The Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) is conducting research to explore how AI tools are being used in everyday legal work and the impact they are having on tasks, workloads and overall job quality. Legal professionals are being invited to share their experiences through a short survey, helping researchers build a clearer picture of how AI is changing working practices across the profession.
Understanding AI's Impact on Legal Work
AI has the potential to transform many aspects of legal work, but its impact extends beyond simply introducing new technology. While AI tools may help automate routine processes, improve efficiency and reduce the time spent on certain administrative tasks, their introduction may also bring changes to responsibilities, working practices and the skills required in different roles.
For Legal Secretaries, Legal PAs and other legal support professionals, these developments raise important questions. How are AI tools being incorporated into everyday tasks? Are they helping to manage workloads and improve productivity? What effect are they having on the nature of legal support work and the overall working experience?
Understanding these changes is essential to ensuring that discussions about AI in the legal sector reflect the experiences of the people who use these tools and work alongside them every day.
Why Your Contribution Matters
The research being undertaken by IFOW aims to contribute to the wider policy debate surrounding AI and its impact on the legal profession. By gathering feedback from legal professionals, the research team hopes to develop a better understanding of how AI is influencing the way legal work is carried out and what adaptations may be needed to support people as technology continues to evolve.
It is important that the experiences of legal support staff are included in these discussions. Legal Secretaries and PAs play a vital role in the smooth running of legal practices, supporting solicitors, managing documentation, coordinating diaries, communicating with clients and helping to ensure that important administrative processes are completed accurately and efficiently.
As AI becomes more integrated into legal workplaces, the perspectives of those performing these essential tasks can help provide valuable insight into how technology is affecting different roles across the profession.
The findings could help inform discussions about how workplaces, working practices and professional development need to adapt so that legal professionals can continue to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven environment.
Take Part in the Survey
The Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) is a non-profit research and development institute dedicated to improving working lives. This research is funded by The Productivity Institute at Manchester Business School and will explore AI's impact on the experiences of work, including tasks, workloads and job quality.
If you work in the legal profession, you are encouraged to take part in the survey. It takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and your contribution will help researchers better understand the real-world experiences of legal professionals.
You can also help support the research by sharing the survey with colleagues and other legal professionals in your network. The wider the range of perspectives collected, the more comprehensive the findings can be. The survey will remain open until 11th Oct 2026.
AI is likely to remain an important topic for the legal sector in the years ahead. By taking a few minutes to share your experiences, you can help ensure that the discussion around its impact on working life is informed by the people who understand legal work first-hand.
