Executive Summary & Key Stats
As of January 2026, the tracker monitors 46 distinct expert opinions. 55% of experts argue that AI will not replace lawyers, while 15% predict yes to some extent. Only 2% predict full replacement. The consensus indicates AI will replace tasks rather than jobs.
Tracker Status: Active/Monitoring
Last Verified: 30 January 2026
Total Entries: 46
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UK‑based legal commentary and comparative analysis of international case law on AI related legal issues. This Will AI Replace Lawyers? Tracker forms part of lecturing/teaching law and writing/editing law articles/reports and is communicated solely in connection with promoting or advertising Matthew Lee’s practice. Not legal advice. Not Direct/Public Access. All instructions via clerks at Doughty Street Chambers.
Will AI Replace Lawyers?
Will AI Replace Lawyers? We often see bold headlines claiming that AI is going to make lawyers obsolete. But what do tech leaders, legal institutions, courts, and experts actually believe? What have they said on the issue?
This live tracker collects public comments on whether AI will replace lawyers. It also covers AI replacing lawyers in specific roles such as solicitors and paralegals, and the wider impact of AI and legal jobs. Each entry records the speaker, role, date, jurisdiction, stance and a source link. Use the filters to browse by stance and year. Updated weekly.
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Charts
Will AI Replace Lawyers Tracker
| Date | Speaker | Role | Country | Quote | Stance | Context | Source | Notes | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/6/2023 | Professor Lawrence Lessig | Academic | USA | Mr Lessig argues, it is hard to see how ai “doesn’t dramatically reduce the number of lawyers the world needs” | Yes to some extent | economist.com (subscription required) | Substack | 2023 | ||
| 2/1/2024 | Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. | Judge | USA | “By contrast, legal determinations often involve gray areas that still require application of human judgment,” Roberts wrote. “Machines cannot fully replace key actors in court.” | Unlikely | Courthousenews | 2024 | ||
| 4/11/2023 | Professor Eric Talley (Columbia Law School) | Academic | USA | Professor Eric Talley ...says AI won’t replace lawyers but will instead complement their skills, ultimately saving them time, money and making them more effective. | No | foxbusiness.com | 2023 | ||
| 4/11/2023 | Professor Lawrence Solum | Academic | USA | "Not only will artificial intelligence be able to ensure sort of the internal logical coherence of various kinds of legal documents, they'll be much better at it than human lawyers are." | Yes to some extent | foxbusiness.com | |||
| 24/8/2025 | Erik Brynjolfsson | Academic | USA | “Lawyers working with AI will replace lawyers who don’t work with AI.” | Yes to some extent | wisbar.org | 2024 | ||
| 4/5/2024 | Sir Geoffrey Vos | Judge | UK | 32. Moreover, I do not think that human lawyers will ever be replaced by machines. As our lives become more complex, as regulation becomes more intense, and as technology affects every aspect of our society, citizens and businesses will find it increasingly hard to understand the law and the legal position. The explanations that lawyers provide will become of increasing importance. | Unlikely | Judiciary.uk | 2025 | ||
| 20/11/2024 | Law Society (E&W) | Regulator | UK | “AI will not replace lawyers, but it will transform how they work.” | No | lawsociety.org.uk | 2024 | ||
| 29/04/2024 | Justice Valerie Thean | Judge | Singapore | "Many ask whether AI will replace lawyers and judges. Those of us young enough to have grown up with Luke Skywalker’s R2D2 or Iron Man’s Jarvis would know that AI can be a loyal friend and not a foe. I posit that lawyers will not be replaced by AI, but they will be replaced by lawyers who use AI." | No | Speech “Out in the Dark with AI” at the Litigation Conference Workshop 2025; delivered 29 April 2025; published on Singapore Courts website (02 May 2025) | judiciary.gov.sg | 2024 | |
