October 23, 2019

    ABA releases 2019 TECHREPORT and Legal Technology Survey Report on legal tech trends

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2019 — The American Bar Association Legal Technology Resource Center has released its ABA TECHREPORT 2019, a comprehensive publication exploring how attorneys are using technology in their practices. TECHREPORT 2019 combines data from the annual Legal Technology Survey Report with expert analysis, observations and predictions from legal technology leaders.

    Separated into nine different articles on technology topics, TECHREPORT 2019 covers the prominent areas in technology that lawyers are facing today. The survey reports concentrate on issues relating to technology use, not product use.

    Examples of statistical information included in the survey report are:

    • 8% of lawyers who responded are currently using artificial intelligence-based technology tools. Firms of 100 or more lawyers are most likely to be currently using artificial intelligence-based technology tools (26%), followed by 5% from firms of 2-9 attorneys, 4% of solo lawyer respondents and 0% from firms of 10-49 attorneys (compared to 12% in 2018).
    • 11% of respondents that telecommute said they work from a public place and 10% from coffee shops/cafes. The numbers are down from previous years (14% in 2018, 16% in 2017 and 15% in 2016 for public places; and 15% in 2018 and 11% in 2017 and 2016 for coffee shops/cafes).
    • More than 49% of respondents have used legal analytics in the past year; 35% cited legal analytics were used for conducting legal research, 22% cited developing case or matter strategy and 16% cited understanding judges.Three of the nine articles — Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity and Websites & Marketing — are available for free on the ABA website and on Law Technology Today. The other six will be released on Wednesdays through December 18.

    The Legal Technology Survey Report, started more two decades ago by the ABA Law Practice Division, is recognized as the primary source for information regarding the use of technology by attorneys in private practice. It is based on responses by practicing lawyers — not consultants, vendors or IT staff.

    The survey report is separated into five volumes, including a new category on Life & Practice, and is available for sale at shopaba.org:

    The ABA Legal Technology Resource Center is dedicated to helping legal professionals leverage technology to overcome obstacles, identify opportunities and improve their practices. An ABA member benefit provided by the Law Practice Division, the LTRC offers many resources, including Law Technology Today, monthly webinars, the annual Legal Technology Survey Report and more.

    The ABA is largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at https://www.americanbar.org/news/ and on Twitter @ABANews.