Law firms turn to psychology to reduce anxiety about AI

In short: Law firms are increasingly using psychology and behavioural science to help staff cope with anxiety about AI and to make adoption more even.

What's going on

Some legal work that used to take days can now be done in minutes with AI. That speed can create fear, especially for lawyers who spent years learning those tasks. Consultants and legal operations leaders say firms often talk about productivity, but not enough about the emotional impact, such as fear of job loss, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome.

Clara Garfield at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer says AI adoption is uneven. Some lawyers try new tools on their own, while others worry they will be left behind. Her team built a “GenAI Persona Builder”, an interactive questionnaire that sorts people into eight “AI personalities”, from “AI Champion” to more cautious users who focus on ethical and reputational risk. Leaders get an anonymised dashboard of results, like a weather map that shows where a team feels confident and where more support is needed.

Will Marien of consultancy Positive Group says the firms moving fastest are not always the ones with the most advanced tech. Instead, progress is stronger when leaders clarify what humans do best versus what AI can do, encourage visible role-modelling, and run controlled experiments to test new ways of working within professional standards.

Accenture also tackled anxiety directly. Christina Demetriades said its legal team created “Legal Learning Labs” that taught practical skills like writing prompts (instructions you type into an AI tool), but focused even more on discussing fears openly.

What to watch

More firms may add structured training and “people support” alongside AI rollouts. Watch for whether this reduces the gap between early adopters and cautious staff, and whether firms can better explain to clients what value humans still provide.

Source: Financial Times