Helena Hallgarn has been invited, together with several other industry experts, to share her predictions on the future of Legal AI in 2026 by Artificial Lawyer. The insights are published in a recent blog post highlighting key trends, challenges, and expectations for the coming years.
This was her response:
What will *definitely* happen in legal AI in 2026?
This year, lawyers are increasingly recognising that AI services are powerful and sophisticated tools, but still just tools. They cannot be relied upon as legal experts in their own right. Used thoughtfully and correctly, however, AI can significantly enhance a lawyer’s capabilities, enabling more efficient work and better legal outcomes.
What might happen this year?
We may now begin to see more mature legal tech solutions that address specific legal problems, questions, or tasks. Rather than generic tools, these will be specialised, ready-to-use services designed to integrate directly into lawyers’ day-to-day work. Such solutions can often be adopted with little or no onboarding and may directly replace certain manual work steps, allowing lawyers to focus on higher-value tasks.
What definitely won’t happen in legal AI in 2026?
AI services will not replace skilled lawyers. While these technologies can automate tasks, analyse large volumes of information, and support decision-making, they lack the legal judgement, contextual understanding, and professional responsibility that experienced lawyers provide. Instead, AI should be seen as a powerful complement that enhances legal expertise rather than a substitute for it.
______
The blog post brings together perspectives from across the legal and technology landscape and offers a forward-looking view on how AI is expected to shape legal work, business models, and client expectations in 2026.