Embracing Innovation: Key Takeaways from Legal Tech in Leeds 2025

Joe DiCarlo – April 24, 2025  – 6 mins read

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending Legal Tech in Leeds alongside our valued technology partner, Quiss. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with legal technology leaders, innovators, and practitioners from across the sector — all gathered to explore the future of legal services.

Compared to last year, the shift in mindset was clear: innovation is no longer optional — it’s being actively embraced across the legal industry. Here are some key insights and themes from the event that are shaping the sector’s digital future:

1. Legal Technology Adoption is Accelerating

The legal sector has traditionally been seen as cautious when adopting new technology. However, 2025 marks a clear turning point.

Firms are now moving beyond pilots and small-scale experiments, integrating digital tools like cloud-based practice management systems, AI-powered research solutions, and advanced workflow automation directly into their day-to-day operations.

There’s an exciting sense of urgency to stay competitive and build long-term resilience through technology — a big step forward from what we saw in 2024.

2. Preserving Traditional Practices for Efficiency Gains

A particularly interesting trend is the renewed appreciation for traditional legal practices — such as dictation workflows — especially among new lawyers entering the profession.

There’s a real push to ensure that junior lawyers don’t lose sight of time-saving processes that have long helped firms boost billing efficiency. Tools like Diktamen’s digital dictation solutions are playing a critical role in helping modern legal professionals save valuable time while maintaining best practice standards.

This balance between tradition and innovation is helping firms train the next generation while improving operational efficiency.

3. Building Business Resilience Through AI Literacy

Sessions such as “Building Business Resilience: AI Literacy and Skills Evolution in the Legal Sector” (led by Clare Grant and Thea Lee from BPP) highlighted a crucial point: lawyers of the future must be as skilled in understanding AI as they are in interpreting case law.

Investing in AI literacy is no longer just about staying ahead — it’s becoming essential for firms aiming to build resilient, future-ready workforces. Upskilling around AI tools and their ethical, practical applications was a recurring theme across multiple talks.

4. AI Opportunities and Challenges for SME Law Firms

Another standout session was “Leveraging AI in SME Law Firms”, featuring insights from Keith Bermingham of Clio and Professor Danat Valizade from the University of Leeds.

They discussed how smaller firms — traditionally resource-constrained — can leverage AI to create real competitive advantages. However, it’s not without challenges: firms must navigate regulatory concerns, data privacy risks, and the need for robust implementation strategies.

Practical, affordable AI applications for small and mid-sized practices are poised to be a game-changer in the coming years.

5. Innovation is Transforming In-House Legal Teams

Innovation isn’t just happening in private practice. In sessions like “Innovating In-House: How LegalTech is Transforming Corporate Legal Teams”, led by Allan Smith Consultancy and Channel 4’s Madi Robinson, we heard how corporate legal departments are adopting LegalTech to streamline governance, improve collaboration with external firms, and drive greater operational transparency.

The needs of in-house teams are pushing LegalTech vendors to deliver more adaptable, integrated solutions tailored to business objectives rather than just legal outcomes.

6. Leading the Shift in Property Law with Digitisation and AI

Finally, the session “Leading the Shift: Digitisation, AI and Property” led by Angela Hesketh of PEXA UK and supported by Eric Tom Mathews (University of Leeds), reinforced how property law — often seen as one of the more traditional and paperwork-heavy fields — is undergoing a transformation.

Digitisation and AI are streamlining property transactions, improving due diligence processes, and reducing friction across the industry — a strong example of how even the most entrenched areas of legal practice are evolving.

Final Thoughts

Legal Tech in Leeds 2025 proved that the future of legal services is digital, but it’s also human — a balance between embracing cutting-edge tools and maintaining the fundamental practices that define great legal service.

At Diktamen, alongside our partners like Quiss, we remain committed to supporting law firms as they adapt, innovate, and thrive in this new landscape. It’s an exciting time to be part of the legal technology movement.