| 19/08/2024 | Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon | Judge | Singapore | "A year on, I believe there is growing acceptance of the notion that generative AI will bring about a paradigm shift in lawyering, and that this is a development that we should all take seriously. It is now evident that AI will not only assist lawyers with basic legal tasks, but it even has the potential to outperform and thus to replace lawyers in certain areas. Generative AI may not only significantly enhance the efficiency of legal work, it may in some respects even raise its quality." | Yes to some extent | Mass Call Address 2024 — “The Legal Profession – A Community of Learned Friends”; delivered 19 Aug 2024; published on Singapore Courts website | judiciary.gov.sg | 2024 | |
| 30/05/2024 | Justice Aedit Abdullah | Judge | Singapore | "Generative AI tools may assist SRPs to do without lawyers in more litigation contexts. Corporate clients may feel that they can easily draft contracts and agreements without involving lawyers." | Yes to some extent | Speech “Technology as a Bridge to Justice” at Conversations with the Community; delivered 30 May 2024; published on Singapore Courts website (05 June 2024). ‘SRPs’ = self‑represented person | judiciary.gov.sg | 2024 | |
| 27/09/2025 | Matthew Lee | Lawyer | UK | "I consider the full replacement of lawyers to be both unlikely and undesirable. What is inevitable, however, is that legal practice and the administration of justice will undergo profound transformation across the world. High-volume, routine tasks such as research and document review may become almost entirely automated, but advocacy, ethics, client care, and the deeper connection to human issues are highly likely to remain human-led." | Unlikely | ||||
| 1/5/2025 | Dame Siobhan Keegan | Judge | Northern Ireland (UK) | "Returning to the question I posed at the outset, ‘Whether AI should replace judges and lawyers?’, you will all be relieved to know that my view is that it should not. It is clear that AI is currently playing a role in the legal profession, especially in the commercial field, and will no doubt continue to do so into the future, particularly as technology evolves..." | Unlikely | Opening address at the British Irish Commercial Bar Association (BICBA) Annual Law Forum — “AI & the Future of the Legal Profession”; delivered 1 May 2025; published on Judiciary N | judiciaryni.uk | 2025 | |
| 10/8/2024 | Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud | Judge | India | "Sophisticated legal argumentation continues to remain in the exclusive realm of human lawyers." | No | Inaugural address at the National Conference “The Landscape of Technology in Courts in India and the Way Forward” (Chandigarh Judicial Academy); remarks delivered 10 Aug 2024; reported by The Indian Express on 11 Aug 2024. | indianexpress.com | 2025 | |
| 11/3/2024 | Jonathan Green | Lawyer | Cayman Islands | "Generative AI will transform how we deliver legal services, but it will never replace our lawyers." “The most effective work that we do in the future will combine the best of both people and technology. And, in fact, our people's legal expertise, business acumen, and client trust will matter more, not less. " | No | Remarks at the Maples Investment Funds Forum; reported by Law Society of Ireland Gazette (11 Mar 2024). | lawsociety.ie | 2024 | |
| 19/08/2024 | Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon | Judge | Singapore | "some legal problems will be resolved with the right technological tools, even without lawyers" | Yes to some extent | TechLaw.Fest 2025 keynote (“Reimagining Law and Technology”); discusses AI’s impact on legal services—some matters may be handled without lawyers, while complex problems remain lawyer‑led | judiciary.gov.sg | 2024 | |
| 12/3/2025 | Julian Taylor | Lawyer | UK | The adoption of generative artificial intelligence is unlikely to lead to a “significant reduction” in law firm headcount, according to a top UK legal boss. | Unlikely | fnlondon.com | 2025 | ||
| 9/6/2025 | Virginia State Bar | Regulator | USA | "Overall, AI will not replace lawyers but will enhance their ability to deliver services faster, more accurately, and more cost-effectively. The integration of AI into law firms will ultimately result in higher-quality legal services, more efficient operations, and a better overall client experience." | No | Official VSB report “Technology and the Future Practice of Law 2025”; committee submission dated 9 June 2025; quote appears on p. 23. | vsb.org | 2025 | |
