From Rollout to Results: The Five Essentials of LegalTech Adoption

At Lexpo 2025 in Amsterdam, Andrea Miskolczi and innovation leaders from leading firms explored one of the most persistent challenges in legal transformation: how to move from rolling out new tools to achieving adoption that makes a measurable difference. Their conversation surfaced a set of truths and myths worth laying out in a practical order.

Start With Strategy, Not Shiny Tools

Too many technology projects begin with enthusiasm but no clear plan. When this happens, decisions often follow the loudest voices rather than genuine business needs. A structured, strategic approach changes that. Technology must be tied to solving real, shared problems across a firm or legal department. Without this anchor, enthusiasm fizzles and adoption never takes hold.

A portfolio mindset helps. Treat technology as part of a wider ecosystem, rather than a string of disconnected experiments. This allows clarity on where each tool fits, who should use it, and how progress will be measured.

Rollout Tactics: No Silver Bullet

There is no universal formula for launching legal technology. Some tools benefit from broad, firmwide access. Others make more impact through a targeted, practice-by-practice rollout.

The key is to avoid rushing. Starting with smaller teams often uncovers strong use cases that can be showcased as proof of value. A slower rollout may take more time, but it builds trust and momentum that pay off later. Communication campaigns—dedicated demo days, knowledge sessions, and visible leadership engagement—help keep adoption visible and accessible.

Adoption Does Not Require Large Teams

Another common misconception is that success depends on having a big innovation team. In reality, adoption works when resources are smartly leveraged.

Pioneers and ambassadors within practice groups are powerful multipliers, especially when supported by leadership. External advisors and vendor partners bring expertise that accelerates progress. Technology adoption is not about team size; it is about mobilising the right mix of roles and support.

Culture Is the Deciding Factor

Culture can accelerate adoption or stop it in its tracks. In many firms, sceptics speak louder than champions, creating resistance out of proportion to their numbers. Countering this requires visible leadership, clear communication of value, and the celebration of early wins.

Some firms embed innovation as part of their DNA, treating experimentation as a natural part of practice. Others need to invest more deliberately in creating space for curiosity and collaboration. What is clear is that culture shapes whether lawyers see technology as an ally or an obstacle.

From Experiments to Impact

The legal sector’s initial wave of legal AI experimentation is giving way to a new demand: measurable results. Leaders want to know not just whether people are trying new tools, but whether those tools deliver a return—through efficiency, quality, or client satisfaction.

Adoption is not an end in itself. It is the bridge between rollout and results. Without it, technology is just shelfware. With it, legal teams can translate innovation into tangible business value.