The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 has revealed crucial insights for legal professionals, highlighting the growing gap between consumer technology adoption and legal industry practices.
Gen Z’s Digital Dominance With Gen Z set to comprise 27% of the workforce by 2025, their technology expectations are reshaping workplace dynamics. “Gen Z is the first completely digital native generation,” notes Brian Comiskey, CTA director of trends. This demographic’s approach to technology presents unique challenges for law firms, where traditional practices often clash with modern tech expectations.
Key statistics reveal:
- 86% of Gen Z consider technology essential
- 60% identify as early tech adopters
- 93% of U.S. consumers are familiar with Gen AI
- 61% already use AI in their workplace
The Consumer-Legal Tech Gap The legal industry faces a growing disconnect between consumer technology experiences and workplace tools. Young associates increasingly express frustration with outdated legal tech, while consumers rapidly adopt AI and generative AI in their daily lives. This disparity could affect both talent retention and client satisfaction.
Emerging Trends Affecting Legal Practice Several technological developments will impact legal work:
- Autonomous vehicles (Waymo’s 100,000+ autonomous taxi rides signal a shift in transportation-related litigation)
- Health tech advances affecting medical care standards
- Immersive technologies changing jury expectations and presentation methods
- AI-based agents reshaping legal research and document preparation
The message is clear: legal professionals can no longer afford to lag behind in technology adoption. As Stephen Embry observes in his CES coverage, understanding consumer tech trends is becoming essential for anticipating both client and colleague expectations in the legal industry.
Read more: Above the Law
