Lawyers Have Adopted Artificial Intelligence Tools

Attorneys are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence to streamline research and document preparation tasks.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a law book and geometric compass, representing the shift toward automated precision in legal workflows. — Two-thirds of American attorneys now report utilizing artificial intelligence for professional research and daily document preparation, according to recent sector reports. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust artificial intelligence to assist in important professional tasks, such as legal or financial planning?

Two-thirds of American lawyers now report using artificial intelligence in their daily professional work since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. While many attorneys leverage the technology for research and summarization, others remain cautious regarding its use in drafting legal documents.

Why it matters

The legal profession is navigating a shift in efficiency as AI tools become a standard part of legal workflows. While some attorneys embrace the technology to sharpen their practice, others cite concerns over document reliability and legal complexity as reasons to avoid automated drafting.

Lawyers are utilizing a 10-80-10 workflow model, where 10% of time is spent on prompting, 80% of the task is performed by AI, and 10% is dedicated to verifying the final output.

The players

S. Robert Fish

He is an attorney who has maintained a legal practice since 1994.

Gerry W. Beyer

He serves as a law professor at the Texas Tech University School of Law.

The details

Clients are increasingly arriving at law firms with AI-generated documents in hand, requiring attorneys to review and validate the materials. Although many professionals use AI to increase efficiency in daily tasks, some law firms continue to abstain from using the tools for formal legal drafting.

S. Robert Fish began his legal practice in 1994.
ChatGPT was launched in November 2022.

The Tech Race

The integration of ChatGPT into legal workflows marks a significant departure from traditional, manual legal research methods. This transition positions technology as a core operational tool that challenges legacy drafting standards across the American legal sector.

Clients should expect that their legal documents may now be drafted or summarized using AI, necessitating clear communication with their attorneys regarding verification and accuracy. As firms adopt these tools, the speed of preliminary legal research may increase, potentially altering the time and cost associated with initial consultations.

The takeaway

Attorneys and clients must balance the efficiency gains of AI with the need for rigorous verification of complex legal information. Adopting a structured approach like the 10-80-10 rule helps ensure that automation serves to augment professional judgment rather than replace it.