Law firms advised to strengthen tech basics before embracing AI

A new research report from iManage has found that legal professionals prioritise fundamental technology solutions such as document management systems before advancing to AI capabilities within law firms.

The report, titled 'Ground your legal AI strategy firmly in basics', is based on a survey conducted by SA Market Insights of more than 1,200 legal professionals in the United States, UK, EMEA, and Asia Pacific regions. The findings reveal a strong global consensus on the importance of core technology for legal operations, highlighting a demand for robust document and email management tools among professionals in the sector.

According to the report, legal professionals ranked the following features as most important: repositories for storing and retrieving precedents and templates, automated monitoring for compliance, compatibility with e-discovery platforms, and internal real-time collaboration tools and workspaces. These foundation-level technologies were prioritised over advanced capabilities such as generative AI.

The survey indicates that law firms often need to improve the effectiveness of their current technology investments before expanding their capabilities through AI. The findings suggest that a renewed focus on enhancing efficiency, security, and collaboration via foundational systems such as document management is considered essential for building proficiency in applying AI tools in the future.

The report also points to challenges in achieving return on investment (ROI) for document management systems due to low user adoption. Respondents identified several causes for this, including cumbersome security requirements, ineffective search functions, and the need to constantly switch between tools. The research highlights that providing effective solutions to these pain points, as well as ongoing training and support after the introduction of new systems, can significantly improve adoption rates.

Joy Ganvik, CEO at SA Market Insights, commented on the findings: "As law firms evaluate the potential of AI capabilities, it is equally critical for legal leaders to assess their foundational technology stack, with a keen eye on usage. This assessment should identify any gaps, determine the steps needed to fill them, and prioritize firm-wide adoption of current capabilities to be certain that any future investment in AI is maximally effective."

The survey was conducted between December 2024 and January 2025 and included participants from firms of varying sizes, with groups divided between organisations employing 50 or fewer, 51–250, and more than 250 staff. The majority of respondents were lawyers with between five and 20 years of experience, many of whom had spent significant time at their current firms.

Laura Wenzel, Global Marketing & Insights Director at iManage, said: "The insights in this new report provide a valuable roadmap for firms still contemplating how to invest in solutions that enable them to keep growing into the future capabilities that AI can offer. Understanding what legal professionals need to efficiently manage their document workflows can help organizations make informed, strategic DMS investments that drive adoption, deliver lasting value, and set the stage for effective use of advanced technologies."

The report's findings reflect a current industry focus on optimising core technology infrastructure before seeking to benefit from artificial intelligence and more advanced legaltech solutions.