Thomson Reuters Small Firm Report: Document Review 63% Faster; 10% Additional Capacity per Fee Earner
A Thomson Reuters analysis of small and midsized firm AI deployment (UK-focused but applicable to the North American midmarket) finds that legal professionals using purpose-built AI complete document review and contract analysis 63% faster than traditional methods, with AI adoption creating effective capacity equivalent to 10% additional fee earners without new hires.
BY MIDSIZED DESK · JUNE 2, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
A Thomson Reuters analysis of small and midsized firm AI deployment (UK-focused but applicable to the North American midmarket) finds that legal professionals using purpose-built AI complete document review and contract analysis 63% faster than traditional methods, with AI adoption creating effective capacity equivalent to 10% additional fee earners without new hires. Firms with visible AI strategies see ROI at 3.9 times the rate of firms without structured adoption plans. The study also finds that lawyers doing AI-assisted research locate twice as many relevant cases in equivalent time. The 10% capacity-equivalent finding is particularly material for midsized firms constrained by fixed headcount budgets and hiring friction in the 2026 lateral market.