
DeepL’s research, released August 25, 2025, highlights the rapid integration of AI in the US legal sector, with 77% of organizations increasing AI spending in the past year and 47% deeming it essential to daily workflows. Surveying 1,000 legal professionals across law firms, in-house departments, independent practitioners, and public sector teams, the study underscores AI’s transformative impact, particularly in Language AI, while addressing risks and shadow AI use.
Adoption Rates: 96% of legal professionals use AI tools; 47% say it’s essential to daily work. Only 4% have no plans to adopt AI.
Spending Trends: 77% of organizations increased AI budgets in the past year, with 46% reporting formal team-wide use and 31% conducting pilots.
Common Tools: Legal research/analytics, contract review, general-purpose AI, and Language AI for translation/writing improvement lead usage.
Impact on Workflows: 59% complete routine tasks faster, 54% focus on strategic tasks, 42% deliver more with same headcount, and 37% shift to fixed-fee billing.
Shadow AI: 71% use AI without approval, driven by speed pressures (35%) and insufficient tool functionality (32%).
Prevalence: 85% report translation issues impacting outcomes, with 39% losing billable hours, 38% facing inefficiencies, and 37% citing lost cases or clients.
AI Solutions: 49% use general-purpose AI for translation, 43% use specialized tools like DeepL, valued for GDPR compliance and SOC 2 Type II certification.
Concerns: Security/compliance risks (26%), loss of legal/cultural context (18%), and incorrect terminology (18%) persist.
DeepL’s Role: “Language and context are the foundation of legal work,” said André Barrow, DeepL’s Director of Legal Operations. DeepL’s tools enhance precision and security.
Training Focus: 42% prioritize AI ethics, risk, and compliance training for 2025.
Agentic AI: 65% of organizations evaluate autonomous AI solutions, with 27% planning future adoption.
Future Impact (Next 3 Years): AI expected to drive cost reduction (34%), 24/7 research (34%), multilingual support (32%), and new service models (31%).
Risks: Data privacy/cybersecurity (35%), lack of transparency (30%), over-reliance on AI (30%), and misuse in litigation (30%) are top concerns.
DeepL’s findings align with broader trends, with 79% of legal professionals using AI (up from 19% in 2023, per Clio) and the generative AI cybersecurity market projected at $35.5B by 2031. Shadow AI use, noted by 71% of respondents, echoes X posts warning of unauthorized tool use due to efficiency pressures. DeepL’s internal use of chatbots and DeepL Write, as noted by CLO Frankie Williams, saves time for strategic tasks.
Conducted by Censuswide for DeepL in June 2025, the survey included 1,000 US legal professionals, adhering to ESOMAR principles.
DeepL is on a mission to break down language barriers for businesses and individuals everywhere. Over 200,000 business customers and millions of individuals across 228 global markets trust DeepL's Language AI platform for human-like translation in both written and spoken formats, as well as natural, improved writing. Designed with enterprise security in mind, companies around the world leverage DeepL's AI solutions, specifically tuned for language, to transform business communication, expand markets, and improve productivity. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jaroslaw "Jarek" Kutylowski, DeepL now has over 1,000 passionate employees and is supported by world-renowned investors including Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures.