AI in the Legal Profession: Highlights from the 2026 Thomson Reuters Report

AI in the Legal Profession: Highlights from the 2026 Thomson Reuters Report

Earlier this month, Thomson Reuters released its “2026 AI in Professional Services Report.” This report analyzes data on AI adoption rates and its business impact across multiple professions, including legal, tax and accounting, corporate functions, and government agencies. 

The report includes a wealth of information on AI trends and the perspectives of legal professionals as they navigate rapidly changing workplaces shaped by the rollout of AI tools and evolving efficiency expectations. It contains invaluable insights that provide lawyers seeking to adapt with practical, actionable guidance.

The portion of the survey devoted to the legal profession breaks down participation by firm size. Small firms with 1 to 10 lawyers account for 45% of respondents, followed by medium-sized firms at 36%. Large firms with 180 or more lawyers represent 19% of the data.

According to the report, law firms are using several different types of AI. Currently, 55% of firms use general-purpose tools, and 38% use enterprise tools like Microsoft Copilot. Specialized tools built specifically for legal work are also on the rise, with 35% of firms now using them.

Notably, many legal professionals rely on these tools daily. 30% report using AI multiple times per day, and 25% use it once per day. Another 26% selected weekly, and only 3% use it once a month.

The data shows that AI is often relied on for research and writing. Legal research is the most common use case at 80%, followed by document review at 74% and document summarization at 73%. Other choices included drafting briefs or memos (59%), correspondence (55%), and contracts (49%).

"Agentic AI" adoption rates were also addressed. As explained in the report, this version of the technology can plan, reason, and finish complex tasks on its own with very little human oversight. Instead of just assisting you with a task, it handles parts of the work, helping you reach a desired goal.

According to the report, firms are just starting to adopt these tools. Currently, 16% already use agentic AI, and 19% plan to. Another 30% are thinking about it, while 35% have no plans to use it at all.

Feelings about AI vary. About 21% of legal professionals feel excited, and 31% feel hopeful. Others are more cautious, with 23% feeling hesitant and 19% saying they are concerned. Questions about AI’s long-term impact on the profession remain. While specific fears are low—only 15% of respondents say they "fear" AI—concerns about its effects are growing. According to the report’s comparison between 2025 and 2026, the number of professionals who see AI’s impact on the unauthorized practice of law as a "major threat" jumped from 36% to 50%.

The data also shows a shift in how people view job security. Those who see AI as a major threat to jobs rose from 15% in 2025 to 24% in 2026. Similarly, there is more worry about the need for traditional legal work, with the percentage of people who believe AI poses a "major threat" and will result in a need for fewer lawyers increased from 10% to 18% over the last year.Reticence aside, most legal respondents believe this technology belongs in the workplace. When asked if AI should be applied to their work, 62% said yes. Only 20% said no, and 18% weren't sure.

The report also highlights how firms are tracking the financial impact of these tools. When asked if their organization is currently measuring AI’s return on investment (ROI), only 15% of respondents said yes. A larger group of 42% said they are not measuring it, while 43% remain unsure if any tracking is taking place. Additionally, decision-makers are increasingly focused on their firm’s bottom line, with 14% believing that AI threatens billing/firm revenue, up from 10% last year.

Finally, clients are starting to weigh in on these tools as well. So far, 41% of firms have received direct client input on whether to use AI for their projects. Also of interest is that most professionals surveyed (77%) believe that law firms should be responsible for starting these conversations, compared to only 13% who think the client should take the lead.

As AI adoption moves at a rapid pace, reports like this one provide valuable insights for legal professionals seeking to track the shifting legal landscape in real time. I highly recommend reading through it and learning as much as you can. Armed with this information, you’ll be in a position to better understand how AI will impact the future of law practice and the steps you’ll need to take to adapt and ensure your firm’s success in an AI-first world. Nicole Black is a Rochester, New York attorney, author, journalist, and Principal Legal Insight Strategist at 8am, the team behind MyCase, LawPay, CasePeer, and DocketWise.She is the nationally-recognized author of "Cloud Computing for Lawyers" (2012) and co-authors "Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier" (2010), both published by the American Bar Association. She also co-authors "Criminal Law in New York," a Thomson Reuters treatise. She writes regular columns for Above the Law, ABA Journal, and The Daily Record, has authored hundreds of articles for other publications, and regularly speaks at conferences regarding the intersection of law and emerging technologies. She is an ABA Legal Rebel, and is listed on the Fastcase 50 and ABA LTRC Women in Legal Tech. She can be contacted at niki.black@mycase.com.