UK-based AI-powered law firm Garfield AI’s approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to offer regulated legal services at a fraction of traditional costs has been lauded as a landmark move for legal tech. By automating routine tasks, Garfield AI exemplifies how automation isn't just about efficiency, it's redefining accessibility, profitability, and client service innovation. This is big news in a profession known for tradition, not transformation.
As The Financial Times put it:
“Garfield AI is not just disrupting legal fees; it’s challenging the very model of law firm operations.”
This development reflects a larger, global shift in how legal services are delivered. Automation technology is evolving beyond repetitive tasks, emerging as a strategic tool that fosters collaboration and breaks down internal silos - unlocking the full potential of legal teams.
Legal tech has traditionally focused on automating the mundane: contract template population, basic legal research, or eDiscovery tagging. But today’s legal technology is doing much more - and AI is expanding that horizon even further.
Take MinterEllison, one of Australia’s largest law firms, as a recent example. The firm adopted Lantern, an AI-powered document review tool, which processes over 3,500 documents per hour. This dramatically reduces both the time and cost associated with large-scale reviews, while improving consistency and accuracy.
This shift marks a critical evolution.
Automation is no longer just a back-office utility - it’s becoming a team-wide accelerator that enables smarter, faster, and more connected legal work.
Information silos have long plagued legal departments. Whether it’s fragmented client updates, unshared market insights, or isolated regulatory changes, these gaps weaken decision-making and slow down response times.
Today, automation tools are unifying legal intelligence across teams, eliminating duplication and enabling real-time access to curated information. For example, law firms using Vable's legal information platform can ensure that news, regulatory updates, and client alerts are centralised and delivered to the right people at the right time. This doesn’t just increase awareness - it drives firm-wide engagement and collective intelligence.
It isn't just about saving time, it’s about shifting perception. Imagine being able to surface live insights on:
When legal operations are equipped with this kind of data-powered visibility, they don’t just support the business - they shape it.
As Sterling Miller, a renowned legal expert, puts it:
“Productivity is not just about doing more with less; it’s about efficiency, growth, competitiveness, innovation, and - most importantly - getting [stuff] done.”
The legal tech of tomorrow will be intuitive on the surface, but deeply explainable underneath. While tools like AI-powered assistants and predictive analytics will make workflows feel seamless, firms must ensure these tools provide auditable transparency - showing how insights are generated and why they matter.
As the ABA Journal noted in 2024:
“Generative AI is increasingly serving as the point of access to legal tools, providing an intuitive interface that simplifies the user’s experience.”
But simplicity cannot come at the cost of accountability. The most trusted legal technologies will continue to offer:
In short, legal tech must show its work.
Automation in legal tech is no longer confined to repetitive tasks. It’s a transformative force, breaking silos, boosting collaboration, and positioning legal teams as strategic enablers of business value.
Firms that embrace transparent, explainable, and outcome-driven automation won’t just improve operations - they’ll redefine what it means to deliver modern legal services.
In a legal industry where reputation, trust, and results are everything, the smartest move is making your tech as accountable as your team.
Author: Martin Georgiev, Product Marketing Manager at Vable