Source: The Law Society Gazette

AI has reached a moment of significant change for the legal profession, described as a “Rubicon moment.” The rapid pace of generative AI development calls for legal practitioners to understand and integrate these technologies into their practices. The EU’s legislative response, the AI Act, is undergoing phased implementation with legally binding provisions since February 2025, while the European Parliament has recently proposed postponing compliance deadlines for certain high-risk AI systems to later dates in 2027 and 2028.

Legal experts have highlighted the impact of AI on various aspects of law firms, including hiring practices, fee structuring, and work organization. The debate includes discussions about how AI tools alter law firm business models and the necessity for lawyers to adapt. At the same time, regulating AI presents challenges due to the technology’s rapid evolution and varied definitions, which complicate the legislative process.