Generative AI implementation more than doubles at larger US law firms

Best Lawyers found that 28% of US law firms with at least 20 lawyers had fully implemented generative AI across multiple practice areas, up from 11% in the previous survey, according to a press release. The Best Law Firms U.S. Legal Market Report, released on November 5 alongside the company’s 2027 law firm rankings, surveyed 5,753 law firms across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Among firms with at least 150 lawyers, 56% reported full implementation, compared with 23% a year earlier. The share of these firms using AI as part of their client value proposition rose from 23% to 43%.

Training and policies also became more common. Across surveyed firms, 63% provided training on generative AI risks and limitations, up from 22%, while 47% had policies for AI use in client matters, up from 14%. Among firms using generative AI, 25% reported fewer billable hours for some tasks, while 27% reported greater efficiency without changes to billable hours.