An appointment as law firm partner is the traditional and obvious career path for ambitious lawyers in private practice — “making partner” before 40, they hope.
But the AI boom is creating an alternative career path for both junior and senior lawyers: working for a legal-tech start-up, with an equity stake often included. Their roles include developing the emerging technology, advising on strategy and acting as a bridge with law firms and in-house teams.
In these jobs, they can also provide credibility for investors in these rapidly growing businesses, along with board-level business contacts and deep legal expertise.
In the past year, legal-AI start-ups such as Harvey and Legora, with valuations in March 2026 of $11bn and $5.5bn respectively, have hired lawyers.
AI tech platforms . . . need people who really understand the law and what lawyers do that adds value on a day-to-day basis
