As artificial intelligence (AI) carves out a larger role in the legal industry, the spotlight is increasingly on the human capabilities that AI cannot replicate. Emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and teamwork are now at the forefront of desired skills in law professionals, reveals a recent survey. However, many law students and associates express concern that their institutions are not adequately nurturing these critical competencies.

The findings come from the BARBRI-sponsored "Envisioning Success: The 2026 Career Aspirations Survey," which involved over 300 participants, including law students, associates, partners, and law firm staff. They shared insights about their career goals, the impact of AI on these goals, and how well they believe their educational and professional training programs are equipping them with necessary soft skills.

A significant majority of the survey respondents acknowledge the growing importance of soft skills due to AI’s rise. Seventy-seven percent of law students, 75% of associates, and 58% of partners believe these skills are more crucial than ever for professional advancement. Despite this recognition, there is a notable gap in training effectiveness as perceived by those on the ground. About half of the students rated their law schools' efforts to develop these skills as either "fair" or "poor." Similarly, 46% of associates felt that their firms' efforts to enhance soft skills were lacking.

This disparity points to a crucial area of improvement for legal education and practice. As AI continues to automate more routine tasks, the value of human interaction, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving is expected to climb, making soft skills an indispensable part of the legal professional's toolkit.

For a deeper dive into how law firms and schools can better prepare the next generation of lawyers for the AI-influenced landscape of the legal profession, interested readers can download a copy of the full report linked in the original survey summary.

This data not only underscores the shifting priorities in legal training but also highlights the ongoing challenge of adapting legal education to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving professional environment.