Tech Adoption in Legal Teams Tied to Mindset
A survey of 133 in-house legal professionals finds technology uptake reflects disposition and confidence more than age.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Job Search
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Pinsent Masons Vario and Crafty Counsel published a study finding that legal technology adoption among in-house teams is driven by disposition, confidence, and opportunity rather than age. The survey covered 133 in-house legal professionals across all career stages.
Why it matters
The findings challenge the assumption that older lawyers resist new tools, suggesting team structure and attitudes shape how artificial intelligence is adopted. For legal departments managing mixed-generation staff, the results point to communication and role clarity as practical levers.
The survey drew on 133 in-house legal professionals, with 80% reporting uneven technological aptitude across their teams and 23% naming communication style as the leading source of friction. Whether these patterns hold beyond this sample is not addressed in the findings.
The players
Pinsent Masons Vario
The legal innovation arm of the international law firm Pinsent Masons, which co-conducted the study on legal technology adoption.
Crafty Counsel
An in-house legal community that partnered with Pinsent Masons Vario to survey legal professionals about team dynamics and technology.
The details
Pinsent Masons Vario worked with the in-house legal community Crafty Counsel to ask respondents about technological aptitude, AI adoption, and team friction. High-performing multigenerational teams were most often described as built on collaboration, shared goals, and clear roles, with 28% stressing diversity and complementary strengths.
Timeline
Study findings were published on the Pinsent Masons website on 3 November 2026.
Big Picture
The study cuts against the common generational-divide narrative that has dominated discussion of artificial intelligence in professional services. By locating adoption in disposition, confidence, and opportunity, it reframes the question for legal departments weighing how to staff and train mixed-age teams.
For in-house counsel managing mixed-age teams, the findings suggest that pairing junior staff who are driving AI adoption with more experienced colleagues may reduce friction. Clear role definitions are highlighted as a practical way to organize that collaboration.
The takeaway
Technology adoption in legal teams appears to depend more on attitude and team design than on age. Leaders who clarify roles and improve communication may find that mixed-generation teams work more effectively with new tools.
Further reading
Explore related career coverage in the Job Search section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pinsent Masons.
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