More than half of Victorian lawyers use AI – but only a quarter have cut client fees as a result

Research finds 55% of lawyers are using AI in legal practices, up from 37% last year, though efficiency gains aren’t as high as expected

More than half of Victoria’s lawyers have reported using AI in their work, according to a new study, but just over a quarter say they’ve reduced fees as a result of efficiency gains.

They also say clients seeking advice from chatbots has added to their workload, forcing them to correct errors made by AI.

The 2026 census of 2,221 of the state’s lawyers, conducted by the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner’s legal services research centre, found a major increase in lawyers using AI in their practices, rising from 37% to 55% in the last year.