header-logo header-logo

NLJ this week: AI’s digital associates reshape legal practice

12 September 2025
Issue: 8130 / Categories: Legal News , Artificial intelligence
printer mail-detail
229552
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector

With 79% of legal professionals using AI in 2024, firms must embed technology strategically, viewing AI as a ‘digital associate’—trained, monitored, and developed to enhance productivity. Grice explains how regional and boutique firms gain agility by adopting innovative tools, but must anchor each technology in a clear business case and track performance using both quantitative and qualitative metrics. AI’s impact on billing models is profound, with outcome-based fees replacing the traditional billable hour. Grice emphasises the importance of collaboration between lawyers and AI, prioritising tools that automate routine tasks and speed up research.

Issue: 8130 / Categories: Legal News , Artificial intelligence
printer mail-details
RELATED ARTICLES

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Slater Heelis—Oliver Banks

Slater Heelis—Oliver Banks

Manchester firm strengthens Court of Protection expertise with partner hire

Talbots Law—Sara Pickerin & Nicholas Playford

Talbots Law—Sara Pickerin & Nicholas Playford

Agricultural law team expands with senior director appointments

Kingsley Napley—Claire Green

Kingsley Napley—Claire Green

Firm announces appointment of chief legal officer

NEWS
NLJ columnist Stephen Gold dives into the quirks of civil practice, from the Court of Appeal’s fierce defence of form N510 to fresh reminders about compliance and interest claims, in this week's Civil Way
Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB) has restated a fundamental truth, writes John Gould, chair of Russell-Cooke, in this week's NLJ: only authorised persons can conduct litigation. The decision sparked alarm, but Gould stresses it merely confirms the Legal Services Act 2007
The government’s decision to make the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) the Single Professional Services Supervisor marks a watershed in the UK’s fight against money laundering, says Rebecca Hughes of Corker Binning in this week's NLJ. The FCA will now oversee 60,000 firms across legal and accountancy sectors—a massive expansion of remit that raises questions over resources and readiness 
The High Court's decision in Parfitt v Jones [2025] EWHC 1552 (Ch) provided a striking reminder of the need to instruct the right expert in retrospective capacity assessments, says Ann Stanyer of Wedlake Bell in NLJ this week
Paige Coulter of Quinn Emanuel reports on the UK’s first statutory definition of SLAPPs under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023in NLJ this week
back-to-top-scroll