At the same time, the research identifies clear learning gaps. The biggest skills gap among junior lawyers is deep legal reasoning and argumentation, cited by 72% of respondents. Verification and source-checking skills are also a concern, flagged by 69%, pointing to ongoing challenges around how judgment and critical thinking are built. 

When asked what would help junior lawyers build strong legal reasoning and judgment skills while using AI, nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents selected positioning AI as a “thinking partner”, rather than a shortcut or replacement for legal expertise. An additional half (52%) said verification exercises that require juniors to check AI outputs against authoritative sources would help. 

The research also highlights differences in how success is measured across the profession. Among law firm leaders, revenue growth is the most important performance metric (55%), followed by positive client feedback (49%) and billable hours (38%). Associates place greater emphasis on billable hours and client feedback (both 54%), with revenue growth close behind (48%). These differences suggest that performance measures may influence how AI is prioritised and used in practice. 

Commenting on the findings, Dylan Brown, Editor of The mentorship gap report at LexisNexis, said: 

“The data shows a clear productivity upside from AI, but it also highlights a tension around how legal judgment is developed. As routine tasks change, firms need to be deliberate about how junior lawyers build the confidence and critical thinking that have traditionally come from experience.”

• You can view the report here: https://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/insights/the-mentorship-gap/index.html