At the start of this year, ACEDS and Secretariat teamed up to examine how legal professionals were navigating AI adoption flagging issues of risk, governance, and readiness. The 2025 Legal AI Report revealed a legal industry cautiously optimistic, yet still finding its footing when it came to responsible implementation.
Fast forward only a few months later, and we’re seeing that optimism evolve into real, measurable action.
In our latest collaboration with Everlaw and the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), the 2025 Ediscovery Innovation Report captures an industry leaning in with adoption on the rise, efficiency gains already being felt, and even the business of law starting to shift under AI’s influence.
Legal Teams Are No Longer Waiting
According to the report, 37% of legal professionals are already using generative AI in their daily workflows, a group made up predominantly of law firm respondents, including 19% from Am Law 200 firms, 23% from midsize firms, and 4% from boutique practices. Among those using cloud-based eDiscovery platforms, that number rises to 41% three times higher than their on-prem peers.
The pace of adoption doesn’t just depend on mindset. It’s also influenced by infrastructure.
Legal professionals using cloud-based eDiscovery software are not only 4x more likely to be actively using generative AI, they’re also 4x more likely to have a positive outlook on its future in legal workflows. They are also significantly more likely to believe AI will become standard in eDiscovery within the next two years. These findings underscore that technology infrastructure plays a critical role in how quickly (and confidently) legal teams are embracing AI innovation.
The benefits are tangible:
- 42% of legal professionals report saving 1–5 hours per week using generative AI.
- An additional 15% save more than 5 hours per week, including:
- 8% saving 5–10 hours/week
- 3% saving 10–15 hours/week
- 4% saving more than 15 hours/week
These time savings equal 260 hours per person annually, or 32.5 full workdays. For a 757-person Am Law 200 firm, that’s nearly 197,000 hours reclaimed each year.
This is the equivalent of adding 95 full-time employees focused on higher-value work. These aren’t just efficiency stats. They’re indicators of a profession actively rethinking how work gets done and who (or what) does it.
Shifting Mindsets and Models
- More than 80% of respondents say generative AI helps offload “drudge work” and allows for more focus on high-value tasks.
- 76% believe it improves efficiency.
- 72% say it enables greater client value, a 16% increase from the previous year.
The optimism is rising, but concerns remain. Just as the Secretariat report highlighted gaps in readiness, this report shows 63% of legal professionals still believe the industry is not fully prepared for the impacts of generative AI. As legal teams accelerate adoption, the demand for education, ethical guardrails, and strategic frameworks becomes more urgent.
According to the report, 90% of respondents believe generative AI will significantly alter billing practices within the next two years, and nearly 1 in 5 expect that shift to happen within the next 12 months. The billable hour may not disappear overnight, but the pressure to rethink how legal services are priced is mounting.
As efficiency becomes a defining metric of value, attorneys and legal data teams with strong eDiscovery and technology skills can be positioned to lead this change. Those who understand how to leverage AI to deliver faster, defensible, and more cost-effective results will not only meet evolving client expectations. They’ll shape the next chapter of legal service delivery.
This latest research reinforces our belief: staying informed, connected, and forward-thinking is no longer optional. It’s essential. We’re proud to collaborate with leaders like Everlaw and ILTA.
Together with our earlier report this year, the 2025 Ediscovery Innovation Report offers a fuller view of where we are and where we’re going: risk awareness meets workflow transformation.
Download the 2025 Ediscovery Innovation Report or revisit our insights from the 2025 Legal AI Report with Secretariat
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