The 2026 Legal Tech & AI Outlook

Technology continues to transform every area of litigation support, from data management and eDiscovery to trial preparation and AI-driven insights. Industry leaders are embracing technology and artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration. 

Results from U.S. Legal Support’s 2026 litigation support trends survey of 2,000+ legal professionals and leaders reveal that firms are moving from adoption to optimization, seeking measurable ROI from their technology investments, and prioritizing better integration across platforms. 

Leverage these insights for your firm as you consider both innovation and risk management in your 2026 planning. 

AI Adoption Reaches a Tipping Point

While it continues to develop rapidly, AI for law firms is no longer a future consideration—the number of firms using AI tech has nearly doubled year-over-year. If your firm’s not already there, then 2026 will likely bring some changes to your workflow.

2025 Key Findings

The winning number regarding this year’s AI questions is “42,” with: 

• 42% of firms using AI technologies (up from 26% in 2024)
• 42% of firms expecting their use of AI to increase in 2026

Common use cases include:

• Document review
• Predictive analysis
• Litigation strategy
• Transcript summarization

Our respondents expressed a higher implementation of AI use than the respondents of three of four notable, similar-sized survey results published in early 2025, which reported adoption rates in the workplace at¹:

• Thomson Reuters – 26% (global legal, tax, corporate and government sectors)
• American Bar Association – 30% (predominantly older respondents, average age 57)
• 8am (formerly AffiniPay) – 31% (broad distribution of firm sizes, roles, practice areas)
• Smokeball – 53% (small firms and solo practitioners only)

According to 8am, usage patterns also suggest that once AI is introduced, it easily becomes a consistent tool used on a daily or weekly basis.²

Forward Look to 2026

AI will soon become standard in core litigation workflows. Firms will transition from pilot projects to enterprise-level AI deployments, focusing on accuracy, compliance, and training.

In 2026, AI will have transitioned from an emerging innovation to an everyday infrastructure. Firms that build internal expertise and clear AI governance will see the greatest performance gains.

Technology Investment Focuses on Integration and Efficiency

How can technology help your workflow, resource management, and—ultimately—your bottom line? Firms are prioritizing tech investments that yield measurable improvements. 

2025 Key Findings

Our survey asked detailed questions about the tools being used and what firms plan to boost in 2026 tech spending. 

• Tech investment commitment and allocation – 40% of firms plan to increase technology investment in 2026, with priorities including data management, AI tools, and cybersecurity posture.

• Common tools – The most commonly used tools are billing (65%), legal research (69%), and records management (55%), showing consistent maturity across administrative systems.

Forward Look to 2026

The next evolution in legal tech investment will focus on interconnectivity, linking deposition, discovery, and trial systems for end-to-end efficiency. Expect more firms to adopt integrated litigation technology suites that reduce manual data handling and simplify reporting.

2026 is the year of integration. Firms will demand platforms that unify tools and streamline collaboration across every litigation phase.

Barriers to Technology Adoption Narrow but Persist

Every significant shift in technology requires overcoming the challenges of time, budget, and attitude, but we’re seeing a mild softening of resistance in our 2025 survey results. 

2025 Key Findings

For 50%+ of firms, the top three barriers to adoption are: 

• Cost
• Training
• Security concerns 

Interestingly, we saw a modest decline in “staff resistance to change” for this year’s survey, now at 30%. 

Forward Look to 2026

While firms are increasingly open to digital transformation, the focus will shift toward user education and measurable ROI to justify continued investment. The rise of Gen AI tools will also require new ethical training to ensure responsible use.

The success of legal technology in 2026 won’t hinge on capability—it will depend on confidence. Education and ROI measurement will drive adoption.

Cybersecurity and Data Protection Remain Foundational

Firms handle significant amounts of valuable data, and protecting it remains a critical aspect of technology investment. 

2025 Key Findings

In terms of internal firm practices and vulnerability: 

• 72% of respondents confirmed having a formal data security policy
• 71% reported compliance with recognized standards (HIPAA, SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR)
• 21% of firms experienced a cyberattack within the past year (consistent with 2024)

When it comes to vetting tech vendors and partners: 

• 70% consider data privacy policies essential in vetting tech vendors
• 51% of respondents require compliance with major HIPAA standards 
• 45% of respondents require compliance with end-to-end encryption

Forward Look to 2026

With growing AI usage, data security approaches will become central to technology procurement. In fact, 30% of our respondents ranked security and privacy standards as one of the top three most important factors when choosing a third-party litigation support firm, and 30% (in a separate question) marked cybersecurity as a top influential trend impacting litigation support in the next five years. 

Put simply, firms will increasingly demand that vendors provide transparent AI data handling protocols and automated risk detection.

Cybersecurity is now embedded in every technology decision. By 2026, security will be seen not just as protection, but as performance assurance.

The Rise of Predictive Analytics and Smart Litigation Tools

The use of data analysis and smart tools to manage complex cases efficiently and boost case outcomes is in the spotlight. 

2025 Key Findings

Smart legal technology tools continue to grow their reach: 

• 38% of respondents plan to use AI-powered predictive analytics for trial preparation
• 46% believe AI will impact eDiscovery the most within the next five years

Forward Look to 2026

Predictive analytics will move from theoretical advantage to practical necessity. Tools that deliver data-backed litigation insights and realtime strategy support will redefine competitive edge in legal strategy.

Smart analytics will be the differentiator in 2026, enabling firms to combine data science with legal expertise for faster and more confident outcomes.

Looking into the Future of Legal Tech and AI

Our 2025 survey shows that legal technology and AI have reached mainstream status. In 2026, success will depend on how well tools are integrated, how securely they operate, and how effectively teams are trained to use them. Firms that invest in smart, secure, and connected solutions will lead the next phase of digital litigation.

U.S. Legal Support continues to invest in advanced technology that helps firms maximize efficiency, strengthen data protection, and embrace AI responsibly. Discover how our integrated litigation support solutions can prepare your firm for the technology landscape of 2026 and beyond.

Sources: 

1. LawSites. An AI-Assisted Look At Four New Surveys On AI Adoption In Law: How Do They Compare? Differ? https://www.lawnext.com/2025/04/an-ai-assisted-look-at-four-new-surveys-on-ai-adoption-in-law-how-do-they-compare-differ.html
2. 8am MyCase. AI Adoption in Law Firms: Insights from AffiniPay’s Industry Report. https://www.mycase.com/blog/ai/ai-adoption-in-law-firms/

Julie Feller

Julie Feller is the Vice President of Marketing at U.S. Legal Support where she leads innovative marketing initiatives. With a proven track record in the legal industry, Juie previously served at Abacus Data Systems (now Caret Legal) where she played a pivotal role in providing cutting-edge technology platforms and services to legal professionals nationwide.