Primary Research Group is proud to announce the release of its latest report, “Survey of Law Firm Attorneys: Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools from Major Legal Publishers.” This comprehensive study offers an in-depth look at how attorneys across law firms of all sizes are adopting and utilizing AI-powered legal tools from leading publishers, including Westlaw, Lexis+, Harvey, CoCounsel, and more.
The report provides detailed quantitative and qualitative insights into usage patterns, effectiveness, and perceptions of AI tools in legal practice. It is an essential resource for law firm leaders, technology strategists, and legal publishers seeking to understand the evolving landscape of legal technology adoption.
Key Findings from the Report:
AI Legal Research Platforms—Limited but Growing Use:
Half of surveyed attorneys reported never using AI-based legal research platforms such as Westlaw Precision AI or Lexis+ AI, but about 30.6% use these tools at least weekly. Larger firms (>1,000 lawyers) show higher daily use (15.38%) and lower “never” rates (38.46%) compared to the overall sample.
Contract Review—AI Adoption Still Emerging:
A significant portion of respondents (33.67%) do not participate in contract review/due diligence work, and 36.73% report that they have 0% AI involvement in such reviews. Only about 11% report AI involvement in more than half of their reviews, with higher adoption in very large firms and corporate practice groups.
Drafting & Summarization Assistants—Rapid Uptake:
Usage of drafting and summarization assistants (Harvey, CoCounsel , ChatGPT Enterprise, Microsoft Copilot) is notably higher than other AI tools, with 50% of respondents using them at least weekly. Younger attorneys and those in mid-sized firms (150–600 lawyers) report the highest daily usage rates.
Effectiveness & Accuracy—Mixed Reviews:
Among those who have used Westlaw Precision AI, 25.51% found it “very effective,” “effective,” or “generally effective” for speeding up legal research, while 50% have never used it. Lexis+ AI is even less widely used, but among users, the most common rating is “moderately accurate.”
Biggest Time-Saver—ChatGPT Enterprise Leads:
When asked which single AI product produced the most measurable time savings, ChatGPT Enterprise was the clear leader, chosen by 26.53% of respondents—about three times the rate of any other product. Harvey, Microsoft Copilot, and Westlaw Precision AI followed at around 9% each.