Legalweek 2025 kicked off a slate of conference appearances for us with strong energy, big crowds, and even bigger questions about the future of legal innovation.

From AI to alternative fee models, and from changing buyer behaviors to evolving expectations around talent and technology, the conversations in New York this year pointed to one thing: the legal industry is in active transformation — not just in the tools people use, but in the mindsets that legal teams bring to the workplace.

Here are some of our key takeaways from conversations with professionals across the legal industry.

Key takeaways from Legalweek 2025

1. AI is maturing — beyond buzz, toward business outcomes

Generative AI may have dominated headlines, but many attendees focused on how “old-school” AI tools including machine learning and natural language processing are already scaling within organizations. Legal professionals are looking for concrete, practical applications — not hype. Innovation is being redefined as not just creating tools, but deploying and scaling them effectively.

2. Legal innovation is broader than just tech

The term innovation is expanding to include services, processes, and business models. True transformation involves rethinking how work gets done — not just adding more tools to the stack. That means design thinking, change management, and implementation strategy matter just as much as AI itself.

3. Buyers want targeted solutions that deliver fast ROI

While multi-purpose tools still have appeal, many firms are shifting toward lightweight, specialized solutions that solve specific pain points quickly. Buyers — especially legal ops and chief information officers — want tools that integrate into existing workflows, deploy with minimal friction, and show immediate value.

4. There’s growing disillusionment with large, complex platforms

Attendees expressed frustration with broad solutions that promise all-in-one functionality but often deliver little of it. The appetite for end-to-end platforms is fading, especially when they come with steep learning curves and upsells. Mid-size firms and boutique practices, in particular, want control, clarity, and cost-effectiveness.

5. Workforce expectations are changing

From Gen X to Gen Z, legal professionals are looking for different things:

• Gen X: opportunities to contribute and be recognized
• Millennials and Gen Z: better work/life balance, flexible tools, and tech that actually helps them get work done

This generational shift is prompting firms to think more creatively about how best to onboard, train, and retain legal talent.

6. The billable hour is bending — but not broken

Alternative fee arrangements are gaining traction in specific areas such as contract-heavy transactional work, but the billable hour still holds strong in litigation. Legal teams are experimenting with more flexible pricing models, which means tools that improve efficiency and accuracy are more relevant than ever.

7. It takes a village

When it comes to buying and deploying legal tech solutions, decision-making power is spread across legal ops, IT, procurement, and other business teams, each with different primary goals and concerns. Legalweek reminded vendors and internal teams alike that successful implementation depends on effective coordination between all stakeholders, from end user champions to executive sponsors.

What’s next?

As the legal industry evolves, staying grounded in what actually works — what drives adoption, efficiency, and better outcomes — is more important than ever. Legalweek 2025 reminded us that while AI dominates headlines, real change is happening through thoughtful implementation, creative strategy, and listening to what legal professionals actually need.

We’ll continue sharing what we’re hearing and learning throughout the year. If you’d like to connect, share your perspective, or explore these trends further, we’d love to hear from you.