New survey highlights shifts in junior lawyer learning as AI use grows

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New research shows that AI is reshaping early legal training, allowing junior lawyers to take on more advanced client work sooner. However, it may be limiting the development of essential skills, with 72% of lawyers saying that junior colleagues struggle with deep legal reasoning and argumentation, according to a report from LexisNexis.

Of the 900 UK lawyers surveyed, 58% said using AI speeds up their work, rising to 65% among those using paid legal AI platforms. Despite these time efficiencies, several lawyers noted that AI is encouraging junior lawyers to bypass early‑career tasks that traditionally help build core skills, according to Legal Cheek. A high proportion of contributors (69%) said juniors have weak verification and source‑checking skills. Meanwhile, only 2% of respondents believe that AI strengthens learning.

The report also outlined how lawyers believe these issues should be addressed, with many calling for changes to how AI is taught rather than reducing its use. Over half of lawyers (65%) said AI should be repositioned as a “thinking partner” rather than a shortcut. This shift, it says, would encourage junior lawyers to use AI for “challenge, iteration and validation” instead of “a replacement for legal reasoning”. A further 52% supported introducing structured verification exercises, requiring juniors to check AI-generated outputs against authoritative sources.

Alongside adjustments to AI training, the findings also underscored the importance of mentorship in junior lawyers’ development, stressing that “judgment, ethical awareness and client‑handling” are crucial skills learned through close contact with experienced lawyers.