90% of Professionals Are Using or Planning to Use GenAI, with Only 2% Viewing it Negatively
A 2024 survey conducted by ACEDS and Everlaw in the U.S. found that legal professionals are adopting GenAI roughly 5x faster than they did cloud-based ediscovery software. This stylized curve represents both cloud and GenAI adoption rates with the cloud adoption curve being extrapolated back to Everlaw’s founding in 2010, and the data on industry cloud adoption rates beginning in 2021. For the GenAI adoption curve that data is extrapolated back to 2022 when this tech first started being leveraged by attorneys in a serious way, and data on adoption rates beginning in 2023. (Graphic: Business Wire)
In partnership with the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), Everlaw surveyed 267 legal professionals in the U.S. across law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and legal service providers to surface key trends in technology use for litigation and investigation work. The fourth annual study finds:
- GenAI adoption is happening roughly five times faster than cloud
Just a year and a half after the launch of ChatGPT, more than a third (33.7%) of respondents are currently using GenAI in their practice, with 17% actively using it in production on live matters, and 16% using it in some form of beta testing.
This rapid uptake contrasts sharply with the adoption of cloud-based ediscovery software, which took nearly a decade to reach a similar level of use. Compare these numbers to the 2021 Ediscovery Adoption Report, where only 37% of respondents were using the cloud in any fashion, and it’s apparent how quickly the adoption of GenAI has spread.
“What we found is a group that is ready to embrace GenAI like no other technology before,” said Chuck Kellner, strategic discovery advisor, Everlaw. “While we’ve seen a more gradual pace of cloud-based adoption of ediscovery software over the years, with GenAI, the typical skepticism that attorneys have shown toward new technology hasn’t stopped their intense exploration and early adoption.”
- Legal teams are still looking for training, education, and organizational support
Despite the enthusiasm around GenAI, the legal industry is cautious in its adoption. Over two-thirds of respondents (68%) feel legal professionals still feel the industry isn’t prepared for the impacts of GenAI, which is only a slight improvement over the previous years’ results (72%). A majority would also like to see better education (76%) and training (81%) on how to use GenAI in their work from their organization.
- Comfort levels in GenAI usage: document review and translation lead the way
Legal professionals are most comfortable using GenAI for document review and translation, with these tasks seeing the highest adoption rates with other tasks at much lower levels, highlighting a need for further development and trust in the technology’s capabilities.
- 80% foreign language translation
- 78% document review
- 66% deposition summaries
- 33% drafting and writing
- The cloud divide evolves into the AI divide
The survey also revealed a widening gap between tech-forward legal teams and those lagging behind. The results show that those with their ediscovery software deployed on the cloud are:
- Six times more likely to be actively using GenAI in their legal matters than those with their ediscovery software deployed on-premises.
- Five times more likely to have a positive attitude towards the proliferation of GenAI in the legal industry than those whose software is on-prem.
- Four times more likely to think that GenAI will be the standard in ediscovery technology in the next two years than respondents whose software is hosted on-prem.
This growing divide underscores the importance of investment in AI policy, education, and training to remain competitive in the legal industry.
- How legal teams are getting started with GenAI
For legal teams on the sidelines, the survey identified three critical steps legal teams are taking to drive GenAI adoption:
- Create a GenAI policy: Nearly 75% of respondents have established clear guidelines and protocols for GenAI use within the organization.
- Involve employees in GenAI adoption: More than 70% have engaged their team early in the process to ensure buy-in and understanding.
- Train employees on GenAI: 63% say they are being trained on how to use GenAI in their work. But, only 27% feel they are being trained on skills not likely to be replaced by GenAI.
“As the legal industry navigates this new technological frontier, the importance of strategic planning and education cannot be overstated,” said Kellner. “Those who invest in GenAI today will be better positioned to lead tomorrow.”
“Each year, this report offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of legal technology, and this year’s focus on the rapid adoption of generative AI is particularly significant,” said Mike Quartararo, president of ACEDS. “At ACEDS, we’re dedicated to supporting the legal community in navigating these technological shifts, and our annual participation in this initiative reflects our commitment to equipping professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to stay ahead. This year’s findings highlight AI’s transformative potential, and we are excited to see how it will continue to shape the future of ediscovery.”
