85% of Lawyers Use AI, Yet Manual Work Still Dominates Legal Workflows, New Progress Software Report Reveals
Rhea-AI Summary
Progress Software (Nasdaq: PRGS) released its State of Legal 2026 report, based on a nationwide survey of U.S. lawyers. The study finds 85% already use AI for tasks like research and summarization, yet 77% say much of their work is still manual and processes remain inefficient.
Findings highlight gaps in automation, governance, client intake speed and tool sprawl, and note that platforms such as Progress ShareFile can help streamline secure document management, AI-powered automation and client intake to reduce friction and improve legal workflows.
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News Market Reaction – PRGS
In the Jul 8 session, PRGS declined 3.70%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -4.3% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 2 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Previous AI Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 30 | AI product launch | Positive | -0.8% | Launch of Chef Enterprise Management for NVIDIA DGX Spark with paid offering. |
| May 14 | AI award recognition | Positive | +1.6% | Agentic RAG platform wins 2026 AI Excellence Award in RAG category. |
| May 12 | AI industry report | Neutral | -4.2% | State of Accounting 2026 report on AI and automation adoption trends. |
| Apr 14 | AI hub expansion | Positive | +1.6% | Expansion of Bengaluru innovation hub to support AI-led operations in India. |
| Mar 31 | AI product update | Positive | -9.3% | Release of Sitefinity Generative CMS with governed AI search and agents. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Across recent AI-tagged announcements, share reactions have been mixed but on average modestly negative.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
State of Legal 2026 report shows how AI, automation and streamlined processes can reduce delays and strengthen client confidence
BURLINGTON, Mass., July 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Progress Software (Nasdaq: PRGS), the trusted provider of AI-powered digital experience and infrastructure software, today announced the release of its State of Legal 2026 benchmarking report. Based on a nationwide survey of U.S.-based lawyers conducted by Regina Corso Consulting, the report reveals that while AI adoption is now widespread across the legal industry, many firms are still working to translate that momentum into fully efficient, modernized workflows. The full report is available here.
Despite rapid uptake of AI tools, many legal teams continue to rely on manual, fragmented processes. The report finds that
“Legal teams aren’t slow to adopt AI:
Key Findings from the State of Legal 2026 Report
- AI adoption is widespread, but governance is still evolving: Eighty-five percent of lawyers report using AI for tasks such as legal research, document summarization, case management and intake support. However,
36% cite a lack of governance or training as an ongoing challenge as adoption scales. - Automation improves work life, but adoption remains limited: While
82% say automation has improved their work lives, only24% report that a significant portion of their daily work is automated. Integration challenges, budget constraints and security concerns remain the top barriers to broader adoption. - Client intake remains a critical opportunity for improvement: Nearly half (
47% ) say intake takes four days or longer, even though most believe it should take two to three days or less. Additionally,94% say faster intake would improve outcomes, and92% say automation would enable them to take on more business. - Legal productivity is constrained by inefficient processes: While lawyers are satisfied with their work,
52% say they feel effective but not efficient due to manual tasks, unnecessary handoffs and fragmented systems. - Tool sprawl and inconsistency slow teams down: Eighty-four percent say inconsistent processes across teams or systems reduce efficiency, and
95% want legal technology that is simple, intuitive and free of unnecessary features.
"It really comes down to understanding AI and understanding how to leverage it and how to screen it,” said Whitney Harper, Co-Founder, ADVOS legal & ADVOS Pro. “But what I firmly believe is that AI is not here to take our jobs as lawyers. If we can figure out how to harness it, we can free ourselves up to deliver incredible value, do our best work and really enjoy the practice."
As firms look to close these operational gaps, technologies like Progress® ShareFile® are helping modernize how legal work gets done. By combining secure document management, AI-powered automation and streamlined client intake, these platforms enable legal teams to reduce friction, accelerate turnaround times and deliver more consistent, streamlined client experiences.
About the Survey
The State of Legal 2026 report is based on a nationwide survey of 304 U.S.-based lawyers working in both law firms and in-house legal departments. The research explores job satisfaction, operational efficiency, client intake, technology adoption, automation, AI usage and security challenges shaping the future of legal work.
About Progress Software
Progress Software (Nasdaq: PRGS) empowers organizations to achieve transformational success in the face of disruptive change. Our software enables our customers to develop, deploy and manage responsible AI-powered applications and personalized digital experiences with agility and ease. Businesses of all sizes get a trusted provider in Progress, with the products, expertise and vision they need to turn AI disruption into a competitive advantage. Millions of developers and technologists at hundreds of thousands of organizations depend on Progress every day. Learn more at www.progress.com.
Progress and certain product names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. See Trademarks for appropriate markings. All rights in any other trademarks contained herein are reserved by their respective owners and their inclusion does not imply an endorsement, affiliation or sponsorship as between Progress and the respective owners.
Press Contact:
Kim Baker
Progress Software
+1-800-477-6473
pr@progress.com
