation and excellence.”

Making the LEAP: Wason Male & Wagland

Hertfordshire-based law firm Wason Male & Wagland says it has transformed its day-to-day operations by integrating LEAP Kegakl Software’s suite of AI tools.

Having used LEAP since 2018, the firm recently expanded its use to include its latest tools like Matter AI for instant case detail retrieval, LawY for reliable legal research, and AI-assisted document generation. The results, the firm says, have included time savings, fewer errors, and stronger client service.

“Matter AI has been a game-changer. Searching for case details is now far quicker, allowing us to focus on legal work instead of administration,” says managing partner Tracy Ann Hatswell.

LEAP’s built-in AI tools are designed to integrate seamlessly into firm workflows, with features like auto time recording and smart document prompts. Hatswell continues, “AI assistance ensures fewer errors, faster completion, and greater confidence in accuracy.”

LEAP’s solutions are designed for legal professionals, prioritising primary legal sources such as legislation and case law. Hatswell says, “We can provide fast, well-supported advice to clients, improving trust and efficiency.”

Crucially, she says, the transition to the new tools was smooth: “We started small and expanded as trust grew. Now, we couldn’t imagine working without it.”