Perkins Coie London Pilots AI Avatars to Boost Lawyer Communication Skills
Perkins Coie’s London office is piloting AI avatars to train junior lawyers on workplace communication.
Why it matters: Strong interpersonal skills are critical in modern legal practice, where lawyers must communicate effectively with clients and colleagues. The pilot signals a move toward high-tech, skills-based legal training to prepare new lawyers for collaborative, client-facing work.
- Beta test lets junior lawyers practice difficult conversations—like giving feedback or asking for support—in realistic digital simulations.
- The avatar platform was developed with Levra, a UK company specializing in AI-powered employee training environments.
- The London office, which opened in 2024, runs a Legal Business Analyst program—an alternative career pathway developing business and tech skills for legal professionals.
- The office won the 2025 Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe Award for creative approaches to legal services.
Perkins Coie’s London office is running a beta test where junior lawyers train by conversing with AI-powered avatars that simulate real workplace scenarios. The goal: help lawyers build essential communication and people skills, such as handling feedback sessions or navigating talks with partners.
- Levra—a London-based tech firm—supplies the avatars, which replicate the tone, demeanor, and questions a lawyer might encounter on the job.
- London Managing Partner Ian Bagshaw told LegalTech News: “Technical skills alone are no longer enough.” Bagshaw says the training aims to deepen junior lawyers’ ability to thrive in complex, client-driven environments.
- The project fits with Perkins Coie’s Legal Business Analyst program—an alternative talent track blending business, technology, and law. The initiative seeks to build key commercial awareness, not just legal knowledge, widening routes into the profession beyond traditional legal degrees.
- Outside perspectives highlight growing interest in using virtual training to prepare young lawyers. LegalTech News described this kind of avatar-based training as a “significant talent development experiment” for the UK legal market.
No feedback from the beta test or rollout schedules have been disclosed yet. Independent industry observers have noted the lack of public performance data, which will be key for evaluating effectiveness according to Nonbillable.
This follows wider adoption of simulation and digital learning tools across leading UK and US firms as they seek to modernize junior lawyer development. The Perkins Coie London team, a 40-person office, was recently recognized with the 2025 Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe Award for its inventive approach to legal services.
By the numbers:
- 40 lawyers and professionals — Perkins Coie's London office headcount as of 2026
- 2024 — Year Perkins Coie launched its London office
- 2025 — Year it won the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe Award
Yes, but: Program outcomes are not yet public, and industry experts say effectiveness remains unproven until more data emerges.
What's next: Perkins Coie is expected to review results and announce next steps once the AI training pilot concludes.