AI Drives New Skills and Hiring Trends in Legal Teams by 2028
By 2028, AI tools will manage 30% of in-house legal tasks, shifting hiring and skills needs.
Why it matters: Legal professionals must adjust hiring strategies, redefine roles, and develop AI literacy to stay effective as automation alters workflows and pricing models.
- 61% of legal departments use AI tools; only 10% fully integrate AI in daily work (Deloitte 2023).
- 84% of companies haven’t updated legal roles for AI, though 96% agree AI skills are critical (2023 data).
- AI agents are forecast to handle 30% of in-house legal tasks and 'hybrid engineer-lawyers' may make up 20% of teams by 2028.
- Hourly billing is projected to drop from 72% to 44% due to AI automating routine legal work.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping corporate legal teams’ roles, hiring timing, and workflows. A 2023 Deloitte UK report shows 61% of legal departments have deployed AI tools, but only 10% fully integrate AI into daily operations.
Despite widespread AI adoption, 84% of companies have yet to redesign legal roles for AI, while 96% acknowledge that AI literacy and technology skills are vital for future lawyers. This lag limits teams’ ability to leverage AI effectively.
The concept of "hybrid engineer-lawyers" describes legal professionals combining law expertise with programming, data analytics, and technical knowledge. According to industry analysis referencing Deloitte forecasts, AI agents could manage 30% of in-house legal tasks within 3–5 years, while hybrid roles may constitute 20% of legal teams by 2028.
This change also influences pricing models. Currently, 72% of legal work is billed hourly, but as AI automates routine tasks, this is expected to decline to 44%, requiring law firms and corporate legal departments to rethink pricing strategies and resource allocation.
Further independent research from Lexology finds that while many legal professionals anticipate AI's impact within five years, concerns about diminished independent judgment persist, necessitating balanced adoption and governance.
Legal leaders must act decisively: update hiring practices to target AI and technical skills, redefine roles to integrate technology, and adapt workflows and billing for AI-driven efficiencies. Without this, teams risk lagging in effectiveness and competitiveness as AI advances.
By the numbers:
- 61% — legal departments deploying AI tools as of 2023 (Deloitte UK).
- 30% — projected share of in-house legal tasks AI agents will handle within 5 years.
- 72% to 44% — decline in hourly-billed legal work due to AI automation by 2028.
Yes, but: While AI adoption accelerates, many legal professionals remain concerned about risks to independent judgment, highlighting the need for thoughtful integration.
What's next: Expect further developments in legal AI governance and skill-building programs in 2024 as organizations respond to evolving demands.