Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries across the globe, and the legal profession is no exception. The question of whether AI agents can be lawyers has long been debated, but recent breakthroughs suggest that the future of legal practice may look very different than it does today.
In February 2026, TechCrunch reported on Anthropic’s release of Opus 4.6, a model that significantly improved performance on professional tasks like law and corporate analysis. Just months ago, AI agents scored below 25% on Mercor’s benchmark tests, leaving many confident that lawyers were safe from AI disruption. However, Opus 4.6 achieved nearly 30% in one-shot trials and an average of 45% when given multiple attempts. This leap highlights how quickly AI in law is advancing.
The Evolution of AI in Legal Practice
Traditionally, law has been considered one of the most resistant fields to automation. Legal work requires interpretation, reasoning, and nuanced judgment—skills that seemed beyond the reach of machines. Early AI tools in law focused on document review, e-discovery, and contract analysis, helping lawyers save time but not replacing their expertise.
Now, with agentic AI systems capable of multistep problem-solving, the scope of automation is expanding. Features like “agent swarms” allow multiple AI agents to collaborate, tackling complex legal problems in ways that mimic human teamwork. This evolution suggests that AI is moving from being a support tool to potentially becoming a decision-making partner in legal practice.
Benchmark Progress and What It Means
Mercor’s CEO Brendan Foody described the jump from 18.4% to 29.8% in just a few months as “insane.” While 30% is still far from mastery, the trajectory is clear: AI agents are learning faster, reasoning better, and closing the gap between machine and human performance.
For lawyers, this means the profession is no longer immune to disruption. While AI won’t replace attorneys overnight, it will increasingly handle routine tasks, freeing human lawyers to focus on strategy, advocacy, and client relationships.
Opportunities and Challenges
Opportunities:
- Efficiency gains: AI agents can process vast amounts of legal data faster than humans.
- Cost reduction: Routine legal tasks could become more affordable, making legal services accessible to more people.
- Enhanced accuracy: AI reduces human error in repetitive tasks like contract review.
Challenges:
- Ethical concerns: Can AI truly understand justice, fairness, and human values?
- Accountability: Who is responsible if an AI agent makes a legal mistake?
- Trust: Clients may hesitate to rely on machines for sensitive legal matters.
The Future of AI Lawyers
The legal industry in 2026 is at a crossroads. AI agents are not yet ready to argue cases in court, but they are becoming indispensable in research, drafting, and analysis. The most likely future is collaboration: human lawyers working alongside AI agents to deliver faster, more accurate, and cost-effective legal services.
Rather than replacing lawyers, AI will redefine their roles. Attorneys will spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on strategic thinking, negotiation, and advocacy—areas where human judgment remains irreplaceable.
Conclusion
AI agents are not fully-fledged lawyers yet, but their progress is undeniable. The leap in benchmark scores shows that AI in law is evolving rapidly, and the profession must adapt. Lawyers who embrace AI as a partner will thrive, while those who resist may find themselves left behind.
The future of law is not about humans versus machines—it’s about humans and machines working together to deliver justice more efficiently and effectively.