| 28/04/2025 | Bar Standards Board | Regulator | UK | "Barristers anticipate AI to be beneficial to their work but not to replace the important human elements of skill, experience and judgement that define their profession." | No | Press release “The Bar Standards Board publishes Technology and Innovation at the Bar Research”; published 28 Apr 2025; summarises findings on tech adoption at the Bar. | barstandardsboard.org.uk | 2025 | |
| 9/7/2024 | Nathan L Hecht | Judge | USA | “AI is not about to replace humans, and it cannot (yet?) dependably supply accurate briefing or client advice, but it can help in the process.” | No | Written testimony to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing “Closing the Justice Gap: How to Make the Civil Justice System Accessible to All Americans.” | judiciary.senate.gov | 2024 | |
| 30/9/2024 | International Bar Association | Regulator | International | "The goal is to enhance legal expertise, to give lawyers new tools and added value, not to replace them." | No | IBA–CAIDP report “The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Profession”; launched at IBA Annual Conference (19 Sep 2024); press release dated 30 Sep 2024; quote appears in “The impact of AI on law firms” section (p. 10). | ibanet.org | 2024 | |
| 30/04/2025 | Sir Geoffrey Vos | Judge | UK | "I am not, however, overlooking the role that AI will play in solving these problems. AI is already capable of providing reasonably accurate legal advice. Many of you will have tried some of the dedicated programmes offering advice on employment, property and other issues. They may be scary for lawyers, but they will not actually replace them, in my view at least, since many of the issues that arise concern the explanations that need to accompany legal advice. Persuading people to accept legal advice is a peculiarly human activity." | No | judiciary.uk | 2025 | ||
| 20/01/2025 | Roden Tong | Lawyer | Hong Kong | "AI will not replace lawyers, it will only augment legal practice." | No | Speech at the Opening of the Legal Year 2025; delivered 20 Jan 2025; he referenced the Law Society’s Jan 2024 AI position paper. | hklawsoc.org.hk | 2025 | |
| 1/3/2024 | Barry McCarthy | Lawyer | Ireland | “AI will not do away with the need for lawyers, but it may do away with lawyers who don’t learn how to deal with it.” | No | President’s Message in Law Society Gazette (March 2024), reflecting on AI discussions at the European Presidents’ Conference | lawsociety.ie | 2024 | |
| 11/6/2025 | State Bar of Michigan | Regulator | USA | “AI programs should only supplement, not substitute, a lawyer’s work.” | No | fficial report “Transforming the Legal Profession in the Age of AI”; press release published 11 June 2025; quote appears on p. 34 of the PDF. | michbar.org | 2025 | |
| 4/9/2025 | Justice Ian Jackman | Judge | Australia | "None of that will eliminate human processes, but it can provide a very beneficial adjunct to augment the skills of lawyers." | No | Speech “Some reflections on the use of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology in insurance litigation” at the Australian Professional Indemnity Group National Conference; delivered 4 Sep 2025; published on the Federal Court website | fedcourt.gov.au | 2025 | |
| 29/03/2024 | Brittany Kauffman | Lawyer | USA | "While AI will likely not replace lawyers or judges, AI will require us to evolve." | Unlikely | IAALS blog post “The Implications of Generative AI: From the Delivery of Legal Services to the Delivery of Justice” by the organization’s CEO | iaals.du.edu | 2024 | |
| 6/6/2024 | Canadian Bar Association | Regulator | Canada | "All dire warnings aside, AI was not created to replace lawyers but to be used as an effective everyday tool." | No | Official CBA Legal Futures “AI Technologies in Practice — AI‑Powered Legal Research” program description; presented live 6 June 2024; statement appears on the program page. | cba.org | 2024 | |
| 14/08/2025 | The Hon Justice Mordy Bromberg | Judge | Australia | "There are also tasks which are currently provided by lawyers which AI will replace. It may be that AI will result in fewer lawyers." | Yes to some extent | Address to the Australian Law Forum 2025; transcript published by ALRC (“Presentations & Articles”); check against delivery | alrc.gov.au | 2025 | |
