Our Point Blank networking night was a chance to connect with the legal community and ask a practical question: what gets in the way of doing more legal work?
Through Atto’s More Lawyering survey at PB Networking, attendees shared how they spend their time, the tasks they would gladly skip, and whether generic AI is making a difference to their admin load.
These findings reflect a sample of attendees surveyed at PB Networking, not the legal profession as a whole. Percentages are based on those who answered each question.
The same tasks, again and again
Asked which admin tasks they would gladly skip, 50% selected document reformatting, 44% selected manually updating a matter’s status, and 39% selected re-entering the same data into different systems.
Working across disconnected systems
56% of those who answered the systems question used two or more systems.
Alongside the responses about repeated data entry, this points to a practical opportunity: reducing the manual work involved in moving information between systems.
Generic AI is not yet removing much admin
94% of those who answered the question about generative AI’s impact on admin time reported limited or no reduction. Just 6% selected “Yes, definitely”.
It is not a verdict on every use of AI. It is a reminder that a useful tool also needs to fit the work people are trying to complete.
What keeps people at their desks on Friday?
Urgent deadlines and catching up on the week were tied as the most common answers, each selected by 38% of those who answered. There was no single winning reason in this sample.
The responses suggest that both immediate demands and accumulated work deserve attention when thinking about a better working week.
Better workflows, not just another tool
For Atto, these conversations reinforce the importance of connecting the procedural work around a matter. Reformatting documents, updating statuses and entering the same information again are workflow challenges worth addressing.
Our focus is automation and workflow solutions that work alongside a firm’s existing systems, with lawyers retaining review, approval and legal judgement. The goal is less admin and more time for legal work.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at Point Blank and shared their experience.
Continue the conversation
Want to see what we are building? Join us at the Atto launch on 22 October.
Source: Atto and PB Networking More Lawyering survey. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number and exclude unanswered questions. Survey participation is distinct from event attendance.