Kady's article has been published in the July Liverpool Law Society Magazine and now she's sharing it with you.
AI is one of the biggest topics in law right now, and the conversation is no longer just theoretical. In a landmark move, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has approved the UK’s first AI-driven law firm, Garfield.law. The SRA’s Chief Executive, Paul Phillip, described this decision as a “landmark moment for legal services in this country.” While many firms already use AI to assist with aspects of legal work, this is the first time a purely AI-driven model has been authorised to deliver regulated legal services in England and Wales. It marks a turning point and reveals that AI in law is no longer a future concern, but a present reality.
Since I entered the profession, I have seen just how far legal technology has come and how much initial resistance it can face. When DocuSign and cloud-based tools first emerged, many lawyers were sceptical. E-signatures raised concerns about whether they were valid for contracts or deeds, with doubts around enforceability and security. At the same time, early discussions around moving to the cloud were met with caution due to fears over confidentiality and data protection. Yet both are now embedded in everyday legal practice. E-signatures are widely accepted, and cloud-based systems have become essential for collaboration and remote working. AI will likely follow a similar path; unfamiliar or unsettling at first, then gradually become integrated into the way we deliver legal services.
I explore what the SRA’s decision means for the future of lawyers by examining the perspectives of two leading voices in legal innovation: Richard Susskind and Nick Abrahams. Susskind envisions a future where many traditional legal roles could be replaced by technology, especially if Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) develops further. Abrahams, on the other hand, argues that AI won’t spell the end of lawyers, but will instead introduce new complexities that generate more disputes, not fewer. He also maintains that human judgement and nuance, which are at the heart of legal work, will remain essential and in demand.
Together their views, highlight a central challenge and opportunity facing lawyers today. That is to proactively engage with new technology, rather than resist it. AI is not the end of the legal profession, but it will challenge us to rethink how legal services are delivered in the future.
Will AI replace lawyers?
Susskind has been exploring AI in law since as far back as 1986, when he wrote a doctoral thesis on the subject. This was at a time when few in the profession saw technology as relevant, let alone transformative. In his book Tomorrow’s Lawyers, he predicted that routine legal tasks would be automated and that new tech-based legal providers would emerge. He argued that the future of legal services would not be shaped by tradition but by innovation and client demand.
With the SRA now approving the UK’s first AI-driven law firm, we are seeing those predictions materialise. Garfield.law is the type of alternative model Susskind described; streamlined legal services with regulated lawyers supervising its output and safeguarding ethical use. This supports his “more for less” challenge which is to offer client’s faster and more affordable services without compromising legal integrity.
More recently. Susskind has suggested that if AGI becomes a reality, most traditional legal roles might not survive beyond 2035. This is a bold claim but with the SRA now authorising AI-driven law firms, it feels less like a distant speculation and more like an early step in that direction. Today’s tools are already capable of drafting contracts and reviewing documents; tasks once reserved only for lawyers.
It is important to note that Susskind isn’t predicting the end of lawyers altogether, just the end of lawyering as we have always known it. He identifies 15 emerging legal roles for future lawyers, which may not align with what most students have in mind when they start law school, but which remain intellectually stimulating and valuable. He compares this to the resistance craftsmen once showed to industrialisation, only to later discover new valuable forms of skilled work.
In his view, the legal profession isn’t going away, it’s evolving, and the challenge is whether we as lawyers are willing to evolve with it. Of course, AGI still has a long way to go, and issues such as regulation, ethics, and public trust won’t be resolved overnight. There are also practical concerns from data protection to the risk of AI “hallucinations,” where tools generate inaccurate or misleading information. But these risks don’t mean we stop progressing, they just mean that we must stay informed and ready to guide how AI is introduced into our systems. If the past is anything to go by, the legal profession will continue to adapt, just as it always has.
AI will reshape, not replace, lawyers
Abrahams offers a more grounded perspective, suggesting that AI will not replace lawyers but will reshape how we work by improving efficiency. This shift is already underway, with many leading UK law firms now using tools like Harvey, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot to assist with drafting and research. The key point is that the lawyer remains involved throughout, maintaining the quality and accuracy of the final output.
AI is clearly changing how we work, but clients generally don’t stay loyal to a firm because of its tech. They stay loyal to the lawyer they know and trust, who understands their needs and offers balanced, human advice. The relationship between lawyers and clients is still fundamental, even as clients are expecting more for less. This is where AI can support us - not by replacing lawyers, but by freeing us up to focus on the parts of the job where human insight really counts.
Now is the time to become more proactive not passive and engage with the tools already available to us. To stay competitive, we must shift our mindset and take an active role in shaping how AI is used in our profession. We also need to rethink how we train and support the next generation of lawyers. AI literacy should be embedded into legal education as a core skill, whilst ethical awareness must be built into every system we adopt. I don’t believe AI will eliminate lawyers, but it may eliminate those who refuse to embrace these changes.
Practical steps for engaging with AI in legal practice
Wherever you are in your legal career, you’re not expected to be an AI expert. You don’t need to know how to code, but what will set you apart is your mindset. Curiosity and adaptability are becoming essential skills in modern legal practice.
Here are six practical steps to get started:
Watch demos and explore the tools already available. You don’t need to be technical, just open-minded. Understanding what AI can and can’t do will soon be non-negotiable.
Generative AI is only as good as the questions you ask. Learn how to prompt effectively. It’s a skill that will soon carry real advantages.
Think beyond traditional black-letter law. AI regulation, data protection, and digital contracts are growth areas that need lawyers who understand both law and tech.
Ask yourself how AI could save time, reduce risk, or add value for clients. This mindset will set you apart.
AI can’t replace client trust, empathy, judgement, or strategic thinking. Focus on developing these skills because they will matter more than ever in an AI-enhanced profession.
Join discussions about how technology is changing legal work. Follow legal tech leaders, talk to colleagues, and share what you’re learning. The firms that succeed will be the ones where people are open and learning together.
No matter what your level of experience is, these small actions can help you build confidence and prepare for the changes ahead. As AI tools become part of everyday practice, they are not something we can overlook, but something we must learn to use responsibly.
Looking ahead
We can’t deny that the legal sector is changing and the SRA’s approval of an AI-driven law firm makes that clearer than ever. Despite the varying opinions on AI in law, we must remain focused on what matters to clients. It’s not just about keeping up with the latest tech, it’s about broadening our knowledge so that we are better positioned to use these tools effectively and responsibly.
We don’t all need to become AI specialists, but we do need to understand enough to identify risks like inaccuracies or bias and maintain the trust our clients place in us. The future of law isn’t something happening to us, it’s something were actively shaping. With thoughtful engagement and ethical awareness, we can ensure AI strengthens our profession, not undermines it.
This article is written in a personal capacity. The views expressed are my own and do not represent those of my employer or any affiliated organisation.
Kady Preston, Associate at national law firm, Weightmans