Will your best lawyers leave without AI? LexisNexis reveals the talent risk law firms can’t ignore
AI isn’t just a competitive advantage. It’s becoming a talent retention strategy.
Law firms that delay AI investment may be doing more than falling behind on innovation. They could be losing their people. According to recent LexisNexis research, 1 in 5 UK lawyers would consider leaving their firm if it failed to invest in AI. That number rises to 26% among lawyers at large firms.
This isn’t about hype. It’s about how modern lawyers want to work, and what they expect from their employers.
Lawyers expect AI support, not resistance
AI is now part of the everyday toolkit for many legal professionals. 61% of UK lawyers are already using generative AI, with tools like Lexis+ AI streamlining research, contract analysis, and admin-heavy tasks. But many still face internal obstacles:
- Only 24% say they’ve had appropriate AI training
- Only 28% report having a clear, usable AI policy
This lack of support creates friction. Lawyers are being asked to adopt transformative tools with minimal guidance. It’s no surprise that frustration is growing.
Culture matters more than tools
Michelle Holford, Chief Commercial Officer at Slaughter and May, explains: “If you can be open minded and have a willingness to experiment, it creates a culture where people are keen to try new technologies, not having them forced upon them.”
Similarly, Alessandro Galtieri, Deputy General Counsel at Colt, highlights the need for wider organisational thinking: “The transformative possibilities of AI will lie in the ability to re-engineer organisation-wide processes. Legal can be an adoption pioneer, but full integration… will really move the needle for the whole enterprise.”
The message is clear: AI must be introduced with intention, support, and openness. Without it, your lawyers may look elsewhere. Learn how Lexis+ AI works
Career risk is the new concern
Not only are lawyers worried about their firm’s lack of investment—they’re also concerned about their own future. In private practice, 39% believe that failing to engage with AI will negatively affect their careers. Among in-house lawyers, that figure jumps to 49%.
For firms that want to attract and retain top legal talent, this is a pivotal moment. A culture that embraces AI signals ambition, adaptability, and relevance.
From tech laggard to talent leader
To position themselves as forward-thinking employers, law firms should:
- Invest in AI tools designed for legal professionals
- Provide structured training and safe experimentation environments
- Develop clear AI policies that empower rather than restrict
- Engage leaders to champion use cases and drive confidence
Candice Donnelly, formerly Director of Legal at Skyscanner, puts it well: “While a company may have seen AI as a novelty or a box ticking exercise, now a legal function expects access to an AI tool that enables it to focus increasingly on high-value, judgment-driven work.”
AI is becoming a benchmark for firm modernity and employee experience.
Conclusion: The cost of delay is talent
AI adoption is no longer a future consideration. It’s a present-day expectation. Legal professionals, especially at the top of their game, want to work in environments that equip them with the best tools and forward-thinking culture.
Fail to deliver that—and they may walk.
