Science & Tech · AI · 4 hrs ago
AI use among Victorian lawyers rises, but few cut client fees
A survey of 2,221 Victorian lawyers found AI use rose to 55% in 2026, from 37% the year before.
Lawyers most often used consumer chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot, while 22% used legal-specific AI tools.
Only 26% said AI had lowered client fees, despite hopes that faster work would reduce costs.
Lawyers were more likely to report fee cuts for business clients than for individuals.
Clients’ use of AI often created extra work: 46% of lawyers said clients brought inaccurate or misleading information, and 41% said they brought AI-generated documents that needed correction.
The survey found nearly half of lawyers spent more time and effort when clients used AI, while 19% spent less.
Courts and legal bodies across Australia have been responding to AI use since 2023, and the federal court issued new rules on generative AI in April.
More than half of Victorian lawyers reported using AI in 2026, up from 37% the previous year.
Only 26% said AI use had led them to reduce client fees.
Nearly half of lawyers said clients using AI increased the time and effort required.
The survey found 46% of lawyers had clients arrive with inaccurate or misleading information, while 41% had clients bring AI-generated documents requiring correction.
Consumer chatbots were more widely used than tools designed specifically for legal services.
- Who
- Lawyers in Victoria surveyed by the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner’s legal services research centre.
- What
- The 2026 census found rising AI use among lawyers, but few said it had reduced client fees.
- When
- The findings are from the 2026 census, reported on 29 October 2026.
- Where
- Victoria, Australia.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The previous report found that 37% of lawyers used AI and that use was highest among lawyers under 30.
The census found that AI use among Victorian lawyers had risen to 55%.
The federal court issued new rules around the use of generative AI.
- AI use among Victorian lawyers
- 55% in 2026, up from 37%
- Lower client fees
- 26% of lawyers said AI use had reduced fees
- Consumer chatbots
- 79% of lawyers reported using them
- Legal-specific AI tools
- 22% of lawyers reported using them
- Clients with inaccurate or misleading information
- 46% of lawyers reported this
- AI-generated documents needing correction
- 41% of lawyers reported this
1 source
What people are saying
They have a high level of legal capability
They also are perhaps using AI in their own work, so they have a better understanding and are able to advocate for lower prices … whereas we’re not seeing that as much in the community legal system sector.
What we are hearing is that clients are more frequently arriving with misleading or inaccurate information about their legal problems, more so than they’re arriving with a better understanding of legal problems