Study Warns AI Is Disrupting Traditional Training Model for Junior Lawyers
A new study warns that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is reshaping how law firms train junior lawyers, raising concerns about the long-term development of legal judgment and expertise.
The report, The AI Leadership Challenge in Law, finds that automation is replacing many of the repetitive tasks—such as document review, due diligence and legal research—that have historically served as the foundation of legal training.
For generations, junior lawyers developed skills through high-volume, detail-oriented work that helped build analytical reasoning and professional judgment. According to the study, that “learning by doing” model is now being disrupted as AI tools take over those responsibilities.
As a result, junior lawyers are increasingly being pushed into higher-level advisory work earlier in their careers, sometimes before they have developed the experience needed to assess risk and interpret complex legal issues.
“Traditionally, juniors learned by repetition through drafting, due diligence and volume work,” said Anna Sutherland, an executive partner at Herbert Smith Freehills who contributed to the research. “AI is changing that, so the challenge is to ensure they still build solid foundations while acquiring new skills.”
The study also points to a potential decline in critical scrutiny within firms. With AI generating drafts and analyses, there may be less incentive for junior lawyers to independently verify information or examine underlying sources.
Some participants in the research expressed concern that reliance on AI could create a “skills deficit” in critical thinking, as lawyers spend less time engaging deeply with primary materials and legal reasoning.
At the same time, the report notes that the role of junior lawyers is evolving. Rather than focusing primarily on producing information, they are increasingly expected to evaluate, interpret and challenge AI-generated outputs. This shift places greater emphasis on skills such as judgment, adaptability and the ability to question automated results.
The study suggests that law firms may need to rethink traditional training approaches to ensure that early-career lawyers continue to develop these capabilities. Instead of relying on repetition-based learning, firms may need to adopt more structured methods to teach critical thinking and professional judgment in an environment where routine tasks are increasingly automated.
The findings highlight broader questions about how professional services industries will adapt as AI changes not only workflows, but also the way expertise is developed over time.