Report notes technology’s potential to boost quality, not just productivity
The Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner (VLSB+C) has highlighted new research indicating that the state’s lawyers want more support, guidance, and training to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and use such technological tools ethically and effectively.
According to the new report titled “Generative AI Use in the Legal Profession: Findings from the 2025 Victorian Lawyer Census,” Victorian lawyers tended to see AI more as a workflow optimisation, not as a service improvement.
“Currently, lawyers are mainly using AI to improve workflows and boost productivity,” said Fiona McLeay, the VLSB’s chief executive officer and commissioner, in a news release. “There’s much more potential for AI to enhance client services, which remains largely untapped.”
“As we stand, AI in legal practice is largely valued for improving productivity, with far fewer lawyers associating it with enhanced quality, affordability or accessibility,” added Professor Nigel Balmer, the Legal Services Research Centre’s research director. “Bridging this gap is essential if AI is to bring broader benefits to the communities we serve, beyond just making work more efficient.”
The new research addressed the ways Victorian lawyers utilise generative AI, the challenges and risks associated with such use, and opportunities for legal professionals and legal service consumers.
According to the new report, among survey respondents:
The survey found that other perceived benefits included affordability, accessibility, or competitive advantage, as well as improved quality or client satisfaction.
The new report revealed that survey respondents most commonly utilised AI tools for gathering information, drafting, and administration, instead of legal decision-making or the production of court documents.
Specifically, they most frequently used AI tools for background research regarding non-legal issues, legal research and case analysis, and client communication, then for documentary review, transcription, and contractual drafting.
The new research determined that the following factors impacted AI adoption: practice area, years of experience, and whether a lawyer belongs to a legal or a non-legal organisation.
The report identified the following as emerging challenges in connection with AI use:
The VLSB+C noted that it has made efforts to offer guidance to the legal profession via its joint statement on AI use in legal practice, which set the expectations for Victorian lawyers utilising AI for work.
“I encourage all lawyers to familiarise themselves with our statement on the use of artificial intelligence in the legal profession and look out for new resources we will provide later this year on the use of AI in legal practice,” McLeay said in the news release.
The VLSB+C shared its plan to consult with the profession regarding further practical guidance it can furnish.
“I encourage lawyers to think beyond simply gaining a competitive advantage,” McLeay said. “By using AI to drive higher quality, affordability, accessibility, and client satisfaction, lawyers can deliver even greater value.”
“Without deliberate effort to broaden AI's benefits, there is a real risk that the technology simply embeds existing advantage rather than making justice more equitable and democratic,” Balmer added. “Both training and clear guidelines have a role to play, not just in managing risk, but in recognising benefits beyond efficiency.”
