Cloud computing continues to solidify its position as a cornerstone of modern legal practice. According to the 2024 ABA Legal Technology Survey, approximately 75% of attorneys now use cloud computing for work-related tasks—up from 69% in 2023 (compared 70% in 2022, and 60% in 2021). While adoption is growing across all firm sizes, solo practitioners remain the slowest adopters at approximately 65%, compared to more than 94% of attorneys at firms with 50–99 lawyers.
The survey defines cloud computing as web-based software or services accessed via internet browsers or mobile apps. These services, which are hosted on remote servers rather than local machines, fall under the “Software as a Service” (SaaS) model. While the term is commonplace, legal professionals continue to show varying degrees of understanding, with some likely underreporting their cloud use due to unfamiliarity with terminology or tools.
Among cloud software tools, Microsoft 365 (OneDrive) leads the pack at almost 72%, followed closely by Microsoft Teams (~63%) and Dropbox (~54%). Practice management platforms like Clio (~15%) and MyCase (~5%) show stronger use among smaller firms and solos.
Tools like NetDocuments (~17%) also have strong usage. While newer AI-integrated solutions are emerging, some legacy platforms with reliable cloud integration are still important to firm workflows.
Confidentiality and security remain the top cloud computing concerns, cited by approximately 55% of respondents. Concerns over data control (~38%) follow closely.
In response, many attorneys are implementing some basic precautions:
Yet, almost 20% reported using no precautions/security measures.
Despite growing use, only 48% of respondents (same as 2023, compared with 41% in 2022, and 37% in 2021) report having changed internal policies in response to cloud adoption. Notably, over 58% of firms with 100 or more attorneys have done so, suggesting that larger firms are leading the way in implementing systematic technology updates.
Cloud computing’s appeal remains in its accessibility and reliability:
Solo and small firm attorneys particularly appreciated the low cost of entry and quick setup, with solos leading all groups in citing these as key benefits.
Among those responders (approximately 25% of the total) who have not adopted cloud computing, confidentiality/security concerns top the list (~53%), followed by lack of control over data (~41%) and unfamiliarity with technology (31%). These hesitations echo long-standing worries about moving sensitive client data online.
A clear takeaway from this year’s survey: Attorneys care deeply about the reputation of their cloud providers. Over 93% of respondents rated vendor reputation as somewhat or very important. Although even a higher percentage, 96% of respondents to the 2023 Survey rated vendor reputation as somewhat or very important. Yet, as indicated above, less than a quarter of respondents actively evaluate vendor history or seek peer recommendations, showing a disconnect between concern and action. Notwithstanding, this is a reminder that transparency, security, and trust remain paramount for legal tech providers.
While only approximately 12% of respondents report plans to replace traditional software with cloud tools in the next year, the percentage climbs to 18% for mid-sized firms of 10–49 lawyers and 22% for firms of 50-99 lawyers. However, almost 52% of all respondents said they’re unsure of their firm’s future cloud plans—suggesting that ongoing education and policy support are needed to guide the transition.
The 2024 Survey offers confirmation: cloud computing is no longer just a digital storage solution—it is the foundation for a rapidly evolving, AI-driven legal landscape. The convergence of these technologies is no longer speculative; it is underway.
AI adoption among legal professionals has surged dramatically, with 30% of respondents reporting they are currently using AI-based tools—up from just 11% in 2023. Additionally, 15% of all firms are seriously considering AI purchases, suggesting that the legal AI market will continue expanding at pace. Further, a growing number of attorneys believe AI will be mainstream in law within 3 years (~45%).
When asked about the greatest benefits AI can provide approximately 54% of respondents cited time-saving and efficiency gains as the most important outcome. Notably, approximately 17% still don’t know enough about AI to answer—highlighting the ongoing need for education.
This aligns well with the broader promise of AI-cloud synergy: routine legal tasks—like drafting, organizing, and retrieving legal information—are being streamlined through smart, responsive platforms, often built on cloud infrastructure.
Even as optimism grows, concerns about AI accuracy (75%), reliability (56%), and data privacy/security (47%) persist. And the expressed concerns echo the longstanding anxieties lawyers have held about cloud computing and mirror those identified in responses to the cloud-specific questions in the survey. This signals a desire not only to understand the ethical “what” and “how” of AI and cloud computing but to also understand how to build a trusted framework for responsible innovation.
The data paints a clear picture: Cloud computing is the infrastructure, and AI is the accelerating force reshaping legal work. Legal professionals who embrace the duo—while addressing security, ethics, and training gaps—will gain a competitive edge.
As cloud platforms continue to integrate AI features, the legal community faces an inflection point. The lawyers and firms that combine cloud agility, AI intelligence, and ethical foresight will lead the next era of legal practice.
As firms navigate the balance between concepts such as convenience and confidentiality and between efficiency and security hybrid solutions—blending integrated backup systems, secure encryption, and AI-enhanced tools—will define the next generation of cloud computing in legal practice.
Disclaimer: Portions of this report were drafted using generative AI tools to support the synthesis and analysis of survey data. Final content has been human-reviewed and edited.
