Sir Geoffrey Vos MR on AI and the Future of Legal Practice

At the recent Association of Law Teachers’ conference, Sir Geoffrey Vos MR delivered a timely address on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal profession - offering both reassurance and a clear call to adapt.

In his speech (available in full here), Sir Geoffrey emphasized that lawyers are not becoming obsolete in the age of AI. On the contrary, their role may become even more important. However, what clients expect from lawyers is already shifting.

With AI tools providing widespread access to legal information, clients are increasingly arriving with pre-formed views on their legal position. The value of lawyers, therefore, lies less in delivering initial answers and more in interpreting, validating, and applying those insights in real-world contexts.

The speech also highlights a broader transformation across the legal sector:

• AI is expected to play a growing role in areas such as claims assessment and legal research

• Courts are already seeing an increase in AI-assisted submissions

• Law firms are adapting recruitment strategies to prioritize both technical fluency and client-facing skills

Importantly, Sir Geoffrey underscored that human judgement remains central—particularly in the development of legal principles and the evolution of the law in response to societal change.

These themes closely align with ongoing discussions across ArbTech.io, where we continue to explore the intersection of AI, dispute resolution, and the future of legal systems.

For those following developments in legal technology and arbitration, this provides valuable insight into how one of the UK’s most senior judges views the road ahead.