Last week, the legal tech industry was abuzz as stocks of major players like Thomson Reuters and RELX took a hit following Anthropic’s release of legal plugins for its AI product, Claude. These plugins promise to streamline tasks such as document review and contract drafting, raising expectations of significant shifts in legal tech dynamics. Yet, for solo practitioners and small law firms, this might just be another day in the office.

Historically, non-legal tech tools have been the go-to for many solo and small firms, serving as cost-effective alternatives to specialized legal tech products. Platforms like Google Drive, Basecamp, and Outlook have long provided the necessary infrastructure to manage legal practices efficiently. Even before the rise of legal-specific platforms like Clio and MyCase, general-purpose tools had been integral in running day-to-day operations for these smaller entities.

Despite the allure of general AI tools which are often cheaper and more powerful, many solo and small firms tend to gravitate towards legal-specific applications. This inclination is fueled by bar associations that channel information about these products through CLEs and discount programs, thereby influencing tech choices. The perceived legitimacy and professional endorsement associated with these tools often weigh heavily in their favor.

On the tech front, solo and small firms typically don't have the luxury of an extensive tech department. Off-the-shelf solutions like Clio, with features such as intake forms and legal research, cover a substantial portion of their operational needs. Integrating something like Claude’s Legal Skills, which requires more hands-on management and tech savviness, may not be feasible for many.

Looking ahead, although general AI tools might not currently disrupt the legal tech landscape for solo and small firms, they hold potential for those at different stages of growth. New, tech-savvy law firms or those expanding beyond a certain size might find these tools more appealing due to scalability and cost-efficiency. However, by the time firms are ready to adopt more complex solutions, they usually have the resources to hire specialists to manage these technologies.

In essence, while the advent of AI tools like Claude’s Legal Skills is revolutionizing certain aspects of legal tech, the impact on solo and small law firms remains negligible. The choice for many will likely continue to oscillate between more affordable but DIY solutions and pricier but turnkey legal technologies. Just as in other industries, when it comes to legal tech, old habits die hard.