Remote Depositions & Hybrid Litigation: 2026 Predictions

The litigation world has both feet solidly in the hybrid era, with remote depositions, digital reporting, and cloud-based testimony platforms embedded in daily practice. 

U.S. Legal Support recently surveyed more than 2,000 legal professionals and leaders from single-market, regional, and AmLaw firms on top trends, challenges, and changes anticipated for next year. 2026 litigation trends survey results indicate that the demand for virtual litigation technology is continuing to grow, with ease of use, security, and reliability being the top priorities for firms.

Below, we’ll take a look at how remote and hybrid litigation workflows are evolving, how law firms are adopting new technologies to improve efficiency, and what these shifts signal for 2026 and beyond.

Remote Depositions Continue to Rise

The increase in remote work over the years has led to a permanent change in the way depositions are financed and hosted.

2025 Key Findings

Interestingly, more growth is predicted when it comes to the future of remote depositions: 

• Remote is on the rise – 44% of respondents expect the use of remote depositions to increase in 2026, up from 34% in 2024.

• Major shift in litigation support – 54% of respondents believe the continued rise in remote and hybrid court proceedings will have a major impact on litigation support in the next five years.

• Hybrid models dominate – A near 50/50 split between in-person and remote proceedings.
  

Forward Look to 2026

Remote depositions have become standard practice, driven by convenience, time savings, and cost control. Firms will increasingly opt for hybrid-first approaches that enable flexible participation while maintaining the reliability of a office or courtroom setting.

In 2026, hybrid depositions will no longer be a workaround, but the default for efficient litigation management. 

Ease of Use and Functionality Lead Vendor Selection

Firm leaders are drawn to functional solutions with intuitive customer experience controls when selecting remote meeting platforms and tools. 

2025 Key Findings

Here’s what we heard back about what leaders want: 

• Willingness to pay for what works – When choosing remote deposition technology, firms ranked ease of use (70%) and functionality (59%) above affordability (39%).
  
• Security should be a given – Security (31%) remains vital but is now viewed as table stakes rather than a differentiator.
  

Forward Look to 2026

Legal teams expect seamless, intuitive digital platforms that combine recording, transcription, and exhibit management in one interface.

The user experience is now the deciding factor. In 2026, technology partners that deliver simplicity and dependability will lead the market.

Digital Reporting and AI-Assisted Transcription Integration Accelerate

Regardless of industry and potential benefits, new technology adoption starts with education and a willingness to explore. 

2025 Key Findings

Firms are seeking additional digital integration but still seeing pushback: 

• Digital reporting –  21% of firms report plans to leverage Digital Reporters in 2026.
  
• AI barriers – Key barriers to AI integration include lack of familiarity (36%) and limited awareness (26%).
  

Forward Look to 2026

Expect increased education and adoption around digital reporting and AI-assisted functionality during remote proceedings. Firms will lean on automation to deliver faster transcript turnaround and enhanced accessibility.

As AI usage matures, 2026 will mark a turning point in efficiency and consistency for deposition services. However, Stenographers will continue to play an invaluable and irreplaceable role in all proceedings.

Security and Compliance Remain Non-Negotiable

Remote platforms create an additional digital space that requires careful monitoring to ensure file security and confidentiality, as well as compliance with HIPAA and other relevant regulations. With that in mind, firms must understand how to: 

• Protect privileged communications and case files on all platforms
• Follow local rules for remote appearances and submissions
• Use secure platforms for court communication

2025 Key Findings

When it comes to selecting service partners, firms expect: 

• A clear data privacy policy in place (70%)
• HIPAA compliance with independent audit (51%)
• End-to-end encryption (45%)

In terms of their direct experience and landscape: 

• 72% of firms maintain a data security policy
• 71% comply with recognized standards (HIPAA, SOC 2)
• 21% experienced a cyberattack, underscoring ongoing risk

Forward Look to 2026

With more data transmitted across digital deposition tools, firms will demand secure platforms with end-to-end encryption and built-in audit trails.

As hybrid litigation expands, the definition of “secure” will extend beyond encryption, covering authentication, chain of custody, and compliance documentation.

Preparing for 2026 and Beyond

Put simply, the hybrid litigation model is here to stay. Now, it’s moving from technology adoption to technology orchestration. As such, firms that align platforms across the case lifecycle will lead in efficiency and security.

Through our survey, we found that 28% of firms upgraded litigation support systems (case management or record retrieval) last year, and 7% plan to explore new software vendors in 2026, showing that firms are prioritizing usability, security, and integration to support remote collaboration without compromising accuracy or compliance.

U.S. Legal Support continues to lead in remote deposition innovation, offering secure, reliable, and intuitive solutions that empower legal teams to deliver excellence in any setting.
Reach out today to discuss how we can help with your litigation needs.

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.