AI in Irish Law Practice: What We're Learning So Far
- rob85331
- Nov 12, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Early conversations with Irish solicitors reveal surprising patterns about what's really holding back adoption of AI in Irish Law. Over the past few weeks, we've been having conversations with Irish solicitors, from sole practitioners to medium firms, about AI adoption in legal practice. Survey responses are still coming in, but already some clear patterns are emerging that challenge assumptions about what's holding the profession back.
Findings are a snapshot. But the early signals are interesting enough to share.
What Solicitors Are Telling Us About AI in Law
When we ask about daily time-wasters, the frustration is palpable. Administrative tasks dominate (36%), followed by email management (33%) and document drafting (15%).
Nearly 85% of the time-wasters mentioned are tasks that AI tools could potentially streamline. Yet when we ask about current usage, nearly half aren't using any AI tools at all.
One solicitor summed it up:
"Take what I'm thinking and figure it out like a trainee."
Another simply:
"Paperwork."
The Adoption Paradox
Among those who have adopted AI, ChatGPT dominates at 30%, with Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini trailing behind.
But here's what's interesting: 84% say they're interested in learning about AI tools and practical applications in law. So it's not resistance. It's something else.
What Would Actually Move the Needle?
When we ask what would convince solicitors to try an AI tool, three things come up repeatedly:
Seeing it work in another Irish practice
Having access to a free trial
Getting colleague recommendations
Each of these factors matters to about 36% of respondents - far more than regulatory approval, industry body recommendations, or cost savings proof.
This tracks with where solicitors say they get their professional insights: colleague recommendations (70%) trump everything else, followed by Law Society Gazette (67%) and LinkedIn (52%).
The pattern is clear: peer validation drives adoption in this profession.
The One Problem Everyone Wants Solved
We asked: "If AI in law could solve ONE problem for your practice tomorrow, what would it be?"
Document and file management topped responses - about a third want help with automating paperwork, drafting correspondence, organising files, and generating standard documents.
Time and workflow efficiency came next, with solicitors wanting help with admin reduction, workflow automation, and deadline tracking. One response captured it perfectly: "Help tracking lists and court dates and reminding clients.”
Email management rounded out the top three, particularly managing inbox volume and client follow-ups.
What's notable: 6% said things like "I have no idea" or "Don't know" when asked how AI could help. There's an education gap.
Where This Leaves Us
Whilst these aren't definitive findings (we're still gathering responses). The early patterns suggest something important: the barriers to AI adoption aren’t that many people assume.
It's not primarily about regulatory concerns or cost. It's about trust and proof.
Solicitors want to see peers succeed first. They want to experiment without risk. They want to understand practical applications in an Irish context. The tools are arriving faster than the profession's readiness to use them. As one respondent put it;
"I have AI on LEAP but need time for training."
What We're Watching For
As we continue gathering responses, we're particularly interested in:
Whether the peer validation pattern holds across more respondents
How readiness levels differ by practice size and area
What specific workflows early adopters are finding most valuable
Whether the education gap narrows as more information becomes available
The question isn't whether AI will impact Irish legal practice - it clearly will. The question is what will actually trigger widespread adoption?
Right now, our early findings suggest it won't be regulatory clarity or vendor promises. It'll be solicitors seeing colleagues succeed and saying: "If it works for them, maybe it'll work for us."
FAQ's About AI in Law
What percentage of Irish solicitors are currently using AI tools in their practice?
Based on our early survey responses, nearly half of Irish solicitors aren't using any AI tools at all. Among those who have adopted AI, ChatGPT is the most popular at 30%, followed by Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini.
What are the main barriers preventing solicitors from adopting AI?
It's not primarily regulatory concerns or cost that's holding solicitors back. Our research suggests the main barrier is trust and the need for peer validation. Solicitors want to see colleagues in other Irish practices succeed with AI before adopting it themselves.
What would convince solicitors to try an AI tool?
Three factors matter most: seeing it work in another Irish practice, having access to a free trial, and getting colleague recommendations. Each of these factors influences about 36% of respondents - significantly more than regulatory approval or cost savings proof.
What's the biggest problem Irish solicitors want AI to solve?
Document and file management tops the list, with about a third of respondents wanting help with automating paperwork, drafting correspondence, organizing files, and generating standard documents. Time and workflow efficiency comes second, followed by email management.
How interested are Irish solicitors in learning about AI applications?
Very interested - 84% of respondents say they're interested in learning about AI tools and practical applications. This suggests the issue isn't resistance to AI, but rather a need for education and practical demonstrations of how it works in an Irish legal context.
How can I participate in this research?
The survey remains open and we welcome contributions from solicitors across Ireland. You can access the survey here. We'll continue sharing updated findings as we gather more responses.
About This Research
Heron has responses from from sole practitioners to small and medium firms. The survey remains open - if you'd like to contribute your perspective, the survey can be found here. We'll share updated findings as we gather more responses.
About Heron
Heron is Ireland's first digital marketplace connecting law firms and in-house legal teams with specialist consultant solicitors for project-based work. Named after Dorothea Mary Heron, Ireland's first female solicitor (admitted 1923), Heron provides Irish legal practices with flexible access to specialist expertise. For more information on how Heron can support you, visit For Firms or For Professionals.
