Victorian lawyers' AI use hits 55%, but only 26% cut fees
A 2026 census by the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner found that 55% of lawyers in the state now use AI, up from 37% in the previous year. The study, which surveyed 2,221 practitioners, indicates that AI adoption has become widespread across age groups, though usage remains lower among those over 60. Trade practices, banking, and IT sectors show the highest adoption rates, while…
Key points
- 55% of Victorian lawyers use AI, up from 37% in 2025.
- Only 26% of lawyers have reduced client fees due to AI efficiency.
- 46% of lawyers report clients arriving with inaccurate AI-generated information.
Despite increased usage, only 26% of lawyers reported reducing client fees due to efficiency gains. Dr. Georgie Rychner, the report's co-author, noted that corporate clients, who often use AI themselves, are more likely to see lower fees than individual clients. Furthermore, 79% of lawyers rely on consumer chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude rather than specialized legal tools.
The survey highlights a new challenge: clients are increasingly arriving with AI-generated errors. 46% of lawyers reported clients presenting inaccurate information, and 41% had to correct AI-generated documents. This has added to workload for nearly half of the practitioners, as verifying AI output negates many efficiency gains. Regulatory bodies in Australia have already begun sanctioning lawyers for false AI citations, with the High Court Chief Justice describing current usage as an "unsustainable phase".
The story so far
3 episodes →- Victorian lawyers' AI use hits 55%, but only 26% cut feesthis story
More than half of Victorian lawyers use AI – but only a quarter have cut client fees as a result
The Guardian AI · 29 October 2026
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This text was published by The Guardian AI and written by Josh Taylor Technology reporter. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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