Emerging legal technology trends: Practical insights from Legalweek 2025

At the DraftWise’s team recent post-Legalweek 2025 virtual discussion, industry experts Tony Mauriello (General Counsel at DraftWise), Ken Jones (legal technology expert and professor at Seton Hall University), and Scott Ball (legal product expert at DraftWise) shared valuable insights on how to turn trends in AI innovation and implementation strategies into practical next steps for legal teams.

We’ve broken down their key takeaways here to help legal teams implement best practices based on what’s new in legal. 

Legal AI is evolving to be more integrated with existing technology

Legal AI innovation is moving away from isolated point solutions to integrated ecosystems that promise to reduce friction, improve adoption rates, and ultimately deliver more value to attorneys and their clients. 

The DraftWise panel touched on several emerging factors in this more significant trend: 

Integration focus: Ken Jones highlighted the shift toward integrating newer legal tech companies with established platforms like iManage, NetDocuments, and Thomson Reuters. He specifically noted, "I think what struck me most at Legalweek was the focus on integration... connecting some of these smaller players or startups or companies that have been in business 10-15 years with the tools that are used at your typical AmLaw 100 firm." 

Ken drew parallels between established corporate systems like SAP for enterprise resource planning and bolt-ons like Tableau, suggesting that legal tech is moving toward similar integration models where core systems can be enhanced with specialized tools rather than requiring completely separate platforms.

Product diversity: Scott Ball observed the range of solutions at LegalWeek, noting that while earlier market entrants often focused on addressing a wide range of problems with 'do-it-all' solutions, the market is now evolving to include specialized tools that target bespoke or specific workflows and pain points. This diversification strengthens the integrated ecosystem approach, as these specialized tools can serve as targeted components that connect with established platforms to address specific needs within the broader legal technology landscape."

Cross-practice learning: Scott covered the value of examining solutions from different practice areas, like exploring e-discovery tools despite working primarily on the transactional side, to identify transferable innovations for wider problem solving: "Looking at things that seem to work well and thinking about... is there something that we can take from the approach that someone else is taking and bring it over to our product."

Purpose-built legal AI enables lasting adoption

Firms strategically adopting AI technologies stand to gain a significant competitive advantage in efficiency, client service quality, and attorney satisfaction over time. Meanwhile, legal teams who approach adoption haphazardly risk wasting resources and creating resistance among practitioners. The panel agreed that identifying problems before seeking solutions is the key differentiator. Solutions explicitly built to solve the unique pain points of lawyers' everyday work are proven to drive natural and lasting adoption. 

At DraftWise, we've seen this principle in action with measurable client results:

• Time savings: Corporate attorneys at AmLaw 50 firms report a 37% time reduction on first draft creation
• Quality improvement: 92% of partners report fewer junior associate drafting errors when using AI-assisted drafting tools
• Client satisfaction: Firms using our solutions report 26% higher client satisfaction scores on efficiency metrics

Scott explained, "If you're just shopping for a solution without a defined problem, you may not be set up well with your existing workflows and processes to implement something that fits neatly into how you're working."

Additionally, lasting adoption depends on understanding AI’s capabilities and limitations. Ken emphasized that attorneys should develop an understanding of AI beyond the immediate tools in front of them, such as an awareness of capabilities like predictive analytics and human automation, as well as potential risks such as bias and hallucinations.

This focus on education extends to regulatory and ethical guidelines as well. Ken stressed the importance of attorneys becoming familiar with frameworks like ABA Formal Opinion 512, released in July 2024, which provides critical ethical guidance on using generative AI in legal practice. 

Workflow-first implementation: Your checklist for legal AI tools that get used

The panel identified several critical factors for the successful implementation of legal tech:

1. Integrate with existing tech stacks: Tools that integrate seamlessly with document management systems, Microsoft Word, or Microsoft Outlook are less disruptive to lawyers’ existing workflows.
2. Invest in practical training: Comprehensive and incremental check-ins at the outset are essential to ensure users develop AI expertise.
3. Focus on quick wins: Focusing on smaller, practice group-specific implementations that demonstrate immediate value is more effective than firm-wide rollouts.
4. Set realistic timeline expectations: Understand that some implementations may take months and plan accordingly to maintain momentum and enthusiasm.
5. Identify clear use cases: Tools that simplify complex tasks or make tedious processes more efficient are more likely to gain traction.

AI as a legal assistant: Transforming legal workflows while preserving human oversight

A common concern addressed by the panel was whether AI would replace lawyers. The consensus was clear: AI will transform how legal work is practiced, but won't replace lawyers’ core advisory and strategy role.

Ken compared the evolution of AI-supported work to manufacturing, where assembly lines and robotics changed the process but didn't eliminate the industry. Similarly, legal practice will be re-engineered, with lawyers becoming more proficient at utilizing AI tools to enhance their workflows and reduce repetitive tasks. 

Scott emphasized that the human connection remains irreplaceable: "Lawyers are going to be valuable as advisors... If I'm ever in a place where I need help from a lawyer, I will want to call a human whom I can chat with and who can empathize with me."

Trust by design: Security standards are reshaping legal AI adoption

Legal professionals must thoroughly understand the security architecture of any AI solution they deploy to ensure client data remains protected. 

Technology vendors serving the legal industry must be responsible for building robust security measures directly into their products, such as proper data siloing, preventing client information from being used to train AI models, and implementing effective ethical walls. When vendors prioritize these security features, they enable law firms to adopt innovative tools while confidently maintaining client trust.

DraftWise exemplifies this commitment to security through its recent ISO 27001 certification. This internationally recognized standard validates DraftWise's ongoing investment in continuous security improvements. Firms using DraftWise can confidently address client concerns about data privacy and confidentiality, knowing their technology partner adheres to rigorous security protocols.

Take the Next Step: Measuring your legal team's AI readiness

Strategic adoption of AI tools will likely determine which practices thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape. By focusing on integration, ease of use, and security while maintaining the irreplaceable human element of legal advisory services, firms can harness AI to enhance their practice rather than fear replacement. 

If you’re interested in strategically delivering greater value to clients while improving your legal team's day-to-day experience, contact DraftWise today.