AI-driven case strategy technology seen as key advantage for law firms

A new report has been released examining trends in litigation technology, highlighting the rising importance of AI-driven case strategy software for law firms.

The research, released by Ari Kaplan Advisors and Opus 2, draws on data from interviews with partners and senior litigators at major law firms. The report, titled The Emergence of Case Strategy Technology as a Competitive Advantage in an Evolving Litigation Landscape, investigates the influence of emerging technologies in litigation practices and the growing adoption of AI in legal workflows.

Adoption of AI in litigation

The findings indicate that the majority of experienced litigators view AI-powered technology as essential to effective case management. According to the report, 87% of those surveyed stated that AI-enhanced case strategy technology now represents a competitive advantage, while 84% agreed that it can influence positive outcomes for clients. The survey also found that 81% of senior lawyers believe AI-enabled tools will be required to remain competitive in litigation within the next year.

Current use of AI among respondents is significant, with 61% reporting they routinely deploy AI in their day-to-day work. In addition, 58% say that AI meets or exceeds their expectations in litigation management tasks.

Key AI applications

The report details the main uses of AI in litigation, identifying document analysis, transcript management, chronology creation, and case strategy as the most prevalent applications. The integration of these capabilities in a single platform is noted to facilitate accelerated insights, improved collaboration, and faster decision-making across the case lifecycle.

"Litigation teams are facing rising caseloads, growing data volumes, and increasingly sophisticated adversaries," said Ari Kaplan, Principal of Ari Kaplan Advisors. "This research shows that AI-enhanced case strategy tools, like Opus 2, are helping lawyers meet those demands by accelerating insight and enabling more effective advocacy."

The report analyses how integrating case management and case strategy into a unified workflow can help law firms respond more effectively to complex litigations and increasing data demands.

Benefits and perspectives

The survey and its resulting report offer insight into how technology use is evolving among partners, litigators, and senior lawyers in the sector. The document provides analysis on topics including the delivery of client value through software, overcoming common barriers to adopting new technologies, and the interpretation and application of data to case strategies.

It also provides perspective on current litigation and market trends, aiming to help firms anticipate future challenges and technological requirements.

Beau Wysong, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Opus 2, commented on the significance of the findings for legal practitioners and their clients:

"As a long-time leader in commercial disputes software and services, Opus 2 has worked closely with lawyers to develop solutions that empower them to focus on what matters most, which is maximising the value they deliver to clients. This research highlights how important AI-enhanced case strategy technology is to that pursuit, especially as it relates to crafting winning narratives and gaining a competitive advantage."

Outlook for law firms

According to the research, as firms confront rising caseloads and volumes of data, the use of AI-driven tools is expected to become standard practice. The integration of case management and case strategy is seen as a practical approach to supporting more effective collaboration and faster, better-informed decision-making across legal teams.

The report concludes by outlining ways AI is expected to shape legal practices in the coming years, with particular emphasis on client outcomes and the market's move towards a data-informed, unified litigation management process.