| 25/07/2025 | Steven Thiru | Lawyer, Other | International | "However, AI is not here to replace the role of lawyers. The efficiency gain is only one part of the equation, and it is essential to recognise where the true value of legal work lies." | No | CLA News article “Transforming Legal Practice Through AI: Towards Greater Access to Justice” by the CLA President; published on the CLA website. | commonwealthlawyers.com | 2025 | |
| 3/2/2025 | Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo | Judge | Philippines | SAJ Leonen also explored the intricate relationship between law and AI, emphasizing that certain human qualities in legal practice remain irreplaceable. He warned that while AI has the potential to either advance or obstruct our goals, it can never embody the essence of humanity. “[A]rtificial intelligence will never be human…I believe they will never replace human beings as lawyers,” he asserted, underscoring that AI lacks the compassion necessary to truly serve clients and communities. | No | Keynote at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ 20th National Convention of Lawyers (Cebu City, 30 Jan–1 Feb 2025); statement published by the Supreme Court on 3 Feb 2025. | sc.judiciary.gov.ph | 2025 | |
| 26/02/2024 | Justice David Masuhara | Judge | Canada | [46] As this case has unfortunately made clear, generative AI is still no substitute for the professional expertise that the justice system requires of lawyers. Competence in the selection and use of any technology tools, including those powered by AI, is critical. The integrity of the justice system requires no less. | Unlikely | Costs ruling in Zhang v. Chen, 2024 BCSC 285 (final comment cautioned about AI ‘hallucinations’ and stressed lawyers’ competence in selecting/using tech to protect the justice system’s integrity). | bccourts.ca | 2024 | |
| 1/8/2024 | Mary L. Smith | Lawyer | USA | "It’s hard to have a crystal ball, and I know some fear that AI will replace lawyers altogether, but I think that’s probably an overreaction. One of the key aspects of being a lawyer is the humanity we bring to our matters and our clients and the empathy and compassion we have. In a recent ABA Journal column, I wrote that we need not fear a zombie apocalypse on this. I think AI can make us better lawyers. I hope that it can strengthen our profession." | Unlikely | Interview “A Problem-Solving Profession” in Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession’s The Practice (Speaker’s Corner: July/August 2024). | clp.law.harvard.edu | 2024 | |
| 21/08/2024 | Ontario Bar Association | Regulator | USA | "AI won’t replace lawyers, but those who know how to expertly leverage its power and potential will gain a distinct advantage in the legal practice of tomorrow. OBA TECHxpo will showcase a selection of the many AI products available and equip you with the questions to ask to ensure you are making the right selections to best enhance your practice. Register now!" | No | Program flyer for OBA’s TECHxpo 2024: AI Edition (official event brochure). | oba.org | 2024 | |
| 6/6/2025 | Richard Susskind | Academic | UK | "I'm involved in building the systems and ensuring the content is there, the systems that will replace our old ways of working. So in the short term, I see the impact of AI as essentially turbocharging lawyers in the long run, I see the impact of ai. In actually empowering non-lawyers, organizations, individuals to do the legal work for themselves." | Yes | AAAi Podcast Episode 12 — “AI & Law with Richard Susskind: Why Systems Change Faster Than Mindsets”; published with full transcript by the American Arbitration Association-ICDR. | adr.org | 2025 | |
| 29/08/2025 | Chief Justice Andrew S Bell | Judge | Australia | "Lawyers must remain vigilant in the use of artificial intelligence, as persistent “AI hallucinations” remind us that accurate, reliable and critical legal analysis currently remains a solely human capability" | No | Address “Change at the Bar and the Great Challenge of Gen AI” to the Australian Bar Association; delivered in Sydney; quote in Conclusion (§93). | supremecourt.nsw.gov.au | 2025 | |
