What Law Schools Won’t Teach You About Legal Tech in 2024

As a professional in the field, I’ve seen how the legal industry is evolving, driven by rapid advancements in technology. In 2024, the landscape of law is shifting more than ever, yet law schools remain slow to adapt to these changes. Despite the buzz around legal tech trends 2024 and the future of legal technology, many students find themselves underprepared for the real-world challenges they’ll face when they enter the field.

The demand for tech-savvy legal professionals continues to grow, but law schools still focus on traditional methods, failing to keep pace with the future of legal technology. Here, I’ll dive to the growing influence of technology in law and why law schools need to catch up. From AI-driven research to the rise of virtual law firms, the legal tech trends 2024 are reshaping the industry in ways that demand attention, especially from those looking to thrive in the profession.

By addressing the gap between legal education and modern technology, this discussion aims to highlight the skills and knowledge that new lawyers need to stay competitive in a rapidly changing field.

1. Growing Role of Technology in Law

Legal world is not immune to the sweeping wave of digital transformation. As technology continues to evolve, its role in the legal sector becomes more prominent, with advancements like artificial intelligence, automation, and digital tools transforming the way legal services are delivered. The legal tech trends 2024 reveal a focus on efficiency, accuracy, and improved client service. Yet, while these developments are essenital for practicing lawyers, they remain largely absent from the standard law school curriculum.

Law schools have traditionally focused on teaching doctrine, case law, and legal theory—essential foundations, no doubt. They often overlook the practical skills needed to navigate the tech-driven realities of today’s legal market. This gap leaves graduates struggling to catch up with the pace of technological change and ill-equipped to use the tools that can enhance their practice and efficiency.

2. Gap Between Legal Education and Real-World Technology

This disconnect between legal education and the future of legal technology is increasingly becoming a significant issue. While students leave law school well-versed in legal principles, they often lack familiarity with the tech tools that modern law firms rely on. As a result, they face a challenging transition from academia to practice, where the focus shifts from theory to efficiency and real-world problem-solving.

For instance, many law students aren’t exposed to tools like e-discovery software, automated document review systems, or legal analytics platforms until they are actually on the job. By that point, they find themselves playing catch-up, trying to learn the skills that could have been part of their formal education. This gap becomes even more evident when considering the increasing demand for tech-savvy lawyers who can use these tools to deliver faster and more cost-effective solutions for their clients. Lack of early exposure to these technologies puts new graduates at a disadvantage as they step into the ever-evolving legal landscape.

3. Top Legal Tech Skills Lawyers Need in 2024

The skills required for legal professionals today go beyond traditional legal research and writing. Here are some of the most important tech skills that lawyers need to master in 2024:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: AI is revolutionizing how lawyers conduct legal research, analyze case law, and even predict legal outcomes. Understanding how to leverage these tools is essential.

• E-Discovery Tools: Electronic discovery is now a critical part of litigation. Lawyers need to know how to use these platforms to efficiently sift through large volumes of digital evidence.

• Legal Analytics: Tools that analyze data from past cases to predict outcomes are becoming invaluable. Lawyers can use these insights to build stronger cases and make more informed strategic decisions.

Mastering these skills not only makes lawyers more competitive in the job market but also ensures they can provide top-notch service to clients who expect modern solutions.

4. How Automation is Changing Legal Practice

Automation is driving many of the key legal tech trends of 2024, and its impact is too significant to overlook. Tasks that used to be time-consuming, such as document review, contract analysis, and case management, are now automated. This change allows lawyers to shift their focus toward high-level strategy rather than getting stuck with routine tasks.

This evolution in automation does more than just simplify lawyers’ workloads; it also ensures that clients receive faster and more precise services. For example, automated contract analysis tools can quickly scan complex agreements, identifying risks and inconsistencies within minutes instead of hours. Yet, despite these advancements, law schools often fail to emphasize the importance of automation in their curricula, leaving students unprepared for a tech-driven legal practice.

5. AI and Machine Learning: The Future of Legal Research

Artificial intelligence has reshaped the legal industry, especially when it comes to legal research. AI-driven research platforms now analyze case law, statutes, and legal precedents with a speed and precision that was unimaginable a few years ago. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, these tools can pinpoint relevant case law more efficiently than traditional research methods.

