WSBA Technology Task Force Report: Key Highlights

BY WSBA STAFF

In November 2023, the WSBA Board of Governors recognized the transformative impact of technology—particularly artificial intelligence (AI)—on the legal profession. As one of its strategic priorities for the 2023–24 fiscal year, the Board adopted the following statement:

“Assess technology-related opportunities and threats and determine WSBA’s role vis-à-vis regulation, consumer protection, and support to legal professionals.”

The creation of the Legal Technology Task Force was a direct step toward acting on this priority. Over the course of 15 months, the Task Force conducted extensive research, engaged in broad collaboration, and developed a comprehensive set of recommendations to support and strengthen the understanding and use of technology in legal practice. The report emphasizes the effective, efficient, and ethical use of technology to enhance equitable access to justice.

As part of its work, the Task Force distributed a survey in October 2024 to more than 10,000 WSBA members and received 516 responses representing a wide range of practice areas, firm sizes, and geographic regions. This 5 percent response rate yields a 98 percent confidence level with a 5 percent margin of error. Using the Washington Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Technology Principles as a guide, the Task Force developed a set of 10 key recommendations.

The audience for the report is broad: individual lawyers, WSBA leadership and staff, law schools, courts, and policymakers. The recommendations are intentionally wide-ranging: some are actionable directly by the WSBA, while others call for collaboration or change by law schools, courts, or external partners. Not all recommendations are within the WSBA’s sole authority, but all aim to help Washington’s legal community adapt to technological change and better serve the public.

Today’s technologies—especially generative AI and advanced data analytics—are fundamentally changing legal work, not just making it more efficient but challenging traditional roles and responsibilities. Washington’s legal community is uniquely positioned to lead, given its innovative professionals and proximity to major technology companies. The Task Force calls for the WSBA to guide the profession towards responsible technology adoption that protects the public and upholds professional values.

10 Key Takeaways from the Report

The Task Force’s recommendations are organized around 10 key themes, forming a comprehensive roadmap to help the WSBA, legal professionals, law schools, and courts navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies.

1. Empower Legal Professionals. Lawyers must build foundational knowledge of AI and emerging technologies to serve clients competently and ethically.
2. Build the WSBA’s Internal Capacity. The WSBA should invest in tech expertise, partnerships, and member-facing resources like a Technology Resource Hub and expanded vendor discount network.
3. Tailor Tech Education to Practice Settings. Support should be flexible and accessible—especially for solo, small firm, and rural lawyers—with CLEs, consultations, and practical tools.
4. Clarify Ethical Use of Technology. Develop practical frameworks and guidance to help lawyers evaluate and adopt new tools while upholding professional standards.
5. Close the Cybersecurity Gap. Establish clear cybersecurity expectations and provide affordable assessments and training, especially for small practices.
6. Modernize Court Systems. Advocate for AI training, upgraded courtroom tech, and a unified statewide court data infrastructure to improve access and efficiency.
7. Transform Legal Education. Law schools should embed technology across curricula and require students to demonstrate tech competence before graduation.
8. Promote Ethical Innovation & Access. Encourage responsible AI use in legal services, especially tools that expand access to justice for underserved communities.
9. Protect Legal Data & Consumers. Advocate for stronger privacy protections, ethical standards for legal tech vendors, and public education on AI risks.
10. Ensure Long-Term Oversight. Recommend the creation of a Supreme Court–affiliated board to guide legal tech policy and regulatory innovation.

At its September 2025 meeting, the WSBA Board of Governors accepted the Legal Technology Task Force’s final report and recommendations. The next steps for the WSBA are to implement the approved recommendations within the organization’s authority. To guide this process, the WSBA will establish a Technology Implementation Work Group, as recommended in the report. The work group will convene legal tech experts alongside WSBA staff to implement the recommendations. Recruitment for the Implementation Work Group will begin in the coming months, following approval of its charter by the MEC and Board of Governors. WSBA members interested in participating are encouraged to complete the Implementation Work Group Interest Form at https://forms.office.com/g/xRUVaULvaL.

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