Artificial intelligence is transforming legal work at a remarkable pace - from automating routine administrative tasks to assisting with research, document drafting, and even predicting litigation outcomes. While these developments bring significant efficiency gains, they also prompt an important question: what skills will lawyers need to remain indispensable in an AI-enabled profession?
The legal sector is entering a period of rapid evolution. The lawyers who thrive will be those who pair technological capability with human insight, judgement, and commercial understanding. AI may reshape workflows, but it cannot replace the uniquely human qualities that clients rely on.
Commercial and Client Skills
Technical legal knowledge will always be essential, but commercial awareness and client-facing capability are becoming equally important. As transactional work and standardised drafting become increasingly automated, clients expect lawyers to demonstrate strategic understanding and industry-specific insight - not just doctrinal expertise.
Jim Moser, Director of Professional Development at the University of Law:
“Business operations and commercial skills will be ever more important… the ability to think commercially and strategically will be essential from an early stage in any law career.”
Clients continue to value human qualities that technology cannot replicate:
trust
empathy
tailored advice
clear communication
professional judgement
As a result, communication skills, business development, negotiation, and proactive client management are quickly becoming core requirements for junior and senior lawyers alike.
Critical Thinking and Ethical Judgement
While AI can process data rapidly and generate first-draft insights, it cannot apply ethical reasoning, contextual understanding, or strategic judgement.
Ultimately, human oversight remains essential. AI can support legal analysis, but it cannot take responsibility for legal advice.
Technology Proficiency
As digital tools become more embedded in legal practice, practical technological literacy is increasingly non-negotiable. Lawyers entering the profession will be expected to understand and work confidently with:
AI-assisted research platforms
Document automation and contract review tools
E-discovery and litigation analytics
Workflow automation systems
Data analysis and visualisation tools
Proficiency in technology will not only increase efficiency but also enhance accuracy, improve client service, and support compliance with regulatory expectations.
Vigilance and Human Oversight
AI can be fast, impressive, and useful - but it is not infallible. Errors, omissions, and fabricated information remain genuine risks, and lawyers must approach AI outputs with caution.
Human oversight ensures that:
legal nuance isn’t lost
assumptions are tested
ethical boundaries are respected
clients receive advice grounded in experience, not just data.
A New Kind of Lawyer
The rise of AI is not diminishing the need for lawyers - it is redefining what makes them valuable. The future legal professional will be someone who blends:
strong interpersonal and client-handling skills
commercial insight and strategic thinking
high-level problem-solving
robust ethical judgement
confidence with digital and AI tools
adaptability in embracing new ways of working
Lawyers who cultivate this combination of human and technological strengths will remain not only relevant but essential in a rapidly modernising legal market.
Conclusion
AI will undoubtedly reshape legal practice, but it will not replace the human elements at the heart of the profession. Instead, it will change the skillset required for success. Emotional intelligence, commercial awareness, critical reasoning, and ethical judgement will become even more important as routine tasks are automated.
Those who can balance technological efficiency with strategic insight and client-centred judgement will thrive in the AI-driven legal environment - and remain indispensable to clients seeking trusted, expert counsel in an increasingly complex world.
Jon Pearson, Director at LC Legal, is a quality-driven recruitment specialist with 15 years of experience, specialising in the Birmingham legal market. Recognised for his strategic insight, market knowledge and consultative approach, Jon has built a strong reputation for delivering honest, commercially focused advice. He forms trusted partnerships with Partners, Directors and Legal teams, and supporting firms in securing high-calibre Associates, Senior Associates, Partners and specialist legal professionals. His commitment to a smooth, well-managed process ensures exceptional outcomes for all parties.
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