| 14/07/2025 | Kate Barton | Lawyer | International | "The legal industry has always been about more than just knowledge. It’s about judgment, relationships, and persuasion. All of these are distinctly human skills. While AI may be able to replace some of the marginal duties performed by a lawyer, it will never replace the connection, understanding, and expertise a successful professional brings to every relationship.Coupling the power of AI with emotional awareness and intellect will separate those who truly understand the nature of the legal industry from those who seek only to make efficiencies. In this new era, success will not be granted to those who outsmart a machine but to those who know when to stop analyzing and start empathizing." | Unlikely | Article for Fortune | fortune.com | 2025 | |
| 26/07/2025 | Queenland Courts | Other | Australia | "It is not an alternative to seeking tailored legal advice and cannot replace a qualified lawyer." | No | Public guidance page “Using Generative AI” for court users; page last reviewed/updated 26 Sep 2025; quote appears under “Ensure accuracy.” | courts.qld.gov.au | 2025 | |
| 13/10/2024 | Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat | Judge | Malaysia | "[21] Decision-making process generally requires human qualities. I would think that the legal profession will not soon be completely replaced by AI. Just as a human patient finds comfort in a human doctor, the legal profession too will not soon lose its human touch" | Unlikely | Opening address at the 37th LAWASIA Conference (“Navigating the Legal Landscape in the Digital Age”) | malaysianbar.org.my | 2024 | |
| 26/09/2025 | Washington State Bar Association | Regulator | USA | "This is a defining moment for the legal profession. AI is already transforming legal practice, court operations, and client expectations. It will not replace lawyers, but it will change how lawyering is done.3 That change is already underway, and the pace is accelerating. Legal professionals need to understand these new technologies not only for efficiency and productivity but also to remain competitive and responsive to their clients' evolving needs." | No | Final report Embracing Change: Strategic Roadmap for Washington’s Legal Profession in a Time of Technology Disruption; released 26 Sep 2025; quote appears on p. 4. | wsba.org | 2025 | |
| 10/1/2025 | Judge Bridget Mary McCormack | Judge | USA | "No, lawyers will always have work. There are always going to be disputes that need to be resolved in courts by a public justice system. Disputes with governments, for example, and criminal law, which will need to be resolved with lawyers and judges. And there will always be a need for lawyers to help resolve many civil disputes too. There will always be work for lawyers to do. But more than 90% of people with civil justice problems are priced out of the market. So, there’s an enormous mismatch that is a threat to the rule of law. It’s that simple. Maybe some lawyers would resist the idea that people can get legal information on their own, but I think that’s short sighted. To the extent that fewer people feel left out of the legal rules we’re all governed by, I believe that’s positive for the rule of law and for the profession generally." | No | NYSBA News Center Q&A ahead of the Presidential Summit; published 10 Jan 2024 | nysba.org | 2024 | |
| 17/10/2024 | Justice Goh Yihan | Judge | Singapore | "I would like to think that AI does not make lawyers redundant; if anything, it helps us refocus on what it means to be a lawyer – the exciting parts of the profession that law schools have trained you in." | No | Speech “The Next Generation – Necessary Legal Skills for Junior Lawyers in the Age of AI” at Singapore Management University; delivered 17 Oct 2024; published on Singapore Courts website 24 Oct 2024. | judiciary.gov.sg | 2024 | |
| 22/05/2025 | Andrea Martin & April Garbuz | Lawyer | USA | "Law firms are adopting GenAI tools that have proven instrumental in drafting, summarizing, and analyzing legal documents. GenAI’s capabilities enhance both the accuracy and efficiency of these tasks, reducing the chances of costly errors while increasing overall productivity. GenAI also aids in creating chronologies to visualize timelines and creating charts to track litigation claims, allowing attorneys to focus on higher-level legal analysis and client interaction. These tools do not replace lawyers: They empower them. By handling repetitive tasks, AI allows attorneys to concentrate on high-level legal reasoning, client advocacy, and case strategy." | No | Boston Bar Journal article “The Ethical Imperative to Embrace AI in Commercial Litigation” explaining why GenAI augments legal work rather than substituting for lawyers. | bostonbar.org | 2025 | |