Lawyers who know how to use these AI tools gain an edge, allowing them to find insights more quickly and focus on applying their expertise to more complex legal matters. Law schools rarely teach these essential skills, leaving new lawyers struggling to grasp the full potential of these technologies. As the future of legal technology continues to evolve, those who can seamlessly integrate AI into their practice will find themselves at a significant advantage.

6. Legal Tech Tools You Won’t Learn About in Law School

There are numerous legal tech tools that have become essential in today’s law firms, yet they remain conspicuously absent from law school syllabuses. These include:

Case Management Software: Case management software has become a cornerstone for law firms looking to streamline operations. These platforms allow lawyers to efficiently track cases, monitor deadlines, organize documents, and communicate with clients all in one place.

For instance, software like Clio or PracticePanther offers features that automate tasks such as client intake, billing, and document management, reducing administrative burden and allowing lawyers to focus more on case strategy. Law students who understand how to use such tools can hit the ground running when they join a firm, but often, they don’t encounter this technology until after graduation.

Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) Tools: CLM tools, such as Ironclad or ContractWorks, have become essential for automating the entire contract process—from drafting and negotiation to review and approval. These tools enable lawyers to create standardized contract templates, track changes during negotiations, and even analyze contract clauses for compliance.

They are especially valuable for in-house counsel and corporate law departments, where contract volume is high. While law schools teach contract law in detail, they often ignore how technology can simplify and optimize contract processes. As a result, new lawyers miss out on an opportunity to leverage these tools to save time and reduce errors in contract management.

Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Platforms: ODR platforms like Modria and Matterhorn are increasingly popular for handling mediation and arbitration online. They enable lawyers to resolve disputes remotely, offering secure tools for document sharing, case discussions, and video conferencing. This makes them ideal for cases where in-person meetings are challenging. Their growing importance, ODR platforms are rarely covered in law school curricula, leaving new lawyers to learn these valuable tools on the job.

7. Why Understanding Cybersecurity is Essential for Lawyers

In an era where data breaches are increasingly common, cybersecurity is a critical concern for law firms. Lawyers handle sensitive client data daily, making them prime targets for cyberattacks. This, few law schools provide in-depth training on cybersecurity best practices.

Understanding the basics of encryption, secure communication, and data management is essential for lawyers who wish to protect their clients’ information. It’s another example of how the future of legal technology intersects with daily practice, requiring knowledge beyond what traditional legal education offers.

8. Rise of Virtual Law Firms and Remote Work Technologies

Pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote work technologies, leading to a surge in virtual law firms. These firms use cloud-based platforms to manage cases, communicate with clients, and collaborate with colleagues—all from a distance. Yet, law schools have been slow to address this shift, often focusing on traditional in-office practice.

Virtual law firms are not just a trend; they represent a fundamental change in how legal services can be delivered. Lawyers who understand these technologies are better positioned to provide flexible, client-centered services. This shift is a key part of legal tech trends 2024, and law schools should be preparing their students for this reality.

9. Blockchain and Smart Contracts: Disrupting Traditional Law Practice

Blockchain technology, particularly smart contracts, has the potential to transform areas like contract law, real estate, and intellectual property. Smart contracts are self-executing agreements that automatically enforce terms when conditions are met, reducing the need for intermediaries.

For lawyers, understanding how blockchain works and its legal implications is becoming increasingly important. This is another area where law schools lag, leaving graduates to learn about blockchain on their own or through professional development courses.

10. Ethics of Legal Tech: Challenges Law Schools Don’t Address

With the rise of AI and automation in legal practice, ethical considerations have also become more complex. Lawyers must navigate issues like bias in AI algorithms, client privacy, and the impact of automated decision-making on due process. These ethical challenges are rarely addressed in depth during legal education, leaving new lawyers to grapple with these questions as they arise in practice.

How to Stay Updated on Legal Tech After Graduation

Staying current with legal tech trends 2024 requires a commitment to lifelong learning. Recent graduates should seek out online courses, webinars, and professional networks that focus on legal technology. Organizations like the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) and the LegalTech Conference offer valuable resources for those looking to stay ahead of the curve.

The future of legal technology is bright, but law schools need to evolve if they are to prepare the next generation of lawyers for it. By integrating training on AI, automation, and digital tools into their programs, law schools can ensure that their graduates are ready to thrive in an increasingly tech-driven profession. These changes will benefit not only the legal professionals themselves but also the clients they serve.