GoKawiilClio survey: 90% of UK/Ireland legal professionals now use AI, straining billable-hour model
A new report from legal software firm Clio finds nearly 90% of legal professionals in the UK and Ireland now use AI tools, with almost 80% of adopting firms saying they can take on more work without hiring, and over 70% citing cost savings from automating administrative tasks. The report also finds about one in five heavy AI-adopting firms struggling to hit billable-hour targets, while global legal leaders expect hourly billing's share of work to drop from 72% to 44% within two to three years. Firms including A&O Shearman and Slaughter and May are already deploying AI agents from Harvey for tasks like loan-agreement review and regulatory research.