Two-thirds of UK Lawyers Now Use AI, Yet Firm Culture Slows Progress

61% of lawyers are now using generative AI in their work, leading to improved work-life balance and the ability to do more billable work. However, two-thirds say slow organizational cultures risk undermining progress.

LONDON – Today, LexisNexis®, a leading global provider of legal information and analytics, released a new report – The AI culture clash. The findings show adoption of AI tools is accelerating at pace, 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 organization’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 – such as Lexis+ AI – particularly those from 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 wellbeing. Over half (56%) reported using the extra time saved using 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 wellbeing more highly. Across all firm sizes, associates are prioritizing increasing billable hours over enjoying a work-life balance.

AI is also accelerating changes to billing models. Almost half (47%) of lawyers now agree AI will transform how firms bill for legal services, 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 organization 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 give their teams the permission to use it, experiment with it, and talk about 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.”

About LexisNexis Legal & Professional

LexisNexis Legal & Professional^® provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis^® and Nexis^® services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 150 countries with 11,800 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

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Media Contact

Matthew Leopold – Head of Brand, Content and PR Marketing, LexisNexis UK

Matthew.Leopold@lexisnexis.co.uk