Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools have been tried by 50% of legal practitioners across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), yet a degree of skepticism persists in this arena. These statistics were unveiled in the most recent survey by LexisNexis, the globe's leading provider of legal information and analytics, after polling over 560 lawyers and legal professionals throughout Australia and New Zealand.
The rapidly increasing adoption of AI tools in a variety of corporate sectors has elevated understanding and awareness of generative AI’s potential within the legal industry. The survey reported that 75% of respondents now have at least some understanding of how such tools function, compared to previously minimal comprehension of how AI could influence the legal world.
LexisNexis found that 94% of survey participants agreed that generative AI will impact routine tasks, and can lead to substantial efficiencies. The most commonly acknowledged applications of generative AI technology were assisting in the drafting of emails (18% of respondents) and conducting legal research (15% of respondents). Other notable uses included improving work quality and efficiency, summarising documents, and aiding the understanding of legal concepts.
Despite these positive acknowledgements, 52% of respondents expressed skepticism concerning the current generative AI tools' capability to answer a legal research query. Accurate and complete responses and the provision of correct citations remained the primary drivers behind this uncertainty.
According to Greg Dickason, Managing Director, Asia & Pacific at LexisNexis, these attitudes reflect an industry pressured by time. "The legal community will undoubtedly be eager to embrace generative AI," he said. "It has the potential to fast-track the legal research, summarisation and drafting process, freeing up lawyers' time to focus on higher value services for their clients or organisations."
The survey also revealed that in-house lawyers are more willing to incorporate generative AI into their daily workload than those based in law firms. Over half of the corporate/in-house lawyers who participated in the survey are already utilising AI technology in their work and most indicated their readiness to integrate generative AI into their daily tasks.
While many recognise the time-saving and cost-reducing potential generative AI offers, caution still pervades the profession, particularly concerning the adoption of increasingly popular technology.
Most respondents expressed concerns over ethical implications regarding generative AI's use in law practice. This finding echoes responses gleaned from a comparable LexisNexis USA survey, reinforcing a globally acknowledged need for clear guidelines, principles, and policies to support the future implementation and adoption of the technology.
"Interestingly, about 60% of respondents believe they will be left out if they don't use AI tools. Furthermore, 78% of respondents believe that AI tools will impact the way firms operate and charge clients. Given the opportunity to create significant efficiencies, and reduce costs and the reliance on billable hours, firms will need to decide how to reinvest the cost savings and whether they pass on the savings to clients. This will hopefully result in greater competition and positive outcomes for clients/consumers," concluded Dickason.