What do international leaders think will be the biggest threats and opportunities to the legal sector in 2026? This was the question we posed to legal sector leaders across the world for our latest thought leadership paper.
Legal leaders worldwide are facing unprecedented challenges in 2026, with AI governance and political instability at the forefront, according to our new report.
Leaders from international and independent law firms, technology specialists, and professional associations including the International Bar Association and the Law Society of England and Wales contributed to the report, ‘What Lies Ahead 2026: Navigating Threats and Seizing Opportunities’, offering a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing the global legal sector in the coming years.
Key findings
AI is revolutionising legal tech, but there are concerns around governance and costs
- 72 per cent are concerned about AI investment costs
- 59 per cent say technology has reduced the need for trainees or junior lawyers
- Only 5 per cent trust current AI quality controls
Geopolitical volatility poses enhanced risks
- 77 per cent of respondents state it affects their growth plans
- International collaboration and cross-border networks are essential for firms to remain competitive in a fast-changing global landscape
The business of law is changing
- 19 per cent say the dominant partnership model is no longer the best available % for private practice
Despite these pressures, legal leaders remain steadfast in their commitment to workplace culture and values. Even as the industry faced external pressures to weaken their DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) policies in 2025, the majority of leaders surveyed emphasised that a strong culture – rooted in these values – continues to be a cornerstone of competitiveness and resilience in a rapidly changing environment.
Melissa Davis, Founder and Chief Executive, MD Communications, said: “This year’s research findings show a profession at a crossroads. Legal leaders are embracing AI but remain concerned about the governance, investment and quality controls needed to use it safely and credibly. At the same time, geopolitical instability is reshaping how firms think about growth and risk. Despite these pressures, leaders consistently point to culture and values as their anchor and differentiator.”
Christine Braamskamp, Managing Partner London, Jenner & Block, who wrote the report’s foreword, said: “As I look at the risks identified in people’s contributions to this report, whether geopolitical or business-based, I take the lesson that firms will face change better if they are well-run, live their values, and have a good culture.”
She added: “The legal sector came through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic in better form than anyone could have predicted. That says to me that when we put our minds to it, we are good at listening to and learning from one another. This report is an important contribution to that process.”
Commenting on the future of the profession, George Hannah, Solicitor Apprentice at Lewis Silkin, said: “Firms will need to differentiate themselves not just on salary, but also the quality of training they can provide to their juniors and become known as the firm that produces the best tech-enabled lawyers. We want firms to be well run. We want them to have thought through how to build and maintain a healthy culture.”
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For further information or to speak to any of the contributors, please contact:
Louise Hood, MD Communications
07742 833 729
Notes to Editors
About the report
The What Lies Ahead 2026 report was compiled by MD Communications through a combination of interviews with leading legal professionals, industry experts, and business leaders, as well as a survey conducted across a diverse range of law firms and legal departments globally, during December 2025. The annual report reflects insights from contributors spanning multiple jurisdictions and practice areas, providing a holistic annual view of the challenges and opportunities facing the legal sector in the coming years.
A full copy of the report can be downloaded here.
