Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are significantly transforming law firms across the Gulf region, favoring the hiring of experienced, tech-savvy candidates as routine tasks traditionally assigned to junior lawyers become increasingly automated. This shift has implications for how legal work is billed, putting pressure on the conventional billable-hours model and requiring senior partners to play a more active role in overseeing AI-generated outputs and ensuring data security.
Historically, law firms have charged clients based on the hours lawyers log for each case, utilizing digital tools to streamline time tracking and reduce administrative tasks in order to maximize billable activities. However, the integration of AI into legal processes is revolutionizing this landscape. A recent launch by US AI company Anthropic has demonstrated the potential impacts of AI on the legal sector, causing noticeable market movements.
Local companies are also innovating in this space. For instance, in early February, Beirut-based legal tech startup Haqq announced it had secured $3 million to further develop its AI platform, which claims to deliver client-ready legal work with a single prompt. Haqq currently serves over 7,000 clients, highlighting the growing demand for AI-driven legal solutions.
“AI impact has been on tasks rather than roles,” stated Maisa Maarouf, head of HR at BSA Law, which has already integrated AI into various legal functions, including research, document review, contract analysis, and drafting. “The development of junior lawyers requires extensive training for these tasks, which means firms now need to rethink how they develop talent while ensuring lawyers still gain the judgment and experience that cannot be automated,” she added.
According to Ahmed El Shakankiry, board member of the Middle East chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsels, while hiring has not ceased, it is undergoing transformation. The focus is shifting away from newly graduated junior lawyers toward candidates with more experience and adaptability to new technologies. For example, average monthly salaries for newly qualified solicitors in the UAE ranged from AED28,000 ($7,600) for local firms to AED63,000 for US firms in the region in 2025, according to legal recruiters Beacon Legal.
“The most valuable legal professionals are those who can combine judgment, commercial awareness, and ethical decision-making with smart use of technology. In practice, that means hiring managers tend to prioritize more experienced or adaptable candidates,” El Shakankiry noted.
Nonetheless, the rise of AI poses risks to the profitability of law firms that rely heavily on billing clients based on the time taken to complete tasks. “Wider AI adoption is likely to accelerate pressure on traditional hourly billing models,” warned Paulina Zalewska, legal director at Sovereign PPG Corporate Services. As clients benefit from faster service enabled by technology, their expectations regarding pricing and transparency are already evolving.
There is also an element of trust to consider. AI and law researcher Damien Charlotin, based at business school HEC Paris, has documented over 900 instances globally of what is termed “AI hallucinations”—cases where AI generates incorrect or fabricated information. “AI adoption is bringing regulatory and risk considerations to the forefront,” Zalewska emphasized, pointing to the importance of data security, client confidentiality, and compliance, particularly regarding data hosting and validation of AI outputs.
As law firms navigate these complexities, the evolution of legal practice driven by AI technology underscores the necessity for both firms and professionals to adapt. The long-term implications of these changes may redefine the legal landscape, as firms strive to balance innovative technology with ethical and regulatory obligations, ultimately reshaping client relationships and service delivery.
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