Artificial intelligence and other data-centric technologies are having a major impact on the legal industry. But according to his 2024 Legal Operations and Technology Survey from Bloomberg Law, a surprising number of law firms and corporate law departments don’t have data experts and have no plans to hire them.
41% of respondents said their companies do not have or plan to hire data scientists, analysts, or other data-focused staff. In contrast, only 6% of respondents said their organizations plan to hire data professionals. Additionally, 26% of respondents were unsure whether their organization employed such individuals.
The findings appear to reflect a deep skepticism and lack of information among lawyers and corporate executives about the importance of quantitative analysis and its role in organizations.
When asked why organizations don’t hire data experts, almost 53% of respondents said they don’t need data experts, and about 28% cited cost. Only 22% of respondents said they do not hire data experts because they already have enough expertise in-house.
Law firms and law firms that do not have specialized data experts on their staff may have to outsource these tasks to outside organizations at some point in the near future.
After all, the lack of data experts in law firms and legal departments can be an impediment to innovation and growth. These experts can save time and money by helping attorneys use case data for research related to litigation strategy, settlement decisions, and evaluating potential trial and appellate outcomes.
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