Clio Report: 90% of UK and Irish Lawyers Now Use AI
The 2026 UK and Ireland Legal Insights Report, covered by CNBC, also found most AI-using firms handle more work without adding staff.
About 90% of lawyers in the UK and Ireland use AI in their work, according to Clio's 2026 UK and Ireland Legal Insights Report, which was covered by CNBC.
The report found that roughly 80% of law firms using AI said they can handle more work without adding staff or resources. More than 70% said costs decreased as AI took over administrative tasks previously done by support staff.
The findings put pressure on the billable-hour model that underpins much legal billing. Lexolent CEO Nick Rolls-Davies said one cannot bill 16 hours for a task that takes 16 seconds.
Rolls-Davies also noted that courts have sanctioned lawyers who submitted filings containing nonexistent case law.
The survey pointed to longer working hours as well: 51% of legal professionals worked in the evening while only 32% wanted to, and 22% worked weekends, double the 11% who wanted to. CNBC reported on the survey on the 10th.
Quick answers
How many UK and Irish lawyers use AI?
About 90% of lawyers in the UK and Ireland use AI in their work, according to Clio's 2026 UK and Ireland Legal Insights Report.
What did the report say about law firm costs and staffing?
About 80% of AI-using firms said they can handle more work without adding staff or resources, and more than 70% said costs decreased as AI took over administrative tasks previously done by support staff.
What did Lexolent's CEO say about billing?
Nick Rolls-Davies said one cannot bill 16 hours for a task that takes 16 seconds, and noted courts have sanctioned lawyers who submitted filings containing nonexistent case law.