Legal Tech Overtakes Workload as Top Challenge for Legal Teams — Consilio LLC

Event summary

Consilio's 2026 Global Survey reveals that legal technology selection and deployment (54%) has surpassed work volume (52%) as the primary challenge for legal professionals.
50% of respondents now see themselves as strategic business partners, up from 21% in 2025 and 4% in 2024.
Only 7% of respondents have a documented AI governance framework actively followed, while 14% lack formal AI governance.
65% of respondents are intentionally redesigning AI use within their legal function, with 58% reporting increased efficiency.

The big picture

Consilio's survey highlights a structural shift in the legal industry where technology decisions have overtaken workload as the primary challenge. This reflects broader trends of AI integration across sectors, emphasizing the need for coordinated governance and scalable solutions. The findings underscore how legal teams are evolving from reactive support functions to proactive strategic partners within organizations.

What we're watching

Governance Dynamics: How legal teams will address the gap between AI innovation and governance frameworks, with only 7% having active governance in place.
Integration Challenges: Whether fragmented tools and manual workarounds will hinder productivity gains as legal teams scale AI adoption.
Strategic Realignment: The pace at which legal departments transition from tactical support to strategic business partners, with 50% now seeing themselves in this role.