Research findings

The research revealed important insights into how sole practitioners and small law firms use and think about technology and innovation more generally.

Drivers and barriers

Smaller firms experience similar drivers and barriers to the wider sector. However, due to having fewer resources, they find the barriers more challenging to overcome.

  • Desire to increase efficiencies (61%) and meeting increased consumer expectations (59%) are the most common factors for increasing the use of technology.
  • Cost (25%), risks of a data breach or lack of regulatory compliance (15%) and quality and reliability of technology (11%) are the most common barriers.
  • With newer/less established technology, firms often want more assurance regarding how data is used and support available to earlier adopters.

of smaller firms have a desire to increase efficiencies

Technology use

Some factors were linked to a greater uptake in innovation over the last five years. These include working with business clients, area of law or size of firm.

  • 95% of firms are using at least one form of technology or innovation.
  • Communication (78%) and accounting software (67%) are the most widely used technologies.
  • Less commonly used technology includes AI automation (14%) , generative AI (genAI) (12%) and legal chatbots (12%).

of firms are using at least one form of technology

Access to justice

There is an opportunity for technology to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of supplying legal services. But firms need time and money to identify the right solution and implement anything effectively.

  • Two thirds (64%) of those surveyed believed an increased use of technology would support greater access to justice.
  • Need to manage risk that overreliance on technology can exclude those who are digitally disengaged.

believed an increased use of technology would support greater access to justice

Technology adoption

Sole practitioners and small-sized firms often have limited time and resources available to research new technologies, an issue which can be exacerbated by a lack of options.

  • Smaller firms are most likely to find out about new technology through their own research (61%) and from their peers (45%).
  • Only 21% of smaller firms say tech providers have approached them directly.
  • There was a general feeling that most technology is tailored for larger firm needs.

of smaller firms say tech providers have approached them directly

Attitudes to innovation

Partners can be divided in their attitudes towards technology and the benefit it delivers relative to the cost. There can often be significant difference in how well individual partners understand technology and therefore how willing they are to embrace it.

  • 90% surveyed recognise the importance of keeping pace with technology and innovation.
  • While there is some underlying fear that technology may ‘take over’ jobs, most agree such fears are unfounded.

recognise the importance of keeping pace with technology and innovation

Risks of non-adoption

Firms who do not embrace technology and innovation, as well as evolving consumer demands, could be at risk of not being able to keep pace with their competitors.

  • According to the Legal Services Board, 60% of legal professionals agree that their clients expect them to use technology.
  • Consumers increasingly expect the benefits and services that come from the use of technology to be delivered to them as standard

of legal professionals agree that their clients expect them to use technology

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