• Gen AI has emerged as a dominant force, reshaping legal practices and workflows.
• 80% of legal professionals now rate themselves as knowledgeable about AI, reflecting growing confidence in the technology.
• 74% of respondents expect to use AI-driven tools in their jobs within the next 12 months, underscoring AI’s critical role in the future of legal work.

The 2025 Artificial Intelligence Report, conducted by Secretariat in collaboration with ACEDS, has revealed groundbreaking insights into the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal industry. With a focus on Generative AI (GenAI) and its increasing integration into legal workflows, the survey provides essential data for organizations navigating the future of legal practice and technology.  Now in its third year, the report’s research and analysis was once again led by legal AI expert Richard Finkelman in collaboration with ACEDS. This year also marks the first partnership with Secretariat to sponsor this comprehensive study.

The report shares insights into key areas of AI use in legal practice, including:

• Gen AI: recent usage, tools, applications, and predictions for its biggest impact in the next 12 months.
• AI Experience: investment plans, organizational strategies, barriers, and expected AI usage in the next year.
• ESI Agreements: involvement in Electronically Stored Information (ESI) agreements with technology-assisted review (TAR), especially for privilege review, and challenges in negotiating these agreements.
• AI in Document Review: effectiveness in document and privilege review, cost-saving potential, and tools used.

“Our report clearly shows we have reached a watershed moment in legal’s AI adoption. It is no longer a passing trend but a transformative force that is fundamentally changing how legal professionals work.” said Richard Finkelman, Managing Director at Secretariat. “Our survey reveals that legal organizations are not just adopting AI—they’re planning for it to become a core part of their operations in the very near future. With 74% of respondents expecting to use AI tools within a year, the time for strategic planning, investment, and adoption is now.”

“This year’s findings clearly show that legal professionals are no longer just exploring AI—they’re actively preparing to embed it into their daily work,” said Maribel Rivera, VP of Strategy and Client Engagement at ACEDS. “At ACEDS, we’re seeing this shift firsthand as professionals seek out training and tools to confidently navigate this next era of legal tech. The momentum is real, and it’s exciting to see the industry embrace both the opportunities and the responsibility that come with AI adoption

The 2025 Secretariat and ACEDS AI Report surveyed professionals across the legal industry globally, with 40% of respondents representing eDiscovery/legal support professionals and 22% attorneys. A significant portion of the responses came from law firms, accounting for 49% of total respondents. The data reflects a diverse range of organizations, with 56% of respondents from companies with more than 250 employees.

Despite the widespread optimism about AI’s potential, the survey also highlights barriers to adoption, including data privacy concerns, cost, and AI hallucinations, which continue to challenge many organizations.

The 2025 Secretariat and ACEDS Artificial Intelligence Report provides valuable insights for legal professionals and organizations looking to stay ahead of AI trends and tackle the challenges of AI adoption head-on. To download a copy of the report, click here.

About Secretariat — Secretariat experts are trusted in the highest-stakes legal, risk, and regulatory matters around the world. Renowned law firms, leading corporations, and respected governmental entities turn to our more than 600 disputes, investigations, economic, engineering, and data advisory experts when the stakes are high— supporting them with meticulous preparation, insightful analysis, and clearly persuasive communications. Our bright minds and passionate problem-solvers put their financial, analytical, and strategic insights to work in the fast-paced sectors we serve – from construction and energy to healthcare, technology, and natural resources. Quality, integrity, and independence are woven into every aspect of our work. But, most importantly, when success is on the line, our globally integrated teams thrive on working through the most daunting problems in ways that remove uncertainty and instill confidence.
Secretariat Media Contact
Nathan Jenks T:+1 773 220 8896  E:njenks@secretariat-intl.com

About ACEDS — The Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), part of leading legal education provider BARBRI Global, is the world’s leading organization for training and certification in e-discovery, information governance, and related disciplines. ACEDS provides training to corporate legal departments, law firms, the government, service providers, and institutions of higher learning. Our flagship CEDS certification is recognized worldwide and used to verify skills and competence in electronic discovery for organizations and individuals through training, certification, and continuing education. The CEDS credential is held by practitioners at the largest Fortune 500 companies, Am Law 200 firms and government agencies. ACEDS has 30 chapters in most major US cities, Canada, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Australia. Our goal is to help professionals and organizations reduce the costs and risks associated with e-discovery while helping to improve and verify their skills and advance their careers and overall technology competence in e-discovery and related fields. Learn more at www.aceds.org.
ACEDS Media Contact
Katie Saylor T: 913.219.4444  E:ksaylor@aceds.org

About BARBRI — BARBRI is the global leader in technology-enabled legal education with leadership positions in the US and the UK. Dedicated to providing unparalleled innovation and excellence in legal education, BARBRI delivers outstanding success to learners by providing the most trusted and industry leading products under one unified experience and across every step of the legal learner’s path. Building on the success of its core bar courses, which have helped more than 1.5 million lawyers around the world pass a U.S. bar exam, BARBRI offers a comprehensive suite of learning solutions for higher education institutions and law-related businesses empowering every step of legal learning journey. Founded in 1967, BARBRI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with offices throughout the United States and around the world.