DISCO Survey: Legal AI Client Pressure Demands Cost Transparency

• Legal teams are more concerned with the cost of legal AI than its accuracy, according to a 2026 DISCO survey.
• Pricing transparency is a greater barrier to AI adoption than output quality, with both law firms and corporations demanding better visibility into ROI.
• Both corporate legal departments and law firms are experiencing significant client pressure to adopt legal AI solutions.
• A substantial 63 percent of survey participants are investing in legal AI to address the challenges of complex litigation.

Pricing transparency has emerged as a more significant barrier to AI adoption than the quality of its output.

The legal sector is grappling with a significant challenge concerning artificial intelligence: understanding its economic implications rather than its functional capabilities. A recent annual study by DISCO, a prominent litigation technology company, revealed that legal teams are primarily focused on the financial aspects of legal AI, questioning its cost rather than its accuracy or potential. This insight, drawn from the 2026 survey conducted by Ari Kaplan Advisors, highlights a pivotal shift in industry priorities, indicating that the practical economics of AI have become a central concern for legal professionals.

James Park, AI consulting director at DISCO, articulated this dynamic, noting that the legal industry has swiftly addressed the question of AI's capabilities, outpacing its understanding of the economic equation. Legal professionals now possess a clearer grasp of what AI can achieve, yet they lack sufficient visibility into the actual costs associated with implementing these solutions. This disparity underscores a growing need for greater legal AI cost transparency across the industry, as firms and departments seek to justify their technological investments.

The findings from the 2026 survey, which involved an online poll of 104 individuals from law firms and corporate legal departments, alongside 33 in-depth interviews conducted in summer 2026, further emphasized this point. Park, in DISCO's press release, stated that pricing transparency has emerged as a more significant barrier to AI adoption than the quality of its output. Both law firms and corporations are increasingly demanding a clearer line of sight into both the return on investment (ROI) and the overall financial impact of AI technologies, making economic justification paramount for continued integration.

This intensified focus on cost and ROI is directly linked to mounting external pressures. The DISCO survey revealed that both corporate legal team members and participants at law firms are experiencing significant pressure to adopt legal AI solutions. This client-driven demand is a primary factor influencing corporate legal AI adoption and shaping law firm AI adoption drivers, compelling legal entities to not only consider but actively implement AI tools.

Clients are increasingly expecting their legal service providers to leverage advanced technologies, pushing firms to evaluate and integrate AI into their operations. This pressure is not merely about technological advancement but about demonstrating tangible economic benefits and efficiency gains. Legal departments and their external counsel are now tasked with articulating precisely how AI investments translate into improved service delivery, reduced expenditures, and overall value, moving beyond the initial excitement about AI's potential to a more pragmatic assessment.

Beyond general adoption, the survey also shed light on specific areas where AI is being deployed to address persistent challenges. A notable finding indicated that 34 percent of participants reported complex litigation taking longer, a slight decrease from 39 percent previously. In direct response to this ongoing challenge, a substantial 63 percent of participants are actively investing in legal AI solutions specifically designed to address the complexities and time demands inherent in intricate legal disputes, signaling a targeted application of the technology.

Ari Kaplan, principal of Ari Kaplan Advisors, commented on the rapid pace of market evolution, expressing hope that this research would assist legal teams in benchmarking their performance and advancing their organizations. He highlighted the current balancing act faced by leaders, who must reconcile the promising potential of legal AI with the practicalities of embedding it seamlessly into their daily operations. This ongoing integration challenge underscores the critical need for strategic planning and clear communication regarding AI's role and value within the evolving legal landscape.

Law firms and corporate legal departments should prepare to articulate the ROI and cost structure of legal AI solutions to clients, as client pressure for adoption is increasing, and pricing transparency is a key concern. This necessitates evaluating AI tools not just for capability but also for their economic impact and integration into service delivery models.

Source: Original reporting via DISCO's 2026 annual AI study.