Tech can help lawyers reconnect with why they were inspired to practise in the first place, she says
For Thomson Reuters' senior director of AI and legal tech Catherine Roberts, we've gone from 2024 being "the year of mass AI experimentation" to 2025 being "the year of accelerated trusted AI development and customer adoption".
She believes that one critical issue facing the legal profession is practitioners needing to get back to the reason why they pursued law in the first place - and the role tech adoption plays in that. In the second half of this interview, Roberts talks the infiltration of unauthorised GenAI tools into the market and protecting sensitive information.
What should the profession focus on more?
The legal industry needs to help practitioners reconnect with the work that inspired them to choose a career in law in the first place. How? By acknowledging the ways technology can boost the productivity, job satisfaction, and well-being of the professionals it serves.
Embracing AI will enable legal professionals to engage in delivering more meaningful tasks, rather than getting caught up in the drudge work. With less time spent on routine manual tasks and greater focus on delivering strategic counsel to customers, pursuing a career in law is both more compelling and sustainable. Furthermore, our study shows that beyond productivity benefits, AI is also expected to create new business opportunities.
What challenges are particularly pressing in the country’s legal industry?
A particularly pressing challenge for the industry is the need to deploy safe and trusted AI solutions - quickly. With 31% of “Tech, AI and the Law” respondents reportedly using unauthorised GenAI tools in daily practice, there is a significant risk to the profession. This highlights the importance of adopting trusted, professional-grade AI solutions that not only comply with legal standards but also ensure client data confidentiality.
For example, it's crucial to use AI technologies that do not train models with client data, safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining ethical standards. By focusing on secure, vetted AI tools, the legal industry can enhance productivity while upholding professional integrity.
What are your thoughts on new tech and its impact on the legal profession?
New technology is having a transformative impact on the legal profession, offering significant opportunities to enhance the way legal work is conducted. Rather than replacing human experts, technology serves as a tool to elevate and accelerate their capabilities. It allows legal professionals to work smarter and faster, streamlining processes and reducing the burden of mundane administrative tasks.
This shift enables lawyers to focus on what truly matters—providing strategic advice and building strong client relationships. By embracing technology, legal professionals can dedicate more time to complex problem-solving and delivering value to their clients. Ultimately, technology empowers the legal industry to operate more efficiently and effectively, benefiting both legal practitioners and their clients.
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
2024 was the year of mass AI experimentation. 2025 is the year of accelerated trusted AI development and customer adoption.
With Thomson Reuters investing $200m in AI development and $60m in expanding our client success management teams, we're set to make significant strides in helping our customers adopt and embed AI into their workflows more quickly.
