Inside Legalweek 2025: Lawyers need to harness AI or get left behind
Mar 29, 2025 - businessinsider.com
The Legalweek conference in New York City highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the legal profession. Speakers emphasized that lawyers must adopt new technologies to remain competitive, as AI tools can significantly enhance efficiency by streamlining tasks like legal research and contract review. Despite the potential benefits, many lawyers have been slow to embrace these advancements, with some still preferring traditional methods. Max Junestrand, CEO of Legora, showcased his company's AI-driven digital workspace, aiming to transform legal work rather than just ticking a box for AI adoption.
The conference also featured discussions on the challenges of integrating AI into legal practices, with experts urging firms to experiment with new tools. Younger lawyers and tech-savvy individuals are more inclined to work with firms that embrace innovation, suggesting that traditional firms risk losing top talent if they don't adapt. The event underscored the necessity for the legal industry to evolve and leverage AI to avoid being left behind.
Key takeaways:
The potential of artificial intelligence to reshape the legal profession emerged as a key theme at Legalweek.
Speakers warned that failure to adopt new technology will leave lawyers behind.
Large language models have improved the ability to parse and understand complex legal documents, streamlining tasks like legal research and contract review.
Younger lawyers and tech-savvy individuals are more likely to embrace AI, and firms that don't adapt may struggle to attract top talent.
