Getting Legal Tech Buy-In: A Practical Guide for Law Firms

Law firms are investing in legal tech faster than ever but many of those tools end up sitting unused. Software gets rolled out and then quietly ignored. This usually happens not because lawyers reject technology but because it often feels clunky, confusing, or too restricted. Instead of saving time, it adds more work.

At the same time, lawyers are exploring generative AI on their own, often without clear policies in place. The contradiction is clear. Firms want to modernize and interest in AI is growing. In one survey, 43% said they chose legal-specific tools since they integrate with the systems they already trust. The motivation is there when the solutions feel like a natural fit in daily workflows.

Understanding Why Legal Tech Adoption Breaks Down

Tech adoption often breaks down when the tools don’t match how lawyers actually operate. Features get added lacking user input, and frameworks end up feeling more like roadblocks than support. Search functions are often weak, training is missing, and security restrictions are so tight that people start emailing files to themselves just to keep things moving. No wonder about 66% of in-house teams say they haven’t adopted core platforms like contract automation. Only 23% feel ready to work in a digital-first way.

There’s also hesitation around what these applications mean for the role itself. Some worry about losing billable hours. Others are using AI software on their own, with no formal guidelines in place. Without guidance, people rely on what’s easiest (even if it’s not secure or compliant). Most of the time, the issue comes from being excluded from the rollout.

Involving Lawyers Early to Accelerate Legal Tech Adoption

Adoption gets easier when lawyers are involved early. Bring them into the process before decisions are made and choose vendors who can show quick time savings, like cutting document review from hours to minutes. These positive outcomes help build trust.

The right AI tools should support legal practice, not replace it. Start with a pilot, track what works, and grow from there. In our 2025 ALM PropertyCasualty360 survey, 75% of professionals pointed to speed and resource gains as the biggest benefit of using AI with expert oversight, and 52% saw a boost in productivity. When the technologies feel helpful and trustworthy, implementation naturally follows.

Legal AI Adoption Is Already Happening — Without Oversight

AI is already part of daily legal work, even if it is happening quietly. Resources like ChatGPT are being used informally, and others have slipped into regular use simply because they help get things done faster. The main problem is the lack of structure and AI governance around it.

Lacking proper oversight, organizations face real risks around compliance and security. Clients are paying attention. More than a third are willing to pay more for firms that prioritize cybersecurity, while 66% are hesitant to partner with companies that rely on outdated systems. The firms making real progress are the ones combining AI with expert review and established protocols.

Start with the Legal Tech You Already Have

At the end of the day, even the most powerful tools will fall flat if they create more friction than they solve. Real progress happens when legal teams choose solutions that match how people currently work, reduce repetitive tasks, and build trust through early involvement and small wins which genuinely make things easier.

Now is a good time to take a step back and look at what is presently in place. Can your team effectively use the platforms you’ve previously invested in? Are those tools helping reduce burnout or just shifting the load somewhere else? If the answer is no, that is where the work begins.

If your firm is unsure of where to start, explore our Enterprise Claims Transformation Guide today, breaking down how firms can implement AI adoption to gain a competitive advantage through human-assisted intelligence.