| 9/1/2025 | Law Society of Alberta | Regulator | USA | "With GenAI’s potential to save time and resources, it begs the question: Will firms look to reduce the number of attorneys in their employ? Current research and discussions on GenAI suggest that it cannot replace the job of lawyers, since it needs human oversight to work.41 Indeed, GenAI only works when a user inputs a prompt. Still, some attorneys and other legal professionals remain concerned that the prospect of increased efficiency and time saving will result in less humans in the office." | Unlikely | t Sidebar column by Nicole Case in The Federal Lawyer; posted on the FBA blog (7 May 2024). | fedbar.org | ||
| 22/10/2025 | Sena Agbotse | Lawyer | UK | "AI will not replace lawyers but it will radically reform the way legal work is undertaken. It will reshape the profession. It will automate repetitive tasks like legal research, drafting and document review but will not, in my view, replace reasoning and advocacy. The successful lawyer will be the one who can adapt and integrate AI into their work in some form. I have heard it said that “AI won’t replace lawyers - but lawyers using AI will replace those who don’t” | No | 2025 | |||
| 16/12/2025 | Anonymous | Lawyer | UK | AI will kill all the lawyers: A barrister’s warning, published in The Spectator | Yes | the Spectator | 2025 | ||
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Will AI Replace Lawyers? The “Stance” Column
These comments are often nuanced and so it’s difficult to allocate a clear stance. For now, I have opted for the following:
- Yes – The quote expresses a clear “yes” or very positive/supportive stance.
- Yes to come extent – This is where the quote indicates some jobs will go, but not all.
- Likely – The quote leans positive or affirmative but with some uncertainty or mild tone.
- Mixed/Uncertain – The quote has a balanced or unclear stance, perhaps mentioning both pros and cons (neutral or mixed sentiment).
- Unlikely – The quote leans negative or doubtful, hinting that the answer is “probably no” or expressing mild opposition.
- No – The quote is clearly “no” or very negative/opposed in stance.
AI Replacing Lawyers: What the Quotes Show
The tracker aggregates verifiable statements on automation, augmentation and role change. It distinguishes between complete replacement claims and task-level substitution affecting trainees, solicitors and paralegals, as well as broader effects on legal jobs.
Method and Stance Labels
We include sources such as interviews, judgments, policy speeches and reports. Quotes are labelled Yes, No, Mixed or Unclear based on the speaker’s words in context. Notes capture nuance and links allow verification. Submit additions or corrections via the contact page.
Other AI Legal Trackers
If you are looking for the other Trackers maintained on this blog, you can find those here:
AI Hallucination Cases Tracker
Judicial AI Use Tracker (How are Judges Using AI?)
AI Equality, Bias, AI Discrimination Case Tracker
Government AI Hallucination Tracker
FAQ
Will AI replace lawyers?
Drawing on the many views expressed above and my own experience presenting and debating this issue, I consider the full replacement of lawyers to be both unlikely and undesirable. What is inevitable, however, is that legal practice and the administration of justice will undergo profound transformation across the world. High-volume, routine tasks such as research and document review may become almost entirely automated, but advocacy, ethics, client care, and the deeper connection to human issues are highly likely to remain human-led. I intend to revisit this view regularly as the technology develops and the debated continues, but nothing I have encountered thus far persuades me otherwise.
Will AI replace attorneys, lawyers, barristers, solicitors or paralegals
Where roles involve routine, repeatable tasks, they are the most exposed to automation. Yet supervision, client-facing judgment, and the nuanced responsibilities of legal professionals are highly likely to remain human-led.
What does AI and legal jobs mean in this tracker?
It refers to the net effect of AI across legal roles, including task automation, new roles and productivity shifts.
How often is the tracker updated
As soon I can, with priority for time sensitive additions.