The Hard Truth About Legal AI Adoption with Peter Duffy
AI is here, but legal adoption is just beginning. How are forward-thinking legal teams moving beyond the hype, embedding AI into workflows, and unlocking its potential to transform legal work, making it faster, smarter, and more strategic? Peter Duffy shares his insights.
AI is already transforming industries, but in legal, its adoption is still in its early days. In this recent episode of Mind At Work, I sat down with Peter Duffy, Founder and CEO of Titans, a LegalTech and AI consultancy, to unpack why legal is lagging behind, what’s shifting, and what’s coming next.
Peter works with some of the most forward-thinking legal teams, helping them make strategic technology choices and drive AI initiatives. He also publishes Legal Tech Trends, a newsletter with over 3,000 subscribers tracking the latest developments in the space. If anyone has a clear view of where AI adoption in legal stands today—and where it’s going—it’s him.
So why, despite all the hype, is AI adoption still in its infancy?
Legal AI: The Tech Is Here, The Adoption Isn’t (Yet)
Peter and I agreed that 2024 marked a real shift in AI conversations. We’ve moved from “Wow, AI can do that?” to “AI is just part of how we work now.” But while attitudes have changed, adoption still hasn’t caught up to the maturity of the technology itself.
Legal teams aren’t just figuring out if they should be using AI anymore—it’s how. And, crucially, how to do it right.
The biggest challenge? AI is still mostly being used in isolated, task-specific ways rather than as part of fully embedded workflows. Peter sees this firsthand: many legal teams are experimenting with AI-powered assistants, document review tools, or contract analysis, but few are integrating AI into their broader processes in a way that drives transformational change.
And in large enterprises, the stakes are even higher. As Peter put it, legal teams need predictable, consistent outcomes—which makes full automation, particularly with probabilistic AI models, a challenge.
The takeaway is clear though: the AI tools are here. But for AI to become a true force multiplier in legal, it needs to be embedded, not just bolted on.
The Risks of Shiny Object Syndrome in LegalTech
One of Peter’s biggest warnings is Legal teams chasing AI without a clear purpose.
“There’s this urge to jump onto the latest shiny new tool,” he said. “But if you don’t start by identifying the actual problem you’re solving, you’re setting yourself up to fail.”
This is where most legal AI initiatives break down:
- No defined problem statement → The tech is impressive, but not solving an urgent pain point.
- No change management plan → Lawyers don’t see the benefits and adoption stalls.
- No clear success metrics → It’s impossible to prove business value.
AI implementation still requires the fundamentals of good tech adoption—clear alignment with business goals, well-planned rollout strategies, and a deep understanding of how legal teams actually work.
What’s Next? AI as a Legal Teammate, Not Just a Tool
Despite the challenges, Peter is optimistic. AI is no longer a futuristic concept in legal—it’s already here, and the teams that adopt it thoughtfully will be the ones gaining a competitive edge.
A major shift he’s seeing is the fact that AI is increasingly being viewed as a teammate, not just a tool. Instead of replacing lawyers, it’s acting as an on-demand support attorney—handling first-pass contract reviews, summarising documents, and automating low-value work so that lawyers can focus on high-impact tasks.
And while there’s still a gap between what’s possible and what’s widely adopted, that gap is closing fast. The legal teams that start embedding AI now—rather than waiting for some future “perfect” version—will be the ones setting the pace for the industry.
Final Thoughts
Legal AI adoption may still be in its early days, but the shift is happening. The challenge isn’t whether AI can deliver value—it’s whether legal teams can implement it in a way that actually drives impact.
For legal leaders, the takeaway is clear:
- Start with a problem, not a product. AI adoption should be driven by business needs, not by what’s trending.
- Focus on embedding AI into existing workflows. The best AI tools disappear into the background and make work easier.
- Measure impact, not just adoption. The goal isn’t just to use AI but to generate meaningful results.
The next phase of legal AI isn’t about proving that AI works. It’s about making it work in ways that actually move the needle. The firms and legal departments that figure this out first will set the new standard for the industry.
🎧 You can listen to my full conversation with Peter Duffy on Mind at Work here.
Let me know your thoughts—how is AI and automation shaping your legal team’s strategy? Drop me a note.
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