(Commentary on “It’s Finally Happening – What Legal Innovators Told Us,” by Richard Tromans, Artificial Lawyer, November 10, 2025)
At the recent Legal Innovators UK 2025 conference, more than a thousand professionals came together to talk about something that has been years in the making: the real, hands-on use of AI in legal work.
In his recent piece, “It’s Finally Happening – What Legal Innovators Told Us”, Richard Tromans captured a genuine shift in tone. The conversations were no longer about what AI might do one day. They were about what it is already doing in law firms and legal departments.
This change from theory to practice marks a turning point. For years, the industry has talked about innovation, but most firms have stayed in pilot mode. Now, people are describing AI that supports live client work, improves turnaround times, and changes how lawyers approach research and drafting. The difference is not just enthusiasm—it is evidence that adoption is real.
The UK’s Pragmatic Lead
What stands out is the market driving this change. Tromans’ article reflects the mood in the UK, which has long focused more on ways of working than on chasing the latest tool. Many of the speakers he referenced were not technologists. They were lawyers, knowledge managers, and operations leaders who have figured out how AI fits into the work itself.
That mindset matters. The UK market tends to start with the process—how the work gets done, how value is delivered—before deciding which technology to use. That discipline means AI arrives as an enabler, not as a shiny experiment.
In contrast, firms in the United States often start with the technology. There is a rush to try the newest platform, plug-in, or tool before the firm has a clear understanding of what problem it solves. The result is predictable: scattered pilots, inconsistent adoption, and little measurable impact.
At Unbiased Consulting, we have been telling clients that real AI success starts with the work, not the tool. It begins by understanding how value is created, what steps drive or slow that value, and where decisions can be supported by automation. When you get the process right, choosing the right tool becomes straightforward.
Process Before Platform
We encourage clients to pause before they buy. Start by asking:
- How is client value defined and measured?
- What processes are truly repeatable or data-driven?
- Where do delays or rework happen?
- How are we managing data quality and governance?
Once these questions are answered, the conversation about technology becomes far more productive. When firms take this route, AI amplifies strong processes rather than exposing weak ones. That is exactly what the UK market is showing us—progress built on process, not hype.
From Awareness to Execution
Tromans describes this moment as a “passing through a gate into a new era.” That captures the mood perfectly. AI is no longer a novelty. The legal industry has moved from awareness to execution. The skills, tools, and confidence are building across teams. The conversation is shifting from “should we” to “how do we scale this safely and effectively.”
For US law firms, this is the time to move with purpose. Pair the discipline of process design with the creativity and ambition that define our market. Focus on three steps:
- Map the work. Identify how tasks move from intake to delivery and where patterns repeat.
- Redesign for value. Simplify and clarify the steps before adding technology.
- Select the right enablers. Choose tools that fit the process, not the other way around.
Firms that do this will gain real productivity, better risk control, and more consistent client experiences.
A Call to Action
The message from the UK is clear. AI is no longer a side project. It is becoming part of everyday legal work, and that change is permanent. The optimism at Legal Innovators UK 2025 is justified—but the foundation behind it is what matters most.
For firms in the United States, this is the time to catch up, but also to lead in a different way. Focus on methods, workflows, and culture before focusing on software. The firms that do will not just have AI. They will have a better way of working.
At Unbiased Consulting, we help law firms and legal departments design that foundation. Our approach starts with understanding how work happens today and ends with a roadmap that makes AI practical, measurable, and valuable.
If your firm is ready to move from curiosity to capability, we would be glad to talk. Let’s design a plan that starts with the work itself and ends with a sustainable, firm-wide model for using AI to deliver greater value to clients.
(Full attribution: “It’s Finally Happening – What Legal Innovators Told Us” by Richard Tromans, published November 10, 2025, on Artificial Lawyer.)