Research conducted by recruitment company Hays found that only 13% of legal professional have used an AI tool, such as ChatGPT, in their current role. While almost a quarter of respondents feel that AI will have a positive impact on their work, more than half say that their employer is not preparing them adequately to use AI. Only 5% of employers thought AI should be feared, compared to 15% of legal professionals.
The key reasons cited by law firms as to why they are not using AI tools are that they are not currently needed, as well as gaps in knowledge and a lack of understanding of the benefits. However, 64% of employers stated their intention to allow monitored use by staff in the future; conversely, 21% anticipated that they will ban AI tools at work.
Yvonne Smyth, director at Hays specialising in the legal sector, commented: ‘It’s clear from our research that employers and professionals across a range of sectors, including legal, are open to embracing AI in the workplace. That being said, the uptake and usage by legal employers and professionals remains low across the sector, while legal employers work out how AI might benefit their organisations as well as evaluate the challenges that greater use of AI might create.
‘At present, greater use of AI is likely to deliver cost savings and improved productivity within the legal sector. However, legal employers aren’t currently investing in training to support upskilling at the rate required to keep up with the pace of change as technology progresses. Training will be crucial for both employers to equip their staff to optimise their careers and, in so doing, ensure their organisation fares well in a fast-changing digital age.’
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