Legal Operations and Technology Projections in 2025 by Kevin Cohn of Brightflag

In the dynamic world of law, 2024 has seen its fair share of significant changes and advancements. Here's a snapshot of some of the key developments that have shaped the legal landscape this year.

Am Law 100 firms have taken a notable step forward, doubling their average rate increase to 10% in 2024. This move, while potentially impacting clients, signifies a shift in the pricing strategy within the top tier of legal service providers.

The domain of legal operations has witnessed a surge in activity, with more positions being created now than a year ago. This (re)heating up of legal ops hiring indicates a growing recognition of the vital role these functions play in the efficient and effective management of legal services.

In the realm of reports, our legal operations compensation report continues to serve as the definitive benchmark for the profession. This authoritative resource provides valuable insights into the remuneration landscape, helping professionals navigate their career paths.

On the technology front, Brightflag has made strides with the launch of an all-new invoice review experience and the debut of Ask Brightflag, the first AI assistant for legal spend and matters. These innovative offerings promise to streamline legal operations and enhance decision-making capabilities.

Brightflag's growth trajectory in 2024 is expected to mirror that of the previous two years combined, underscoring the company's continued success and influence in the industry.

CFOs are increasingly seeking opportunities for responsible growth, a trend that has ripples across all sectors, including law. This shift towards sustainable expansion is likely to influence the strategic decisions made by legal service providers in the coming years.

Zylo, another player in the legal tech space, has reported a continued shrinking of the average corporate SaaS footprint from 291 to 269 applications. This reduction in the number of software applications suggests a move towards consolidation and optimisation in corporate software usage.

Lastly, a noteworthy statistic emerges from a recent survey: 95% of Chief Legal Officers are now using generative AI. This widespread adoption of AI technology underscores its growing importance in the legal sector and its potential to revolutionise legal operations in the near future.

While the identities of Matt Wheatley, Tyler Finn, Jason Smith, and Bernadette Bulacan were mentioned in various texts this year, the search results did not provide specific information about their roles or relevance. Their contributions to the legal sector remain to be seen.

As we move forward, these developments promise to shape the legal landscape and redefine the way legal services are delivered and managed. Stay tuned for more updates as the year unfolds!