The ABA Journal reports a notable shift in the attitudes of legal professionals toward AI. According to a new study, the top concern isn't job loss, it’s how AI will affect professional development.
According to the report:
- Fears of mass job displacement are receding.
- The dominant concern among lawyers and legal staff is now whether they will continue to have opportunities to learn, grow, and develop critical thinking and judgment skills as AI tools take on more substantive tasks.
Why This Matters to the Legal Industry:
- Less Repetition Means Fewer Learning Moments: AI can draft contracts, analyze data, and generate legal summaries, but these are often the same tasks junior attorneys use to build foundational skills. If AI handles more of the “grunt work,” firms may need to rethink how younger lawyers gain the exposure and repetitions necessary to mature into experienced litigators or trusted advisors.
- Upskilling is No Longer Optional: Legal professionals at all levels must develop AI fluency. Not necessarily coding, but understanding how AI tools work, how to interact with them effectively (e.g., prompt engineering), and how to spot ethical and legal risks in automated processes.
- Adaptability Will Define Long-Term Value: Firms that support adaptability through clear training programs, flexible workflows, and AI-integrated practice models will retain and attract talent better prepared for the predicted surge of AI use in the workplace.
Artificial intelligence isn’t erasing the legal profession; it’s reshaping it.
The challenge now is to ensure that legal professionals continue to evolve with it. For firms, this means moving beyond just adopting new tech, but potentially redesigning career development, reimagining mentorship, and investing in continuous learning.
For more information check out the full report HERE.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have questions about your specific situation, you should contact a lawyer for assistance. Nothing herein is intended to create any attorney-client relationship between you and DLM LAW.
