Ashurst, Allens and HSFK explore agentic AI for complex legal tasks
Top law firms are trialling autonomous AI tools to handle complex tasks like document analysis, aiming to boost accuracy and efficiency while managing emerging risks.
Major Australian law firms including Ashurst, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Allens are experimenting with agentic AI systems that can work independently to complete complex legal tasks, with early trials showing significant promise.
Unlike traditional AI tools that respond to specific prompts, agentic AI systems break down complex goals into smaller tasks, execute them autonomously and adapt based on results — much like a junior lawyer working through a research brief.
The technology aims to address a key limitation that has constrained AI adoption in legal work: the inability to maintain context across complex, multi-step tasks such as discovery and regulatory compliance.
Hilary Goodier, head of Ashurst's NewLaw division Ashurst Advance, said the firm was preparing to re-run a document analysis test first conducted in January and February, expecting dramatic improvements in accuracy.
