Five core AI-driven workflows are reshaping legal practice: legal research with LLMS and structured citations, document review and eDiscovery to filter large datasets, drafting contracts and documents to overcome the blank-page problem while allowing lawyer customization, summarizing complex texts into concise, actionable insights, and enhanced client communication including multilingual support and intake management.

However, the shift comes with risks such as hallucinated citations and the need for human verification, with regulators worldwide emphasizing competence, confidentiality, and supervision, alongside strong security measures for encryption and privacy-compliant data handling.

AI is transforming legal work by advancing research, drafting, document review, and client communication, making sophisticated tools affordable for both big firms and solo practitioners.

Industry adoption is accelerating, with firms like Kirkland & Ellis investing hundreds of millions in proprietary AI, AI-native firms targeting niche markets, and vendors expanding tools to integrate with platforms such as DocuSign and Thomson Reuters as seen in May 2026.

A 2026 Thomson Reuters report finds that 80% of legal professionals cite legal research as the top generative AI use case, 49% for contract drafting, and 77% use AI for document review and eDiscovery, with productivity gains up to 35% in case preparation and 30–50% in review workloads.

Looking ahead, agentic workflows will automate multi-step processes toward near-completion, shifting lawyers from drafting edits to auditing end-to-end workflows; the recommended path is to start with small, high-impact pilots, measure outcomes, and invest in governance and ongoing education to improve efficiency and broaden access to justice.